: Using cultural figures to provide moral authority and intellectual validation for the war effort.

If you are writing an essay on this book, consider these central arguments:

: Manipulating casualty figures to maintain domestic morale and project strength.

: Propaganda relies on creating a sharp contrast between "us" (civilized/noble) and "them" (barbaric/monster) to make violence socially acceptable.

: Leaders always claim they are peaceful and were forced into conflict against their will.