What happens to a republic when its government lies so often that lying becomes less a scandal than a method of administration? Charles Goyette’s answer is that the republic becomes an empire, and the empire eventually becomes unable to distinguish its propaganda from the world outside. It spends money it does not have. It starts wars it cannot finish. It creates enemies faster than its diplomats can name them. When the consequences arrive, its officials announce that nobody could have foreseen them. The newspapers publish the announcement. A congressional committee expresses concern. Then...