Four Books for 9/11 insights

I have been fortunate to find (or be directed to) some respected books by people who actually were engaged in the geo-political affairs that affect us. In my own humble opinion these books are full of insight and experience. They’re written by senior people who were in action, doing, not talking – except #4 which is a biography. Each is a five star book you won’t be able to put down.

1. America’s Secret War, George Friedman. A deep, informed analysis of America’s relationship with the Islamic world going back to the Carter administration and the USSR invasion of Afghanistan. Insights galore.
The title is overly sensational, but the content is remarkable.

2. The Pentagon’s New Map, Thomas P.M. Barnett. He was inside the Pentagon and the Naval War College for 15 years. Barnett explains how the Pentagon views war and peace in the 21st century.

3. Against All Enemies, Richard Clarke. Wonderful, insider details of what the Clinton administration was doing to fight terrorism — by the counter-terrorism czar himself. And what Bush #2 failed to learn from him.

4. Boyd, Robert Coram. “The Fighter Pilot Who Changed the Art of War.” John Boyd, arguably the best U.S. fighter pilot ever, taught Cheney and Schwarzkopf a lot about how to win the Gulf war in 1991. Boyd started the “Fighter Mafia”. He was the man behind the F-16. Numerous Pentagon insights.