Casualties and consensus
Subtitle: the historical role of casualties in domestic support for U.S. military operations
By: Eric V. Larson.
Contributors: Rand Corporation.
Publisher: RAND
Published: 1996
Place of publication: Santa Monica, CA
Language: eng
Number of pages: 126
Subjects: Battle casualties -- Public opinion -- History -- 20th century.; Public opinion -- United States -- History -- 20th century.; United States -- Military policy.
Description: Casualties and Consensus is a revealing new study of U.S. public opinion on U.S. military operations.

Based upon an examination of U.S. experiences in the Second World War, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf, Panama, and Somalia, it finds that, contrary to widely held belief, public support for U.S. military operations does not respond to casualties alone but ultimately reflects a sensible weighing of ends and means that is greatly influenced by events and conditions on the battlefield and by U.S. political leaders in Washington.

Casualties and Consensus is an important and insightful discussion of the recurring patterns in the American public's support for wars and military operations, and seems certain to provoke renewed discussion and debate in U.S. academic, political and military circles about the prospects for a post-Cold War consensus on the role of force in American foreign policy.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 121-126).