Getting Out: The First Rule of Holes

In: Dissent: a journal devoted to radical ideas and the values of socialism and democracy, Volume 56, Issue 1, p. 33-57

Abstract

"Know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em, know when to walk away, know when to run," the gambler says in a popular song. But in the aftermath of imperialism and war, walking away is not so simple. Dissent's editors asked several scholars and writers to look at British, French, and American exit Strategies- and to pay special attention to the difficulties, above all, the need to protect friends and collaborators and to minimize violence. In these pages, the focus is on each particular case-the American colonies, the Philippines, India, Korea, Algeria, and Vietnam-but we are obviously looking toward an American withdrawal from Iraq. We will write about that in the Spring Dissent. Adapted from the source document.