A satirical guide for imperialists

“They say if you love something, you should set it free,” the manual says. “That's how you have to think about individual freedom.”

This is just one of many pieces of sarcastic wisdom that can be found in How to Fight Wars: A Confidential Playbook for the National Security EliteAn instruction manual in the same satirical tradition as Instructions for a sub-devil And Report from Iron MountainThis book by libertarian economists Christopher Coyne and Abigail Hall draws on real-world examples from throughout U.S. history to teach today's imperialists how to manipulate the media, suppress dissent, control the economy, and justify any crime in the process.

The book acknowledges that some of its advice may seem “distasteful or contrary to the ideals of a free society.” But it urges readers to “keep the bigger picture in mind. You are working to preserve and spread freedom and independence at home and abroad. That requires you to limit freedom of speech and freedom of the press to protect those freedoms, or they will be lost.”