Stories by William Astore
William J. Astore, a retired lieutenant colonel (USAF), now teaches at the Pennsylvania College of Technology. His books and articles focus primarily on military history and include Hindenburg: Icon of German Militarism (Potomac Press, 2005). He may be reached at wastore@pct.edu.
Posted on May 15, 2012, Source: TomDispatch.com
Clearly, come November, whoever wins or loses, the national security state will be the true victor in the presidential sweepstakes.
Posted on Jan 24, 2012, Source: TomDispatch.com
Last year saw the U.S. on pace to deliver more than $46 billion in foreign arms sales. Who says America isn’t number one anymore?
Posted on Dec 8, 2011, Source: TomDispatch.com
Here’s an American fact: the 99% are far too remote from our wars of choice and those who fight them. To reclaim the latter, we must end the former.
Posted on Jun 14, 2011, Source: TomDispatch.com
Our president and elected representatives must serve as a check on the military establishment, rather than issuing blank checks to them.
Posted on May 12, 2011, Source: TomDispatch.com
Our wars are eerily like those pursued by European monarchs: carried out by professional militaries and mercenaries for the purposes of protecting the interests of a ruling elite.
Posted on Feb 20, 2011, Source: TomDispatch.com
Some things are worth fighting and dying for, others aren’t. It’s time for us to do a far better job of figuring out the difference.
Posted on Sep 2, 2010, Source: Counterpunch and Tomdispatch.com
Two articles consider what the real economic patterns we face are, and whether the big process we're undergoing is basically just a massive transfer of wealth.
Posted on Jul 23, 2010, Source: TomDispatch.com
A snappy uniform or even intense combat in far-off countries don't magically transform troops into heroes.
Posted on Jul 12, 2010, Source: YES! Magazine
How to cap the gusher of war funding and rhetoric.
Posted on Jun 4, 2010, Source: TomDispatch.com
Tell me: Is the fight truly worth it? Is Afghanistan really the place for us to go “all-in,” whatever the cost to our military, our economy, even our way of life?
Posted on Apr 20, 2010, Source: TomDispatch.com
The headlines tell the story -- repetitively. Everyone, it seems, is on the take. But are we too distracted to try and stop it?
Posted on Feb 18, 2010, Source: TomDispatch.com
Pentagon strategists owe a shocking amount of thought to modern German military lore.
Posted on Jun 1, 2009, Source: TomDispatch.com
By only viewing education as a way to a higher-paying job we're giving a free pass to the prevailing machinery of power.
Posted on Apr 20, 2009, Source: TomDispatch.com
These are the questions on U.S. strategy in Afghanistan that Obama should be asked at his press conferences.
Posted on Jun 16, 2008, Source: The Nation and TomDispatch.com
Seeking a new mission, the Air Force is looking for a few good nerds.
Posted on Feb 6, 2008, Source: TomDispatch.com
The military is not from Mars. We must understand its endless appeal if we ever hope to change it.
Posted on Nov 9, 2007, Source: TomDispatch.com
After holding so few high-level government and military officials accountable for failures in Iraq, Bush needs a scapegoat.
