The Violent American Century

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This work examines the U.S.-led evolution of military strategy and warfare since 1945, following the peak of industrialized "total war" during World War II. The conflict saw great powers inflict severe devastation globally, with the U.S. emerging largely unscathed and dominant in power. The staggering death toll included both combatants and civilians. The narrative explores the shift in U.S. military conduct post-1945, which began with intense localized conflicts and proxy wars during the Cold War, culminating in today’s asymmetrical warfare. The modern military approach combines overwhelming force with counterinsurgency, clandestine operations, and a vast network of overseas bases, heralding an era of computerized "precision" warfare. Compared to World War II, the scale of postwar destruction has been relatively smaller, yet remains appalling and persistent. The author, a Pulitzer Prize winner, utilizes extensive data and U.S. planning documents to analyze contemporary war and terror, situating U.S. actions within the larger context of global violence since World War II, while emphasizing the human costs of this ongoing legacy of conflict.