Overthrow by Stephen Kinzer
The Dawn Watch by Maya Jasanoff
i met a man who wasn't there
Overthrow by Stephen Kinzer
The Dawn Watch by Maya Jasanoff
A World in Disarray: American Foreign Policy and the Crisis of the Old Order, by Richard Haass
A good book on World Orders and why the current order is in disarray, with recommendations for foreign policy to help manage the transition from the current world order to world order 2.0.
The World America Made, by Robert Kagan
Still working my through this book, but it is a well written argument on how America reluctantly became a world power, and historically as one of the most powerful countries in the world shapes the world order.
He describes the American people as being rife with potent national myths that both inspire and mislead. For example, he points out we have been one of the most powerful and expansive peoples in history, yet we think of ourselves as aloof, passive, generally inclined to minding our own business.
I'll provide further thoughts on both books in the Strategy in the 21st Century over the next couple of weeks.
I'm currently listening to an audiobook of the Xenophons Anabasis. What a gift it is to be able to follow the steps of men living roughly 2500 years ago! And what a pleasure to listen to such finely crafted language.*
*Of course the speeches were sometimes written how best they would have sounded on those occasions, but that changes for me little.[13] Now what it really means to have such a dream one may learn from the events which followed the dream—and they were these: Firstly, on the moment of his awakening the thought occurred to him: “Why do I lie here? The night is wearing on, and at daybreak it is likely that the enemy will be upon us. And if we fall into the King's hands, what is there to prevent our living to behold all the most grievous sights and to experience all the most dreadful sufferings, and then being put to death with insult?
....
[36] Be sure, therefore, that you, who have now come together in such numbers, have the grandest of opportunities. For all our soldiers here are looking to you; if they see that you are faint-hearted, all of them will be cowards; but if you not only show that you are making preparations yourselves against the enemy, but call upon the rest to do likewise, be well assured that they will follow you and will try to imitate you.
[37] But perhaps it is really proper that you should somewhat excel them. For you are generals, you are lieutenant-generals and captains; while peace lasted, you had the advantage of them alike in pay and in standing; now, therefore, when a state of war exists, it is right to expect that you should be superior to the common soldiers, and that you should plan for them and toil for them whenever there be need.
....
[41] If, however, we can turn the current of their minds, so that they shall be thinking, not merely of what they are to suffer, but likewise of what they are going to do, they will be far more cheerful.
Last edited by Firn; 01-07-2018 at 07:15 PM.
... "We need officers capable of following systematically the path of logical argument to its conclusion, with disciplined intellect, strong in character and nerve to execute what the intellect dictates"
General Ludwig Beck (1880-1944);
Speech at the Kriegsakademie, 1935
Ancient Texts
Also, credit to the translator.
Indeed. Some terms may be old-fashioned or not so precise but this fits my personal bias for, well old texts...Originally Posted by JHR
And still today much can be read between the lines.
... "We need officers capable of following systematically the path of logical argument to its conclusion, with disciplined intellect, strong in character and nerve to execute what the intellect dictates"
General Ludwig Beck (1880-1944);
Speech at the Kriegsakademie, 1935
rub a dub dub
A History of the Future by Peter J Bowler
The Water Will Come by Jeff Goodell
they make a dessert and call it peace
The U.S. vs China by Jude Woodward
The Doomsday Machine by Daniel Ellsberg
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