Rethinking the Good War

The legacy of World War II is a gruesome one. The bombing of civilians on a grand scale was adopted as an intentional policy. The killing of innocents at a distance was made part of our national character. The military/industrial warfare state became a permanent fixture in the United States. World War II ushered in the nuclear age of mutually assured destruction. The war also set a precedent for later interventions by the world s new superpower. Yet, although over 50 million people died in the war--including 405,000 Americans--it is still universally recognized as the Good War. It is time to rethink the Good War.