Contributors examine the relationship between various religious, moral, and ethical traditions in light of recent US foreign policy decisions about preemptive war, terrorism, multilateralism, and deterrence. Hehir (religion and public life, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard) and Michael Walzer (social science, Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton U.) begin with essays on different moral traditions, with Hehir examining the tradition of Niebuhr and Walzer working from a broader moral standpoint. Their respondents acknowledge that some form of ethics or faith tradition has long been a part of government policy, whether functioning as an unseen foundation or a clear motive for action; they differ on exactly how effective that influence has been and will be. Each essay contains its own references. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)