Kissinger can write a book. His wisdom and depth of understanding are phenomenal. He discusses the concept of world order. Or what we perceive as worlKissinger can write a book. His wisdom and depth of understanding are phenomenal. He discusses the concept of world order. Or what we perceive as world order based off of the Westphalian system of states from 1648. Now we progress through that of empires and their disintegration after World War I. What next...in reality not much except a hiatus of hostilities which broke out fully in World War II. The next great phase is that of the Cold War, NATO, the rise of the oil states, and the post-colonial era where the colonies threw off the yoke of the colonial masters. The monoliths were the Soviet Union and the US. They divided the world in a way. The free and those of the communist block. Mixed in this was the subtle rise or the whispers of radical Islam. The mixing of the lineup of Islamic nations versus the rest do us...the European nations and the US where it remains today. I could go on and on. A fantastic book written by one of the greatest of statesman...maybe the last...Henry Kissinger. ...more
Nothing was so daunting a task to the world as the destruction of the Axis Powers. Yet, once that task was finished, the victorious Allies succumbed tNothing was so daunting a task to the world as the destruction of the Axis Powers. Yet, once that task was finished, the victorious Allies succumbed to suspicion, arrogance, and the murky world of power politics. Set in the aftermath of WWII and covering the time until the breakout of the Korean War, The Lost Peace explores how Britain, France, Russia, and the United States slowly polarized into the West versus the East. Democracy versus Communism. Good against evil. Much was driven by the personalities of Stalin, De Gaulle, Truman, and Churchill. Each would create his own world view which became national policy. Mix in England and France trying to hold onto the last vestiges of the empires creating the Colonial Wars, and now you have a splendid situation known as the beginnings of the Cold War. I found this one entertaining and enlightening....more
Thought provoking. Originally I thought the book was a rant and/or an outpouring of sympathy for Osama Bin Ladin and Al Qaeda. Yes, we and our demand Thought provoking. Originally I thought the book was a rant and/or an outpouring of sympathy for Osama Bin Ladin and Al Qaeda. Yes, we and our demand for cheap oil and the dictatorous countries that provide us the same oil created Muslim hatred for us. Yes, our strategy (lack thereof) in Iraq and Afghanistan and the nightmare regimes we created was a boost for Muslim insurgency recruitment posters. All very true. Originally, I did not care for what I thought was an ex-intelligence officer saying, "I told you so!"
However, later I realized many of his points were very sound. 1. Al Qaeda is not our enemy. Muslim insurgency recruiting from 1.4ish billion people most certainly is. In other words, we face an army not a terrorist organization. Stop using law enforcement to fight a global army. 2. Do we need to continue to support Israel? If Israel falls, what will happen in my backyard? Nothing much probably. 3. Do we need to prop up such nice folks as the Kuwaiti's and the Saudi's. Not really, I agree. 4. We need to develop our own energy self-sufficiency. Go nuke power! I like it especially since I am a former nuclear trained type guy. 5. Senior intel and military officers do not rock the boat...that will hurt those future lucrative retirement jobs.
Some may find these thoughts and discussions incredibly harsh. Outrage may follow since that is what we do these days...we get outraged at stuff. However, the thinking is sound even though there is some tiresome monologue to deal with. The book was written in 2004. Looking at the situation with the Syrian civil war and the growing power of ISIS and all the other terrorist organizations, his predictions unfortunately came true. I enjoyed this one and hope you will too....more
Shaman! That was a long book. A fantastic one though. Make sure you have a good solid month to get through this one. Over 300 years old diplomacy in oShaman! That was a long book. A fantastic one though. Make sure you have a good solid month to get through this one. Over 300 years old diplomacy in one solid book. 836 pages. Make sure you are very steeped in European history before you tackle this Achilles of history. I cannot begin to state the amount I have learned from this single book. Now for a long nap. ...more
This one was good but kindof on the dry side. I did enjoy the comparisons of the German General Staff and the staffs of the Napoleonic era. You would This one was good but kindof on the dry side. I did enjoy the comparisons of the German General Staff and the staffs of the Napoleonic era. You would have to do lots of reading on the military systems of England, Prussia, Germany, and ours before picking this one up.
It does discuss some of the history behind creating the single Department of Defense which is interesting.
Overall a decent read but very sketchy relations to history. Needs far more depth to understand what he is trying to get across. Meant for a very limiOverall a decent read but very sketchy relations to history. Needs far more depth to understand what he is trying to get across. Meant for a very limited audience....more
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