Fighting for the Future: Will America Triumph?

by Ralph Peters

Book Overview

New introduction reflects upon the events of September 11, 2001

Highly acclaimed military strategist and writer Ralph Peters challenges America's defense establishment and national leadership with startling insights and no-holds-barred criticism. His radical assessment of the future of conflict and the kinds of enemies we will face has already excited international controversy and influenced policy. Peters identifies a 'new warrior class' and a...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0811728056
• ISBN13: 9780811728058
• Release Date: January 2002
• Publisher: Stackpole Books
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.5" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

An author ahead of his time

I was given this book by a friend of mine who is a West Point grad and now an international businessman. As soon as I read it, I got the point: The author's observations about the causes of violence in societies, the nature of conflict, and, above all, why some groups and states prosper while others fail simply ring true to anyone who has actually seen anything of the greater world first-hand. Given that the essays in this book were written back in the nineties, almost every one is amazingly prescient--he even discusses, briefly, a terrorist attack on lower Manhattan. The picture Peters draws for us isn't pretty, but it's brutally honest and directly helpful--unlike the nonsense turned out by the campus crowd. This is the real thing, about the real world--and the book is remarkably well written, as well. I recommend reading it a chapter at a time and thinking about it--but, above all, I strongly recommend reading it. For me, personally, it just may become one of the most influential books I've ever read. No doubt it's useful to military officers and diplomats, but it's also a first-rate primer on conflict and crisis for anyone who does business in the developing world. Absolutely first-rate!

Read this book or weep for the future.

This book should be read by every citizen in this country - yesterday. Peters' essays point the way to a much-needed revolution in American social, cultural, political and military thinking. His book describes the ultimatum technological change and social breakdown confront us with: recognize the suicidal implications of our current world view and take an uncompromising look at the developing dangers around the world confronting this country. Had "Fighting" been read and understood by the previous administration in the White House, the brutally effective attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon might well have been precluded. Kirkus Review's pedantic nitpickings obscure the life and death realities delineated in "Fighting." For anyone with an open mind, this book is impossible to put down.

READ THIS BOOK!

If you're a citizen of the US, you need to read this book so you understand what's at stake; and what the real world is like outside our borders. There are no sound bites, instant gratification, feel their 'pain', or other such nonsense.If you're a politician, read this book so you can get a clearer idea of where our foreign policy needs to go; quit hustling votes and LOOK at what we (the West) are facing. War is an extension of policy; and Mr. Peters quite adeptly shows where we need to stop talking and start hitting.If you are a Military Professional, for your Troop's Sake, read this as a MANUAL OF ARMS. He doesn't have all the answers; but he certainly can give you a start on your mission-essential task list. The Marines are already codifying doctrine on the "Three Block War"; it's time get with the program. If you run into Senior Military Leadership that says we don't have a future in Urban Combat, avoid them like the plague. We are in the for the fight our lives; and this book can reduce the casualties; Friend and Foe alike. He articulates what I personally saw happen in Iraq, Bosnia, Ethiopia and Somalia (9 months in Mogadishu alone). He has encapsulated the essence of what we have to do to ensure survival of our way of life.He doesn't imbibe you with Patriotic Rhetoric, Mr Peters simply states that if we want to maintain the lifestyle we have, we'll have to fight for it; against people for which fighting is the ONLY thing they know. They don't want a lasting peace, they want a lasting piece of the action; on their terms, with no compromise or pity. Death and anarchy are a way of life, the groups described in his book exist and they don't want progress, they want the power of Gods. Unfortunately, these same people lack any type of conventional wisdom comensurate with that power.In Somalia, I was branded as being too agressive in our operations; I wanted to pound on the Technicals until the survivors quit. Seven years later, the hindsight everyone employs seems to vindicate my stance. I questioned our presence in Somalia; but never the role we should have adopted once we committed Troops: Find the Bastards and Pile On.Tracy-Paul Warrington Chief Warrant Officer (retired) US Army Special Forcestracy.warrington@60mdg.travis.af.mil

A stunning elaboration of future threats!

In this book, Ralph Peters has assembled a masterful series of articles which he wrote over the past several years. The purpose of this effort is to describe the nature of the threats US interests and citizens have faced since the end of the Cold War and will continue to face in the future. Peters uses bare knuckled clarity to explain that these challenges can't be dealt with by technology and gadgets alone. He makes a compelling case that these new threats challenge our very moral, ethical and legal foundations. And we'd better figure what to do about them! It's not hyperbole when people describe Peters as one of the foremost strategic thinkers of our time. This is not a work of scholarly research. Rather, it's the culmination of a life of scholarly observation - of disaffected and downwardly mobile guys with guns. This is an insightful, well written, perception-altering book. Read it and the evening news will never be the same!

Outstanding Analysis and Insight Into Battlefields of Future

Fighting for the Future is an extraordinary book . Peters clearly and precisely discusses the nature, challenges, and opportunities facing the US Army in the years to come. Indeed, readers may not realize that each of Peter's essays compiled in Fighting for the Future was written exclusively for US Military officers and have appeared in the professional journals that few others read or are even aware of. But make no mistake about it, the mid and senior ranks of the US military have been devouring and debating the basic tenets of Peter's conclusion for several years. Peters has sparked a debate of such white hot proportions, that these writings are now becoming more accessible to the wider public. Not everyone will agree with Peters. He has the subtlety of a bayonet charge as he articulates the challenges ahead. It is this honesty and clarity of thought that has made these writings so popular within the military ranks. His discussion of the warrior and what it will take for the US army to effectively engage him is brilliant. His clear and unabashed conclusion that we must face the unpleasant fact that our Army must be prepared to deal effectively with cultures and societies that are controlled by a small percentage of these warriors who enjoy killing and war is troubling but unavoidable. Peters concludes that we are going to have to remove these warriors by killing them or imprisoning them if we are to have any success. No sugar coating here. No spin, just the cold hard facts driven home. I strongly,recommend this book for anyone trying to understand the nature and scope of the battlefields of the future. Perhaps more importantly, the publication of Fighting for the Future, gives non military people a glimpse into the debates and thinking now raging among the best of our military leaders.