War is a machine of destruction used by every nation, from Third World countries to global empires, throughout the history of the world. This essay will attempt to trace modern American history from World War II to the present day. Key areas that will be examined are 1) the patriotism and propaganda used by the government during the war, 2) the role of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in enforcing national laws during the Cold War era in American history, 3) US intervention abroad in many aspects, from obtaining strategic advantages, to control of natural resources, to the deposition of oppressive governments, to the spread of political and religious systems, and to commercial self-interest, to 4 ) how the media shapes our historical world both past and present. The last paragraph introduces a personal vision. When America fights against another country, one of the most critical aspects its leaders must ensure is the people's support for the war. This traditional public support allows the country to raise money and finance the war. To understand how the regime can achieve such a dynamic factor and ensure its success, we must revisit the work of Susan Brewer. Through his book, titled – Why America Fights: Patriotism and War Propaganda from the Philippines to Iraq, we will discuss the multifaceted role of the American media in shaping public perception during times of war. We will analyze the role of war propaganda and the means by which the military and the media collaborated to make the war presentable to the American public, referring to Why Viet Nam (Brewer chapter 5) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (Brewer chapter 6). "If freedom is to survive in any American hometown, it must be preserved in places like South Vietnam" President Lyndon B. Joh...... half of document ...... arising from foreign corporations that control the the country's resources. First, there is “the monopoly held by Electric Bond & Share” (Kinzer 132). Second, there are “the Central American International Railways, which owned almost all of the country's rail lines, including the only connection between the capital and the Atlantic port of Puerto Barrios – most of which is also owned” (Kinzer 132). Third, there is “United Fruit, which owned more than 550,000 acres, about one-fifth of the country's arable land” (Kinzer 133). He did what he set out to do, which was to pass the “Agrarian Reform Law,” specifically targeting these private companies. Ultimately, his actions led to negative results that forced him to resign from the presidency. Indochina, the French government colonized Vietnam in the 19th century for its natural rubber resources (Kinzer 150).