Links to recent articles of interest:
“How Donald Trump Undermined the Health and Safety of American Workers”
By Lawrence S. Wittner, Common Dreams, posted August 16
Catalogues the ways in which Trump administration policies from 2017 to 2021, both before and after the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, increased workers’ vulnerability to a wide range of injuries and disease. The author is a professor emeritus of history at SUNY Albany.
By Omer Bartov, The Guardian, posted August 13
Lengthy, somber reflections on a two-week visit back to Israel by an Israeli-born historian who served four years in the the Israeli army and now teaches Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Brown University. His visit “clearly indicated that the ultimate goal of this entire undertaking from the very beginning had been to make the entire Gaza Strip uninhabitable, and to debilitate its population to such a degree that it would either die out or seek all possible options to flee the territory.”
“Photobombing de Gaulle: How a Forgotten Picture Rewrites the History of WWII”
By Gary Young, Financial Times, posted August 12
On the contribution of black troops, many from European colonies, to Allied victories in western Europe and the insistence of US military authorities that only white troops be pictured in photographs celebrating the liberation of Paris in 1944. The author teaches sociology at Manchester University, UK.
“Let’s Think about How to Build a More Peaceful World”
By Lawrence S. Wittner, Foreign Policy in Focus, posted August 7
On the achievements and shortcomings of the post-World War II mechanisms for international cooperation, with suggestions for improving their functioning, to “replace the law of force with the force of law.” The author is a professor emeritus of history at SUNY Albany.
“Blank Checks for War: Congress Has Abdicated Its Power from Tonkin to Gaza”
By Christian Appy, Common Dreams, posted August 1
“As the 60th anniversary of the Tonkin Gulf Resolution approaches, it’s time to reflect on how Congress solidified its long-standing deference to the presidency on foreign policy and how the people can make their voices heard.” The author teaches history at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and has written several books about the Vietnam War.
By Juan Cole, Informed Comment, posted August 1
“If Netanyahu rubbed out Haniyeh, and it is very likely he did, then it was a perfect strategy for him. Harris and her allies in the White House can’t make him negotiate with Haniyeh if Haniyeh is dead. Moreover, it is predictable that Hamas would pull out of the negotiations entirely after the murder of their leader.” The author teaches Middle East history at the University of Michigan.
“Lt. Calley, the Only Officer Convicted for My Lai Massacre, Dead at 80”
By Nick Turse, Responsible Statecraft, posted July 30
“The Pentagon … consistently fought to minimize what had happened, claiming that reports by Vietnamese survivors were wildly exaggerated. At the same time, the military focused its attention on Calley, the lowest ranking officer who could conceivably shoulder the blame for the massacre.” Among the author’s books is Kill Anything That Moves: The Real American War in Vietnam (Metropolitan Books, 2013).
By Saul Cornell, Made by History – Time, posted July 26
The Surgeon General’s recent report on gun violence as a danger to American society “never mentions history, but its approach to the problem of gun violence comes far closer than the Court’s to capturing how the Founding generation understood gun policy and regulation.” The author teaches US history at Fordham University. Among his books is A Well-Regulated Militia: the Founding Fathers and the Origins of Gun Control in America (Oxford U. Press, 2006).
By Elizabeth Schmidt, New Left Review Sidecar, posted July 25
Traces China’s changing policies in Africa over recent decades against the background of a “ruinous” US presence there. More and more African states “are refusing to take sides in the New Cold War, and are instead trying to play its combatants off against each other.” The author is a professor emeritus of history at Loyola University Maryland and has written several books on recent African history.
By Juan Cole, Informed Comment, posted July 22
“Like Johnson, Biden has provoked massive campus protests by going all in on a ruinous foreign misadventure. In Biden’s case, the great white whale has been the destruction of Hamas, and his albatross has been his ‘bear hug’ of the extremist government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.” The author teaches Middle East history at the University of Michigan.
“The Antisemitism Double-Standard”
By Alan Singer, Daily Kos, posted July 21
A succinct piece distinguishing real antisemitism from criticism of Israeli policies. “The double-standard is defending unacceptable Israeli actions that would not be tolerated if they were committed by another democratic nation.” The author is a historian who teaches at Hofstra University and is director of social studies education there.
Thanks to an anonymous reader for suggesting articles included in the above list, and to Roger Peace (creator of the United States Foreign Policy: History & Resource Guide website) for valuable consulting. Suggestions for these occasional article lists can be sent to jimobrien48@gmail.com.