Search

The article is a review of Melvyn P. Leffler's book, "Confronting Saddam Hussein: George W. Bush and the Invasion of Iraq." The reviewer praises Leffler's analysis of the decision-making process that led to the invasion, which was driven by a desire to remove Saddam Hussein rather than ideological motivations. The book provides a nuanced understanding of the complexities of early 21st-century politics and war. However, the reviewer notes that Leffler sympathizes with Bush's challenges and maintains a belief in the overall benevolence of U.S. power. The text also discusses the historical context of U.S.-Iraq relations and questions the framing of the invasion as part of the "War on Terror," emphasizing the importance of confronting fundamental questions and learning from the consequences of the Iraq invasion. [Extracted from the article]

An essay is presented, responding to the issue's featured round-table essay "SHAFR in the World," by Matthew Connelly, which reflected on the conditions, mission, and future prospects of the Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations (SHAFR) as of 2010. The author moderately criticizes Connelly's arguments, suggesting that while Connelly's calls to re-evaluate the role of transnational methodology are sound, his assertion that the Society focuses too much on the U.S. is not.