Permanent War

Library Journal

The late Sidney Lens was a prolific social critic, author of books including The Maginot Line Syndrome. Here he argues that ``since 1945 the United States has been engaged in a permanent war'' with the objectives of expanding and protecting international markets to sustain its economic growth and of preventing the spread of socialism. This has involved a radical shift to militarism, imperialism, and authoritarianism. Lens describes a second, unaccountable government committed to maintaining the ``permanent war.'' He concludes that Americans have made a poor bargain in trading some democratic safeguards for the fleeting economic rewards of empire. A timely and thought-provoking critique, particularly in light of the Iran-contra hearings. James R. Kuhlma, Univ. of Georgia Lib., Athens