"A Fundamental Assault on the Merits of American Objectives"

"It is important to underline one point that some leftist and anti-American ideologues often ignore: the Weltanschauung of America's self-understanding is neither cynical nor evil but is deeply felt by its proponents and proselytizers. 'American leaders,' Williams wrote, 'believed deeply in the ideals they proclaimed.'"

Eric Alterman in The Nation revisits William Appleman Williams's The Tragedy of American Diplomacy upon the book's fiftieth anniversary.

And Greg Grandin, also in The Nation, writes an appreciation of Williams.