Description
Book SynopsisOver the past quarter century, four consecutive American presidentstwo Democrat, two Republicanhave spent more time, diplomatic capital, and military resources on Iraq than any other country in the world. Much as the Vietnam syndrome cast a long shadow over American security policy in the decades after the end of the Vietnam War, Iraq provides the commanding narrative for this generation of American leaders. In this book, former Deputy Secretary of State P. J. Crowley, one of America's most insightful national security commentators, unpacks the legacy of American triumphs and failures in Iraq . He argues that presidents have fallen victim to the Iraq Syndromethe disconnect between politics, policy, strategy, and narrativethat has hampered America's foreign policy in the Middle East and hotspots throughout the world. In order to maintain America's global leadership role, Crowley argues that the next president must realign American's national security politics, policies, strategies, and
Trade Review"A fascinating inside account of what will be the central challenge to U.S. policy in the 21st century: understanding and adjusting to the limits of American power in an increasingly turbulent world. Crowley convincingly shows that finding a better balance between the role America’s values demand and the influence America’s power permits is essential for American leadership." -- Trita Parsi, 2010 recipient of the Grawemeyer Award for Improving World Order and author of Losing an Enemy - Obama, Iran and the Triumph of Diplomacy
“A must read examination of contemporary American foreign policy. This book takes you inside how foreign policy is made by a seasoned practitioner who has been there." -- Bruce Riedel, Director of the Brookings Intelligence Project
"Defining America’s role in the world is all too often reduced to slogans. Is the United States, in Madeleine Albright’s words, the “indispensable nation?” In this provocative and well-written book, P.J.Crowley answers this question. By analyzing the foreign policies of Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, and where they were right and wrong, he concludes that we do have a special role to play in the world but we should temper our self-image of being indispensable. Even those who may question his conclusion will learn much from reading this very thoughtful book." -- Dennis Ross, Distinguished Fellow, The Washington Institute and Author of Doomed to Succeed
Crowley’s 'sweeping, densely packed account of American-centric diplomacy and warfare could have served as a defense of the motivations and actions of Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. Refreshingly, the author mostly puts his partisan loyalties aside as he informs readers, in clear prose, how the government has been trying to find a balance between the U.S. as a global police officer and as a more modest presence.' * Kirkus *
Table of ContentsForeword Introduction Red Lines and Political Boundaries 1 Reasonable Assurance 2 War Against Al Qaeda 3 Central Front 4 Extended Hand 5 Wrong Side of History 6 Leading from Behind 7 All Wars End 8 The Pivot 9 Someone Else’s Civil War 10 Reset 11 A Good Deal 12 Good Enough 13 War Within Islam 14 No Boots on the Ground 15 Incredible Nation 16 A Foreign Policy within the Political Lines Acknowledgments Notes Selected Bibliography Index About the Author
