AMERICAN LEFT HISTORY

This space is dedicated to the proposition that we need to know the history of the struggles on the left and of earlier progressive movements here and world-wide. If we can learn from the mistakes made in the past (as well as what went right) we can move forward in the future to create a more just and equitable society. We will be reviewing books, CDs, and movies we believe everyone needs to read, hear and look at as well as making commentary from time to time. Greg Green, site manager

Monday, February 19, 2018

New in March: US Global Engagement & Military; Max Boot's "Road Not Taken" in Vietnam

Joe

2/17/2018 8:09 PM

To Peter Paul Markin

Two interesting evenings for Smedleys joe I signed up for both !!

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: WorldBoston <wb@worldboston.org>
Date: Sat, Feb 17, 2018 at 4:37 PM
Subject: New in March: US Global Engagement & Military; Max Boot's "Road Not Taken" in Vietnam
To: <jkdixie@gmail.com>

Coming up in March:

"Judicious and absorbing...Boot, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, brings solid credentials to this enterprise...What emerges is a picture of a man who from an early point possessed an unusual ability to relate to other people, a stereotypically American can-do optimism, an impatience with bureaucracy and a fascination with psychological warfare."

- Fredrik Logevall, The New York Times Book Review

"The Road Not Taken is an impressive work, an epic and elegant biography based on voluminous archival sources. It belongs to a genre of books that takes a seemingly obscure hero and uses his story as a vehicle to capture a whole era.... The Road Not Taken gives a vivid portrait of a remarkable man and intelligently challenges the lazy assumption that failed wars are destined to fail or that failure, if it comes, cannot be saved from the worst possible outcome."

- Robert D. Kaplan, The Wall Street Journal

How close did the United States come to pursuing a different path in Vietnam? Closer than many might think, as it turns out. In his latest book, a New York Times bestseller and an Amazon.com January 2018 Book of the Month, The Road Not Taken: Edward Lansdale and the American Tragedy in Vietnam, Max Boot takes a fascinating look at what might have been. In this groundbreaking biography of CIA operative Edward Lansdale, Boot examines not just the man but his times, and uses extensive research and insight that reframes our understanding not only of the Vietnam War, but of conflicts elsewhere that followed. Join WorldBoston for a lively, informative discussion featuring our signature hospitality (and chowder!).

Max Boot is the Jeane J. Kirkpatrick Senior Fellow for National Security Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York. A military historian and foreign policy analyst, he has been called one of "the world's leading authorities on armed conflict" by the International Institute for Strategic Studies. Mr. Boot is also a contributing editor to the Weekly Standard and the Los Angeles Times, a member of USA Today's board of contributors, a columnist for Foreign Policy, and a regular contributor to the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Commentary, and other publications.

Reserve my seat!

The global power balance is rapidly evolving, leaving the United States at a turning point with respect to its level of engagement and the role of its military. Some argue for an "America First" paradigm, with a large military to ensure security, while others call for a more assertive posture overseas. Some advocate for a restoration of American multilateral leadership and a strengthened role for diplomacy. Still others envision a restrained U.S. role, involving a more limited military.

How does the military function in today's international order, and how might it be balanced with diplomatic and foreign assistance capabilities? Join us for another exciting installment of the Great Decisions lecture series as we hear answers to these and other timely questions. This event is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Refreshments will be provided!

Major General (Ret) William E. Rapp is a Lecturer in Military Affairs in the Belfer Center at Harvard Kennedy School, the Faculty Chair of the Senior Executive program in National and International Security, and the Faculty Chair for the National Security Fellows program. Major General (Ret) Rapp served more than 33 years as an active duty Army officer before retiring as a Major General. During his career as the Army's senior liaison to the U.S. Congress, Rapp has served in Germany, Japan, Iraq, and Afghanistan. His research interests include civil-military relations and organizational leadership. A graduate of West Point in 1984, he holds a Masters in Strategic Studies from the US Army War College and a Masters and PhD in Political Science from Stanford University.

Reserve my seat!

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