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Old 04-05-2005, 14:21   #1
NousDefionsDoc
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The Pentagon's New Map
The Pentagon's New Map by Thomas P. M. Barnett
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Ok, I finally finished it. It is basically a more detailed discussion of the Esquire article here . I think the overall concept is outstanding. He makes a case for dividing the military into two groups for example, that while it probably won't happen, makes a lot of sense. His explanation of the strategic "whys" of recent conflicts makes sense to me and could have been used by the admin to better explain the need for military intervention in Iraq and other places.
His PollyAnna-ish views on the future nearly drove me crazy and are at least part of the reason it took me so long to finish it. His use of globalization as a cure-all is also very naive IMO. As is his glossing over of the illegal immigration issue. His knowledge of the current state of affairs in Colombia is sophomoric at best. But then his training was in the USSR.

All in all, it was worth the money, but if you understand the article, you pretty much have the plot.
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Old 04-05-2005, 14:25   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NousDefionsDoc
[...]PollyAnna-ish [...]
What does this mean?

Thanks.
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Old 04-05-2005, 14:27   #3
NousDefionsDoc
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Pol·ly·an·na Audio pronunciation of "pollyanna" ( P ) Pronunciation Key (pl-n)
n.

A person regarded as being foolishly or blindly optimistic.
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Somewhere a True Believer is training to kill you. He is training with minimal food or water, in austere conditions, training day and night. The only thing clean on him is his weapon and he made his web gear. He doesn't worry about what workout to do - his ruck weighs what it weighs, his runs end when the enemy stops chasing him. This True Believer is not concerned about 'how hard it is;' he knows either he wins or dies. He doesn't go home at 17:00, he is home.
He knows only The Cause.

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Old 04-05-2005, 22:31   #4
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Thanks for the review NDD. I've only read the article, not the book. It helped explain US military intervention for me.

One question I had reading the article was whether it was too US-centric, i.e., what is a gap state to us might not be a gap state to say, China. He appears to explain that away using globalization, meaning it's not whether you are aligned with US interests or not, but rather your degree of connectivity to globalization, that will place you within the core.

Is that what you meant by globalization as a cure-all?
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Old 04-06-2005, 06:25   #5
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He seems to think that if everybody is connected to the internet and selling their crap on it, war will go away. He is also convinced that war between states is over. I am not so optimistic.
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Somewhere a True Believer is training to kill you. He is training with minimal food or water, in austere conditions, training day and night. The only thing clean on him is his weapon and he made his web gear. He doesn't worry about what workout to do - his ruck weighs what it weighs, his runs end when the enemy stops chasing him. This True Believer is not concerned about 'how hard it is;' he knows either he wins or dies. He doesn't go home at 17:00, he is home.
He knows only The Cause.

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Old 04-06-2005, 08:09   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NousDefionsDoc
He seems to think that if everybody is connected to the internet and selling their crap on it, war will go away. He is also convinced that war between states is over. I am not so optimistic.
I agree.
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