The Cold War (Books)

[bailey_187]

Could someone please recommend some books on the Cold War either sympathetic to the USSR or just from a Marxist perspective of History?

Thanks

[oujiQualm]

I very strongly recommend the books JFK and the Unspeakable: Why He Died and Why It matters by James W. Douglass. This book made Penatagon Papers person Daniel Ellsberg and Institute for Policy Studies founder Marcus Raskin both change their minds about the Kennedy Assassination. More imporatantly it is not really about the assassination only but rather shows 60-63 period of Cold War as the critical turning point it was. It shows the inflexibility of the US war bureacracy to an incredible degree. I also recommend the book The Perils of Dominance By Gareth Porter. Finally I very strongly recommend House of War by James Carroll

[oujiQualm]

OH I also have to recommend The Politics of War by Gabriel Kolko. This book is such a cornerstone! (of truth) It is about how the COld War emerged from WWII but virtually all of the key COld War issues were formed during these years it covers 43-45.

Also I am now reading hte excellent Cross of Iron By Michael Hogan about the development of the National Security State. Hogan clearly shows that Chomsky is wrong when he repeats the fake mantra that it was all under the president.

[x359594]

...Hogan clearly shows that Chomsky is wrong when he repeats the fake mantra that it was all under the president.

Ditto for Kolko's book. But what do you mean by "it was all under the president"?

[oujiQualm]

Chomsky often reinforces the mistaken belief that all actions of the CIA, permantent military bureacracy as established by the Military Reform Act of 1947 were under direct control of the president at all times. There were aspects of ambiguity within these reforms. Different interpretations, already visible in earlier presidencies, were acted out in many different scenarios btw 1961- Nov 1963.
See JFK and the Unspeakable: WHy He Died and Why It Matters by James W. Douglass
also Gareth Porter Perils of Dominance, mentioned above.

[MarxSchmarx]

Also check out this thread for a slightly different perspective (it includes a few references to the literature on this question from a marxist perspective):

http://www.revleft.com/vb/soviet-social-imperialism-t106563/index.html