Battlegrounds: The Fight to Defend the Free World

The former national security advisor brings home, in compelling and stark terms, what our greatest challenges are going forward for national security and foreign policy in the continuation of a free world. The playing field has changed, but the players remain the same: Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea. I really felt just how seriously America has dropped the ball at just the wrong time in history. McMaster\’s brilliant assessment enlightened and chilled me with a deep dive into the history of our foreign policy, and where it’s headed. The world has been changing around us, in spite of us, and it’s very clear that America has taken its eye off the ball — especially in historical pursuit of \”Strategic Narcissism\” (pursuing policies based on wishful thinking). Never more than today, in the face of ever-changing warfare and power grabs in this pandemic world, our place of power and influence is at stake and in jeopardy. I got caught up in all the dangerous fronts threatening a continued free world, and the necessary steps to get this right and retain our place at the table, free of partisan politics. This should be required reading for all Americans.

Like the way he breaks down the reasoning for his view and explains the history or supporting background. NOT a red vs blue or slanted in any direction, more of a where are we, how did we get here and what we should consider doing and why. Very good read, very recommended. Might say 5 stars but I haven’t finished yet.

After 34 years in the Army, Lieutenant General H.R. McMaster became National Security Advisor shortly after Michael Flynn resigned from that post in February 2017. After disagreeing with the president over Russian interference in the 2016 election, McMaster agreed to resign 13 months later and was replaced by John Bolton, who lasted 18 months in the job. A true iconoclast, McMaster lays fault and blame wherever his finds it, there is plenty to go around, nobody gets a pass. Consequently, as National Security Advisor, he clashed with his boss on several issues. However, this book is NOT a tell-all account of Trump\’s shortcomings that his detractors enjoy reading. In Battlegrounds, McMaster provides six tutorials on Russia, China, South Asia, the Middle East, Iran, and North Korea. These are based on McMaster\’s understanding and experience, of course. But they are detailed, concise, and highly informative. His most common theme is strategic narcissism (coined by International Relations theorist Hans Morgenthau), the tendency of American leaders to overestimate the importance of America in the thinking of people in other countries. One result has been incoherent and inconsistent foreign policy. McMaster\’s solution is strategic empathy, \”the skill of understanding what drives and constrains One\’s adversary\”. You might suppose that a retired Army general would promote building and applying military strength as the solution to world problems. To the contrary, McMaster talks about information security, personal privacy, the environment, water and food security, immigration and strength in diversity, national pride, education, public service, and the opportunity to work hard to create a better life. McMaster repeatedly stresses the need for education, taking the time and effort to study and understand the history, cultures, and issues of the world. A careful reading of Battlegrounds will give you an excellent start.

Each chapter is like getting a mini-degree. McMaster speaks out against some trump policies but it isn\’t a \”tell all\” expose or anything like that. Essentially it is a book about how we got to where we are with great historical context and his thoughts on how to move forward. McMaster is actually a writer and historian so it stands out among the Bolton-type books. If you\’re looking to actually learn something–this is the book.

The first half is a bit tedious. Went to school, went to war, and met these people. Not sure what I expected. Before I bought it I had read bit in the introduction where he says it is not a Trump tell all, that people wanted. A bit of a Neocon\’s Nerds review of google news highlights for 40 years. Don\’t jump to conclusions though as you read. It ends up being well thought out and argued presentation of challenges that America Faces. More so, \’reasoned\’ as I said, arguments on how to meet challenges. Big issues mentioned. Security, Foreign Relations, Cyber/and Social Internet of everything. EDUCATION! I don\’t think a mention of population growth.

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