Lebanon War, Revisiting Iraq Invasion, the Draft, and More
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A year into Israel’s war on the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces have now escalated attacks across Lebanon. As Nicholas Frakes reports, experts say a full-scale conflict is no longer just a possibility; it’s already here.
In one way or another, following the 1917 entry into World War I, the US has had a Selective Service System (SSS) collecting names, addresses, and birth dates of citizens for a potential draft into military service in the event of conflict. As Ursala Knudsen-Latta points out, the SSS punishes conscientious objectors and gives Congress and leaders further opportunity to go to war.
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“Israel’s Full-Scale War on Lebanon is Already Here” by Nicholas Frakes (Oct. 1)
Since the Israeli war in Gaza began on Oct. 7, Tel Aviv has also been ensnared in tit-for-tat attacks with the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah. After Israeli airstrikes killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah late last month, that conflict is quickly escalating into an all-out war.
“The Missteps and Miscalculations Before the US Invasion of Iraq” by Katherine Voyles (Oct. 2)
Steve Coll’s The Achilles Trap: Saddam Hussein, the CIA, and the Origins of America’s Invasion of Iraq tells the story of the long runup to the 2003 invasion of Iraq over almost 500 pages. Coll traces the entirety of Hussein’s rule to narrate how badly he misunderstood the US, especially the CIA, and its intentions toward him.
“If You Want Peace, Prepare for Peace” by Ursala Knudsen-Latta (Oct. 3)
The Selective Service System is an undeniable example of how militarism — the nonstop preparation and march toward war — has entrenched itself into our everyday lives. Most consider it perfectly normal to register for the draft with barely a thought given to what you are forced to sign up for.
“Deep Dive: The Nazis and Their Collaborators” by Emily Tamkin (Oct. 4)
A new paper at Political Psychology considers how Europeans in different countries see their group’s role during Nazi occupation, and how “different role representations relate to defensive responses aimed at protecting the ingroup from threat.”
From the desk of Patrick Strickland, managing editor of Inkstick Media.