The End? Military historians meet at West Point to examine outcomes, effects of America’s wars
By Chris Carola, APMonday, June 21, 2010
West Point gathering examines endings of US wars
WEST POINT, N.Y. — Several prominent military historians tell West Point instructors training the next generation of Army officers that American wars usually begin with a bang, yet it’s the endings that have long-lasting influences.
Brian Linn, a professor at Texas A&M University, said Monday at the United States Military Academy that wars “don’t end simply.” Peter Maslowski of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s history department says the endings of wars are “messy,” and in the case of the European conquest of North America, took 300 years to resolve.
Linn and Maslowski were among the 14 academics, authors and other military history experts taking part in the “War Termination Conference” at West Point.
The daylong conference examined the ways American wars have ended and how those endings have influenced subsequent military actions and history.
Online:
US Military Academy: www.usma.edu
US Army Training and Doctrine Command: www.tradoc.army.mil
