Militarian historian Andrew Bacevich joins us to discuss his new book, “America’s War for the Greater Middle East: A Military History.” The Carter Doctrine and the US military shift to the middle-east. The shift in rationale in the war for the middle east from a war for oil to a war for American Exceptionalism. The importance of Carter’s much-maligned “Malaise Speech.” The Oil shocks of the late 70s. The US expectation that war can create a new political order. Post-Cold War military hubris. The American bipartisan political class view of Global Policeman. The shriveling of our notion of diplomacy.

For members: Sam and Janeane talk to former US Senator Gary Hart on how the second Bush ignored warnings about terrorism, the increasing extremism of the right, the CIA as “rogue elephant,” and the old question, “what’s the matter with Kansas.” (8/4/2004)