George McTurnan Kahin was an American historian and political scientist. He was one of the leading experts on Southeast Asia and a critic of United States involvement in the Vietnam War.
After completing his dissertation, which is still considered a classic on Indonesian history, Kahin became a faculty member at Cornell University. At Cornell, he became the director of its Southeast Asia Program and founded the Cornell Modern Indonesia Project.
It is interesting to read books written close to the events, to gain insight into those aware and critical of foreign policy decisions while expressing the dangers of war and the interventions. This book is a hidden treasure for such a period in history.