NF

Pure propaganda

This book really opened my eyes to what America's place in the world and role in globalization has been and should be. The United States, a composite of the rest of the world, is the natural leader and model for . Great power war has ended. Where there are conflicts within regions and nations, it usually stems from resistance to connectivity with the rest of the world. Sometimes, failed states and bad actors require force to a prevent humanitarian crises. After the force has been employed, it is important to follow up with security and assistance and help the affected people establish rules to enable them connect to the rest of the world. Only the United State has the resources to play that part, but it would be smart for the rising powers to help and America should welcome that help. ( )

I think that the author has a point with the stuff he says in his book. ( )

An important work that attempts to demonstrate the direction that the Pentagon will have to make in the 21st Century. He points out that Islam has "bleeding borders," anywhere that Islam rubs against other cultures, it bleeds, or sheds the blood of others. This work fuels related books such as Samuel Huntington's, Clash of Civilizations. Although he has no extended discussion of Islam of Islamism (pp. 42, 109).

Barnett states: 1) The world is divided into a Functioning Core and a Non-Integrating Group; 2) Connectivity is the primary method to define and influence which countries move into the Functioning Core; and 3) Economic relationships have replaced military power.

He seems to be postulating a realistic appraisal of Pentagon efforts and is less ideologically committed than many books of the same ilk. I believe it could be read profitably by many whether a person is a conservative or a liberal.