Review of The Big Stick
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Qualities
- Analytical
- Concrete Examples
- Insider's Take
Review
America’s military misadventures in recent years have done little to change Eliot A. Cohen’s worldview. This former adviser to President George W. Bush believes American military might is a tool the United States must use against dark forces. Cohen’s nuanced view of the Bush wars makes it difficult to dismiss his tough talk as the work of an apologist for America’s foray into the Muslim world. Cohen makes a compelling, well-reasoned argument that the world is a dangerous place and that United States’ power, while not always deployed perfectly, remains critical to keeping the peace. President Donald Trump’s repeated vow to “knock the hell out of ISIS” conforms with Cohen’s big-stick strategy, though he offers withering criticism of Trump’s character. Cohen’s aggressive if pragmatic view of US military power will appeal to anyone interested in policy or the intersection of civil and military strategy.
About the Author
Eliot Cohen, a professor of strategic studies at Johns Hopkins University, spent the last two years of George W. Bush’s presidency as a counselor of the Department of State.