As the United States now faces a major defeat in Iraq, the history of the Vietnam War, as a historic blunder for U.S forces abroad, and the true story of how it was stopped, take on a fresh importance. Allen's analysis reclaims the stories of the courageous GI revolt, its dynamic relationship with the civil rights movement and the peace movement, the development of coffeehouses where these groups organised and spoke out, and the struggles waged throughout barracks, bases and military prisons to challenge the rule of military command.