Lawrence Wittner

Lawrence Wittner is professor of history at the State University of New York/Albany and a contributor to Foreign Policy In Focus. His latest book is Confronting the Bomb: A Short History of the World Nuclear Disarmament Movement (Stanford University Press).

The Vietnam War: After Forty Years

Today, 40 years after the American war in Vietnam ended in ignominious defeat, the traces of that terrible conflict are disappearing. Traveling through Vietnam during the latter half of April 2015 with a group of erstwhile antiwar activists, I was struck by the transformation of what was once an impoverished, war-devastated peasant society into a … Continue reading “The Vietnam War: After Forty Years”

Who Are the Nuclear Scofflaws?

Given all the frothing by hawkish U.S. Senators about Iran’s possible development of nuclear weapons, one might think that Iran was violating the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). But it’s not. The NPT, signed by 190 nations and in effect since 1970, is a treaty in which the non-nuclear nations agreed to forgo developing nuclear weapons … Continue reading “Who Are the Nuclear Scofflaws?”

Do Wars Really Defend America’s Freedom?

U.S. politicians and pundits are fond of saying that America’s wars have defended America’s freedom. But the historical record doesn’t bear out this contention. In fact, over the past century, US wars have triggered major encroachments upon civil liberties. Shortly after the United States entered World War I, seven states passed laws abridging freedom of … Continue reading “Do Wars Really Defend America’s Freedom?”

Doom from the Depths: Coming Your Way

Ever since the horrors of submarine warfare became a key issue during World War I, submarines have had a sinister reputation. And the building of new, immensely costly, nuclear-armed submarines by the U.S. government and others may soon raise the level of earlier anxiety to a nuclear nightmare. This spring, the US government continued its … Continue reading “Doom from the Depths: Coming Your Way”

The Limits of Military Power

Is overwhelming national military power a reliable source of influence in world affairs? If so, the United States should certainly have plenty of influence today. For decades, it has been the world’s Number 1 military spender. And it continues in this role. According to a recent report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, the … Continue reading “The Limits of Military Power”

Your Doctors Are Worried

Your doctors are worried about your health – in fact, about your very survival. No, they’re not necessarily your own personal physicians, but, rather, medical doctors around the world, represented by groups like International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW). As you might recall, that organization, composed of many thousands of medical professionals … Continue reading “Your Doctors Are Worried”

America’s Peace Ship

Is there an emotional connection between the oceans and the pursuit of peace? For whatever reason, peace ships have been increasing in number over the past century. Probably the first of these maritime vessels was the notorious Ford Peace Ship of 1915, which stirred up more ridicule than peace during World War I. Almost forty … Continue reading “America’s Peace Ship”

The Endless Arms Race: Despite Promises, New Nuclear Weapons Are On the Way

It’s heartening to see that an agreement has been reached to ensure that Iran honors its commitment, made when it signed the 1970 nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), to forgo developing nuclear weapons. But what about the other key part of the NPT, Article VI, which commits nuclear-armed nations to "cessation of the nuclear arms race … Continue reading “The Endless Arms Race: Despite Promises, New Nuclear Weapons Are On the Way”

When Will They Ever Learn? The American People and Support for War

When it comes to war, the American public is remarkably fickle. The responses of Americans to the Iraq and Afghanistan wars provide telling examples. In 2003, according to opinion polls, 72 percent of Americans thought going to war in Iraq was the right decision. By early 2013, support for that decision had declined to 41 … Continue reading “When Will They Ever Learn? The American People and Support for War”

Eliminating Nuclear Weapons Is Just as Important as Eliminating Chemical Weapons

The apparent employment of chemical weapons in Syria should remind us that, while weapons of mass destruction exist, there is a serious danger that they will be used. That danger is highlighted by an article in the September/October 2013 issue of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. Written by two leading nuclear weapons specialists, Hans … Continue reading “Eliminating Nuclear Weapons Is Just as Important as Eliminating Chemical Weapons”