"Running the World" is a fantastic NEW National Security read so far!

[Pithy Cherub]

The subtitle is: "The Inside Story of the National Security Council and the Architects of American Power." The full grandiose title is enough to REALLY scare off the average reader, but once you get to Chapter One, prepare to be deliciously delighted! The author, David Rothkopf, writes with satirical humor about the decisions these sometimes outrageous and fully human people assigned to the National Security Council. The leadership mindset of what is involved in providing counsel to the president on security matters and how the NSC assumed so much power is very present. Every president configures it differently. (He likens his first meeting with the super smart WELL KNOWN names in the room to folks he knew ( and we knew) to people in high school! :rofl:

BUT, he holds no sacred cows and word lashes the mediocre media in a most heartening way! He wonders why 38,000,000 Americans get more international news from the hit show, The West Wing, rather than the nightly news. Rothkopf wonders aloud whether some guy in a double wide trailer in Okie country should be pontificating on national airwaves 'where is OBL' and doesn't have the faintest clue about foreign policy. He launches against the loss of civic teachers and people having a basic interest in what the government does.

Did I mention that the humor is keenly self deprecating too? Rothkopf talks about his hilarious first day as an Undersecretary and he thinks he is IN and how he was brought to earth with a resounding THUD in less than 5 minutes! That is only the first 15 pages about the most powerful portion of the executive office that has NO congressional oversight as mandated by law!

Yep, he worked for Kissinger :eyes: too - Rothkopf states the family's awe of him - and then he sees him up close and personal! The back of the book jacket has some great quotes and is endorsed by NSA alumnus and luminaries; General Wesley Clark, UN Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, Richard Clarke. He worked with republicans too so he has done (from what I have read so far) a thorough and inclusive bang-up job of looking at the leadership competencies and being bi-partisan in laying out everyones ego issues and human flaws.

Looking forward to you comments - I am thoroughly enjoying it :) - BEWARE it is 557 full pages with extensive notes, footnotes and bibliography!

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1586482483/qid=1117894477/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/103-1032302-3598230

[CrispyQ]

1. Thanks for the review & recommendation.

Funny but sad, about the West Wing comment. Democracy is a participatory government -- no wonder the rad right doesn't want to make it easier for people to register & to vote. If we don't participate, they will change our democracy to whatever they want & by the time the people will wake up & realize their democracy is gone, it will be too late to recover it.

I'm adding it to my list for my next library visit or if they don't have it, my next B&N shopping spree.

[Pithy Cherub]

2. Very in depth view of each administration's

way of handling or mishandling foreign policy. It brings into sharp releif how little power most secretary of State's actually have. The fights are huge, long lasting and bitter! My kind of factual insider reading. Love the snark he uses! :woohoo: hope you enjoy too!