Why does the foreign and security policy of the United States so often seem to be not just unsuccessful but misguided, being based on incomplete or otherwise mistaken images of the outside world? Some of the most memorable episodes in America’s relationship with the world have included debilitating wars—Vietnam and Iraq being the leading examples—in which the decisions to wage war appear to have been based on incorrect perceptions of those countries. They have included placing bets on ill-fated regimes, such as that of the shah of Iran. They have included falling victim to surprise attack, most notably at Pearl Harbor in 1941 and in New York and Washington,.
