The Superpower Myth: The Use and Misuse of American Might

For eight years Nancy Soderberg served with distinction and creativity at the highest levels of American government. She is uniquely positioned to explain how the world works in this new era–and when it′s in danger of breaking down. —Dr. Madeleine K. Albright former U.S. Secretary of State Are there limits to American power? The neoconservative brain trust behind the Bush administration′s foreign policy doesn′t seem to recognize any. For the first time we have people in power who believe that as the world′s reigning superpower America can do what it wants when it wants without regard to allies costs or results. But as events in Iraq are proving America may be powerful but it is not all–powerful. In practice no country could ever be strong enough to solve problems like Somalia Kosovo Afghanistan and Iraq through purely military means. In the future America′s power will constantly be called up to help failed and failing states and it is becoming clear that the complex mess of Somalia has replaced the proxy war of Vietnam as the model for what future military conflicts will look like: a failed state a power vacuum armed factions and enough chaos to panic an entire region. Using vivid examples from her years in the White House and at the United Nations Nancy Soderberg demonstrates why military force is not always effective why allies and consensus–building are crucial and how the current administration′s faulty world view has adversely affected policies toward Israel Iraq North Korea Haiti Africa and Al–Qaeda. Powerful provocative and persuasive this timely book demonstrates that the future of America′s security depends on overcoming the superpower myth....See More