About the Program
In "The Icarus Syndrome," Peter Beinart discusses how each American generation's perception of war is shaped by the times in which they came of age. Americans who grew up in prosperous peaceful times are more inclined to think of U.S. military success as a foregone conclusion, while those who lived through tumultuous times are less likely to favor U.S. military action. Mr. Beinart tests his theory by examining the World War I era, the Vietnam era and the present wars on Iraq and Afghanistan. He's interviewed by Mike Allen of The Politico.