DON’T WAIT FOR THE NEXT WAR

A retired four-star U.S. Army general and former Supreme Allied Commander Europe offers a manifesto for how his beloved nation can remain a world superpower without necessarily invading other nations.

Clark (Winning Modern Wars: Iraq, Terrorism, and the American Empire, 2003, etc.) is a global thinker about matters both military and civilian. In what sometimes comes across as a position paper for a presidential candidate, the author addresses how the United States can find its proper place in the global order before the next war limits the available options. “Today, the United States stands at a fateful crossroads,” writes the author. “After two decades as the world’s undisputed superpower, we are facing new realities at home and abroad, and it is time to rethink our role and set new objectives and priorities.” Clark examines a wide variety of issues, including constructive ways to combat the disruptions caused by terrorism; the importance of dependable cybersecurity so that governments working to better the lot of their citizens cannot be thwarted by hackers; how to shore up a fragile American financial system so that another massive economic collapse does not occur; the necessity of fully understanding the rise of Chinese military and economic power; and how to halt or at least slow down climate change. For the most part, the author is an upbeat advocate and writer, bringing his can-do military attitude to a set of problems away from the battlefield. Clark is forceful and confident in tone, but he also wisely acknowledges that he has relied on many advisers—after all, he notes, military leadership does not always translate well into running civilian governments, nor does it necessarily equate to effective diplomacy and economics.

A clearly written prescription to help Americans alleviate their nation's malaise.