Introduction

This chapter gives an introduction about the former senator George McGovern's efforts to end the Iraq war. It also gives an overview of the key concepts covered in the book. The book examines the damage done by this war. It also explores the lessons from the United States (US) war in Iraq. It organizes these lessons into three categories. First are the whys, the purposes that should never take Americans to war again. The second section focuses on the hows, the ways and means that should never be allowed to take Americans into war again. The last section surveys the major changes what one call the collateral damage to the national life and its constitutional foundation that have been achieved through war: the expansion of the power of the executive branch and the private sector and the constraint of the civil liberties.