Filkins
I have both on the shelf, but have only read Filkin's book so far. That said, it is a deep and emotional read. The book is stories and observations from his travels during The Long War. Some really exciting and sad stuff, definitely a must read.
Originally Posted by karaka
"What do you think this is, some kind of encounter group?"
- Harry Callahan, The Enforcer.
Clan Politics and Regime Transition in Central Asia.
Feeding my poli-sci side. Not the most involving read, but a good way to refocus on the importance of informal networks and power relations after focusing on state-level relations for so long.
Now reading After Hegemony, Nagel's the Sling and the Stone, and Xenophon's Anabasis
You dirty dirty realist.
General - Statesman
Am finishing up William Manchester's bio of MacArthur (American Caesar).
MacArthur's actions in post-war Japan are ripe for what can be done WRT nation-building.
Sadly, the "global network" makes things too interconnected today to allow an individual that level of autonomy; nor is any entity (nation, military, criminal enterprise, economic aid, diplomatic resolve, etc.) able to be that decisive.
Decisive individual since McArthur?
Cap'n Jake,
I think you are wrong it is possible for an individual to be decisive. The US retired General Jacques "Joe" Klein led a remarkable UN mission in Eastern Slavonia, a Serb rebel enclave in Croatia, which was re-integrated with robust action: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_...estern_Sirmium
IIRC he was backed by "interested parties", with a UN mandate, which both Croatia and local parties had to accept and a robust Jordanian Army battallion which gave him "muscle".
Cannot recall other UN missions which had such a figure and mission.
davidbfpo
American Soldier
I just finished Tommy Franks' American Soldier. Did anybody else's BS alarm go off constantly as they read this?
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