Customer Reviews

The Superpower Myth: The Use and Misuse of American Might

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Forget the partisan diatribes; what really makes this book a fascinating and compelling read is the level of detail and dramatic realism of the daily world of passionate people taking ideology from policy to action. This is a thriller. Whenever you get people who care deeply about their country and how we relate to the rest of the world, you risk offending the isolationists. It's a risk I'm glad the author took.

Bush was fortunate to have 9/11 on his watch, which he turned into a platform for his war of lies in Iraq, his heinous approval of torture and Kafka-esque dententions, and his attack on the most basic human rights in the U.S and abroad. Bush was fortunate that Arafat died on his watch so he could take credit for the latest attempts at peace in Israel, which he had nothing to do with. He was fortunate to have the former prime minister of Lebanon blown up on his watch so he could claim it was in his war in Iraq that led to the ouster of the Syrian puppet regime, not the Lebanese people's outrage at the assassination.

What he has not taken credit for are all his foreign policy mistakes--or "catastrophic successes," to use his phrase--which have led to warlord rule in Afghanistan, the soon-to-be Iranian puppet state of Iraq, the increasing nuclear threat from Iran and North Korea, and the general loathing of the US the world over, all of which could have been avoided had Bush and his Neocon backers read a book such as Soderberg's SUPERPOWER MYTH and followed its advice.

This work is a must read for reponsible and interested Americans. We need to know what role the U.S. can and should play in international affairs, particularly since the U.S. is the only economic, military, naval, and political superpower. This role is unprecedented in world history and while it can be the source of great promise for the U.S., it can also be the cause of great suspicion.
Despite what we learn from news sources and talking heads, many issues are complex. Ms. Soderberg makes them approachable and provides insights into how elected leaders and experts in foreign policy approach, or should approach, issues.
For a reader who would like to know just what the issues are with North Korea, global warming, terrorism, Iraq, and the Middle East, Ms. Soderberg provides a concise and understandable starting point. This book should be highly recommended to friends who are willing to ask questions instead of just accepting pablum from political spin doctors.

I found Soderberg's book a fresh and fascinating account of American foreign policy during the Clinton administration and a sound appraisal of where the first-term Bush foreign policy went wrong and how it can be salvaged. What makes the book most interesting to me is how the very recent improvements in the Middle East situation reflect the kinds of changes Soderberg says are necessary- an increased reliance on engagement, diplomacy, negotiation and a willingness on the part of the US to lead without bullying.
I confess though,my very favorite parts of the book were the vivid personal details: the time Oprah Winfrey at a White House dinner told the author when it was time to remove her elbow-high white gloves, kayaking to the Statue of Liberty with Sergio Vieira De Mello,who, as UN Special Envoy to Iraq would be murdered by insurgents, being reminded of "Get Smart" upon seeing the Presidential "bunker" under the East Wing for the first time. It reads like a book written by a normal person, as opposed to the "policy wonks" who sometimes write these books.

In this compelling book, Soderberg takes us behind the scenes of the White House in a unique way: she provides detailed factual information about America's foreign policy with perceptive insight into the personalities of the key players. Readers will begin to undertand that momentous decisions are not only the result of the events, but also the consequence of egos, various temperments, and the group dynamic.

For years, those who want to go behind the White House curtain have relied on Washington Post Reporter Bob Woodward. While Woodward has enticed us with behind-the-scene books about Washington, he relies on interviews; Ms. Soderberg is actually present in White House and therefore provides more concrete details in her reporting. She also has a much more in depth undertanding of the geo-political environment than does Woodward. The fact that Woodward's books are quote objective is irrelevant; Soderberg makes clear her political leanings. While Soderberg's "Superpower Myth" is by no means a quick read, it is one well worth the time.

Beyond providing fascinating and colorful stories about her candid conversations with the President of the United States--tales to which we would otherwise have little access--Ms. Soderberg's book offers us a timely, balanced evaluation of US foreign policy. Commenting with candor on her experiences in the Clinton White House, Ms. Soderberg thoughtfully explores the difficult task faced by leaders of all political affiliations in their eternal and universal attempt to balance great power with responsibility. This is a book that should be read by students, diplomats, and EVERYONE who enjoys watching "The West Wing." I especially enjoyed how each chapter is devoted to a different issue (Africa, Iraq, etc.). This book is immensely readable and interesting, and I am very proud that in our open American society, we have the freedom to indulge in such honest self-exploration.

Obviously, Soderberg speaks from great experience. I found her argument persuasive, based on knowledge not the rhetoric we usually hear from those closeted at the American Enterprise Institute. And particularly given the current Administration's "my way or the highway" posture, it's refreshing to read a real defense of why it is in America's interest to pursue diplomacy that is multi-lateral and cooperative.

A compelling and intelligent survey of American foreign policy by a seasoned insider. Nancy Soderberg's argument, that America must actively engage with the rest of the world, makes eminent sense. The recent thawing of the Bush administration's frosty attitude towards our traditional allies in Europe may signal their belated agreement with Soderberg's thesis. Let's hope the warming trend continues -- and that this book is widely read and embraced by policy makers, politicos, and especially the ordinary Americans who care about this nation's relationship to the rest of the world (and that should be all of us).

The Superpower Myth is a comprehensive and well-presented analysis of U.S. Foreign Policy. Chronicling the Clinton and Bush administrations, this thoroughly researched and painstakingly footnoted work offers a well-balanced and objective overview of the successes and the failures of both administrations. It is refreshing to note that the author, a democratic, gives credit to the Bush administration on several occasions. Ambassador Soderberg's recommendations for the next phase of foreign policy are those of a seasoned diplomat. Interestingly enough, it appears that the Bush administration has taken Ms. Soderberg's recommendations to heart as showcased by their recent efforts to rebuild transatlantic relations. Certainly, the current relationship-building tactics of the Bush Administration validate The Superpower Myth's thesis - the U.S. cannot go it alone and our nation must engage the rest of the world. As a reader, I came away with a strong belief that Nancy Soderberg has succeed in foreign policy because, like The Superpower Myth, she demonstrates intelligence, well-reasoned thinking, down to earth approachability and an attitude to do what is best for America.

This is a carefully prepared, meticulously footnoted view of the inner workings of our government's foreign policy apparatus at the highest levels. The text is frequently self-critical and lays open the often intense debate that precedes decision making in corporations as well as in government. It should prove a valuable resource both for foreign policy professionals who are attempting to reconstruct the policy making process in the Clinton administration, as well as for us amateurs who can have a rare glimpse at how things get done along the otherwise inaccessible corridors of power. As an American businessperson who has traveled in over 40 countries, I find Ambassador Soderberg's grasp of the issues from a "local" perspective consistently on-target, particularly in her assessment of the Korean Peninsula.