Defense and the National Interest

In the “how did I miss this?” category:
“Learning the Right Lessons from Iraq,” by Benjamin H. Friedman, Harvey Sapolsky and Christopher Preble, The Cato Institute, Policy Analysis no. 610, February 13, 2008.

In the United States and in the developed world generally, we take the rule of law to be the foundation of our societies. The alternatives are usually thought to be gang/mob rule, anarchy, and a return to pre-civilized days (as in The Road Warrior).
Personally, I think there’s a lot of truth to this, especially [...]

By William S. Lind
Retired Air Force Colonel Chet Richards has published another short, good book: If We Can Keep It: A National Security Manifesto for the Next Administration. The “it” in question is a republic, which we are unlikely to keep since republics require a virtuous citizenry. But suggesting a rational, prudent defense policy for [...]

If We Can Keep It: A National Security Manifesto for the Next Administration, by DNI Editor Chet Richards. Now available on Amazon.

By William S. Lind
Yesterday I placed my annual call to my All-Highest War Lord and Sovereign Master, Kaiser Wilhelm II, to offer my usual felicitations on his birthday. His Majesty was laughing when he picked up the receiver, so after congratulating him I took the liberty of inquiring what Heaven found so funny.
“Democracy,” His Majesty [...]

If We Can Keep It: A National Security Manifesto for the Next Administration, by DNI Editor Chet Richards.Chapter III, “Is It War?” is now available [63 KB PDF]. This is a marketing teaser, to implant a subliminal impulse to buy the book and then tell all your friends about it.It should be on Amazon within [...]

Here’s the latest mock-up of the cover of my new book, If We Can Keep It. Right now, it looks like it will come out in February

SWJ’s Dave Dilegge takes on Ralph Peters (Go Dave!)
As Dave notes, the urge to solve political and social problems with brute force runs deep. Near the end, Dave quotes Steve Metz of the US Army War College [-- see correction in the first comment, below]:
As always, I’m green with envy over Ralph’s way with [...]