America’s Secret War

While people who have not kept track of the main events in the Global War on Terror will find the narrative in this book useful, I am not very impressed with George Friedman’s interpretation of the ‘secret’ motivation behind the US invasion of Iraq

As a GWOT for Dummies, America’s Seccret War is a useful, limited, overview. However, it lacks real depth, and does not offer the same level of detail as books like Woodward’s ‘Plan of Attack’.

Friedman argues that the US invasion of Iraq was heavily influenced by the decision of the Saudi’s to pursue an independant policy on Israel rather than following the US line. He argues that the invasion was as much ‘pour encourager les autres‘ as it was intended to remove Saddam Hussein. It is certainly true that the invasion did convince some Middle Eastern leaders that the US was willing to use force in the region, but I think he overstates the extent to which US policymakers decided to invade Iraq to teach the Saudi’s to behave themselves.

I read a friends copy, and I am glad I did not spend money on it. Not really reccommeded.

America’s Secret War: Inside the hidden worldwide struggle between the United States and it’s enemies.  George Friedman (Founder of Stratfor) Little Brown NY 2005 0-316-72862-4