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Author's Preface to the 2003 Edition
I wrote and illustrated the first edition of Addicted to War following
the first u.s. war against Iraq in 1992. The people of this country had
been largely shielded from the truth about that and previous wars waged
by the United States. My aim was to present information difficult to
find in the mainstream news media (which had been largely reduced to
wartime cheerleaders). I also wanted to explain this country's
extraordinary predilection to go to war. As this edition goes to press,
this chronic U.S. addiction to war has reached a new level of intensity.
The Bush/Cheney administration is now gearing up for a new war against
Iraq. A thin rhetorical veneer about combating terrorism and the
proliferation of weapons of mass destruction hardly conceals the main
aims of the war: to impose a U.S. client regime in the heart of the
Middle East and assure control over a country that has the second
largest known oil reserves in the world. It is also clear that
Washington intends to inflict terrible death and destruction on the
Iraqi people as an example to back up aggressive threats against other
countries.
The domestic costs of this addiction are being felt more acutely. As
military spending skyrockets, huge government budget deficits have
reappeared, threatening a new round of sharp cuts in domestic programs,
including education, medical care, housing, public transportation, and
environmental protection. The "war on terrorism" is also being used as
an excuse to step up police surveillance of people in the U.S.
In this edition I have only updated military spending statistics and
made a few small corrections. Many readers suggested that the book close
with ideas about what we can do to end America's addiction to war. In
response, we have added a list of organizations conducting anti-war
education and activities.
Many people helped create and distribute this book. It is impossible to
thank them all here. Instead, I will mention only three: My mother,
Carol Andreas, who introduced me to anti-war activities; my father, Carl
Andreas, who originally encouraged me to write the book; and Frank
Dorrel, whose tireless promotion made a new edition both possible and
irresistible.
Joel Andreas, February 2003
Publisher's Note
I first read the original 1992 edition of Addicted to War two years ago.
My immediate response was to buy 100 copies. That's how good I thought
it was. Then I learned it was out of print. I located the author, Joel
Andreas, and convinced him to update the book. In April 2002, I
published a new edition with the help of AK Press. The response has been
tremendous. In nine months, over 45,000 copies have been distributed.
Addicted to War is being used as a textbook by many high school and
college teachers. Peace organizations are selling the book at anti-war
rallies, teach-ins, and smaller events. It is showing up in schools,
churches, and public libraries. More and more bookstores are carrying
it, including progressive independents, national chains, and comic book
stores. Individuals are ordering multiple copies to give to friends,
co-workers, and relatives. I have received thousands of calls, email
messages, and letters from people telling me haw much they love this
book! Addicted to War has become a best seller in Japan and it will soon
be available in Spanish and Korean. Editions in other languages are in
the works. We are producing a CD- ROM version and a production studio
has started making an animated documentary video. Others are working on
a radio play and a stage production has been proposed. All these
versions are helping get the book's anti-war message out to greater
numbers of people around the world.
I want to thank, Joel Andreas for giving us a powerful educational tool
that reveals the sad and painful truth about U.S. militarism. Thanks to
Yumi Kikuchi for her support and for making the Japanese edition of
Addicted to War possible. We are honored that some of America's most
courageous peace educators and activists have endorsed the book. Special
thanks to my friends, to my family, and to S. Brian Willson, for
supporting this project from the beginning. Finally, I want to thank
you, the reader, for your concern about the issues addressed in this
book. I encourage you to use it to help bring about a change of
consciousness in this country. Please consider taking a copy to a
teacher who might use it in class. Take a copy to your church,
synagogue, or mosque. Send one to your congressperson, city council
member, or someone in the media. Show it to friends and family.
Education is the key. It's up to each of us to do our part. People
around the world are counting on us to end our country's addiction to
war.
Frank Dorrel, February 2003
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