Includes bibliographical references and index.

Introduction: The withdrawal from Afghanistan and the continuing use of American force -- The United States in Vietnam and beyond -- The twentieth century legacy : the The European model of warfare, the impact of nuclear weapons, and the transformation of the uses of force -- The systemic shock of 9/11: Afghanistan, Iraq, and beyond -- Russia and Ukraine in 2022 : the face of modern mayhem? -- Contemporary warfare and American force : conventional and asymmetrical warfare in the world -- The briar patch of intervention in a complex environment : the Developed World -- Conclusion: Where will and should the U.S. fight : the road ahead.

"Donald M. Snow invites readers to consider what criteria should be evaluated when considering whether the United States should engage in military action across the globe: when its vital interests are at stake and when the endeavor can reasonably be considered feasible, what Snow refers to as the "IF factor." It is hard to justify promoting an application of American military force to a situation where its use will not succeed or where US interests are not clearly vital, but, Snow argues, that is exactly what has happened frequently since Vietnam. The book is organized into three sections, examining a historical overview of how the United States became involved in intervening in asymmetrical warfare, the problem of internal war in the developing world, and future American military involvement, particularly in conflicts in the Global South and Ukraine"--