Introduction / Michael Walzer -- No exit but victory : Britain and the American colonies / Stanley Weintraub -- America and the Philippines : the graceful withdrawal / Stanley Karnow -- India and Britain : the consequences of leaving too soon / Rajeev Bhargava -- The surprising success : the United States and Korea / Fred Smoler -- France and Algeria : claim victory and au revoir / Todd Shepard -- Vietnam and the United States : the price of intransigence / Frances FitzGerald -- The gates of Gaza and the limits of power : Israel and Gaza / Shlomo Avineri -- 9/11 and the road to Iraq / Nicolaus Mills -- The persistence of empire / David Bromwich -- Departing responsibly / Brendan O'Leary -- It isn't over / George Packer.