Send us Fan Mail We weigh the stories nations tell about themselves against the record of wars, sanctions, and deterrence, and test whether intentions matter less than outcomes. From Vietnam to Venezuela, NATO to North Korea, we press for clearer language, broader history, and fewer illusions. • Emerson and Hawthorne as mirrors of intellectual courage and conformity • Vietnam’s legacy, media limits, and moral judgment versus “mistake” framing • NATO at Russia’s border, ABM systems, and Cold ...