Review - The Savage Wars of Peace

In this well-referenced, clearly written survey of America's involvement in "small wars" from the Quasi-War with France in 1798 to Kosovo in 2001, Max Boot argues that America has a long history of involvement in other countries' internal affairs and that, up until Vietnam, the U. S. had a fairly decent track record.

American interventions often brought stability, security, and a large decrease in corruption while introducing health and infrastructure improvements. He also argues that economics, often touted as a primary reason for American involvement, has actually been generally of only secondary importance.

Boot lays out a clear, concise argument that America, if it leans on its historical experience, can and should be an agent of global security and state building. He cautions that if America does not listen to history, or if it opts out of its role, the consequences can be terrible - citing the Beirut bombing and the rise of Osama bin Laden as recent failures.

Although written in 2002 this book still has relevance in the tumultuous, jihadist-edged world. We still don't seem to understand the lessons of history though they are relatively easy to reference.

Recommended.

Feature and Follow - Bookselling Time

The sixth book from the left on the second shelf from the top of my biggest book shelf is... Unless Victory Comes by Gene Garrison with Patrick Gilbert. I have not yet read this one. I bought it for 50 cents in a going out of business sale a couple of years ago. It is a first person account of an infantryman in the U. S. army in France in 1944-45. It is one of those histories which have been coming out recently as the last veterans of Word War II get their memoirs published before they pass on. As their numbers thin every year these issues get fewer and fewer. Soon there will be no more. These histories have the advantage that the basic story is well told; they need not provide the background detail that was necessary early on. They have the distinct disadvantage of extreme distance from the events they portray. Garrison uses narrative, with conversations presented as if they had happened yesterday. Although the story may be as he remembers it, the exact details are likely to be, shall we say, shaded. One other thing that seems to be different in these late memoirs compared to the early ones is that they often lack some of the political correctness of the early ones. I look forward to reading it.

 



Feature and Follow - Bookgram

 

 

Just to the right, the two white volumes are Fuller's Military History of the Western World. A very innocuous place for military books to be in the greenhouse!

 

Feature and Follow - Favorite War Book

I was away at a baseball tournament (THE American game) so please pardon the delay in the post.

Nonfiction my favorite book about war has to be Battle: the Story of the Bulge by John Toland (World War II). I first read an abridged version (for young readers) when I was in 7th grade. I found the full version in 10th grade at the public library. It is one of the few books I have read more than twice. It is that rare book that captures both the strategic picture and the view from the ground of both the individual soldier and the low-level officers.

A few others, from different wars:

Lee's Lieutenants by Douglas Southall Freeman (American Civil War). This was the book that launched the "Lost Cause" theory of the Civil War. It was and still is an influential tome in the study of military strategy and tactics, being required reading for cadets across the world.

Climax at Buena Vista by David Lavender (Mexican-American War). This is a small book about an obscure period in US history. That does not detract from its exceptional quality. It documents the northern campaign in the war which won for Zachary Taylor the Presidency.

The Campaigns of Napoleon by David G. Chandler (Napoleonic Wars). The quintessential military history of Napoleon and his campaigns. Chandler was a lecturer at the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst. The volume is comprehensive, insightful and balanced.

Chickenhawk by Robert Mason (Vietnam War). One of the earlier books written about the Vietnam War by a veteran, this book attained critical success. Mason, a helicopter pilot, is critical of the way the US ran the war and the preparation given to soldiers to prepare them. Like the others above it is well-written, insightful, and comprehensive.

A few fictional accounts that I have also really enjoyed:

The Berserker Wars by Fred Saberhagen (science fiction). Saberhagen wrote a series of novels and short stories all revolving around war between intelligent robots (the Berserkers) and organic life. Highly recommended.

The Hornblower series by C. S. Forester and the Bolitho series by Alexander Kent. Both are multi-volume sets tracing the career of a Royal Navy officer, primarily through the Napoleonic period. Forester was first and set the standard for naval fiction. Both series capture the period and the complex lives of the seamen, and the officers on a wooden warship. They are also superb at following the development and the psyche of the man in charge.

Finally, two classics: My Brother Sam is Dead by Christopher Collier (American Revolution) and The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane (American Civil War). Both take the perspective of a single individual as they learn the horrors associated even with a "good" war.

What did I miss?