Customer Reviews

Unfinished Business: Afghanistan, the Middle East and Beyond--Defusing the Dangers That Threatenamerica's Security

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This is a sweeping examination of the world scene that moves easily from analysis to tough recommendations.

If you want to put current questions about what is happening around the world into context, especially questions about the source and role of global terror, Unfinished Business is a book well worth reading. Its author, Harlan Ullman, has inner-office access to both Secretary of State Colin Powell and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld; indeed he has had access to most of the leaders of the last two decades. In Unfinished Business, he not only focuses on the likely need for the current President Bush to finish what his father surprisingly left undone in the Gulf War. More importantly, Ullman also focuses on America's -- indeed western civilization's true and more profound unfinished business: spurring strong economic and social/political progress around the globe. This Ullman sees as the fundamental means of eradicating most of the sources and causes of terror.

On the way to discussing the need for global growth, Ullman also suggests we pay more attention to our own homeland security system, lest the unfinished business that gets finished first is another attack on the United States. Ullman?s view is that our openness makes us very vulnerable and that upsetting the U.S. economy is a principle objective of bin Laden and his followers.

As Under Secretary of the Navy from 1997 through 2000, I often met with Harlan Ullman to discuss defense policy. Like his book, his insights were always tough-minded and worthy of thought and action.

With a foreword by Senator John McCain, this book should be read by anyone who now plays, or hopes to play a guiding role in America in the next decade. If you are leading a "great issues / great decisions" study group in your local community, I would highly recommend Unfinished Business as a way to inform and excite minds that are eager to learn more about world affairs.

A truly well written and concise book offering an excellent historical perspective and most effectively utilizing specifics to describe, analyze, and clarify positions. Through a common-sense approach, the author offers detailed background information to support his insights into many of the most urgent challenges facing the United States at the present time. While presenting a realistic view of the current worldwide situation, Dr. Ullman captures the key decisions facing American Foreign Policy with most logical options and appealing solutions.

Unfinished Business presents an excellent historical perspective on new and enormously challenging issues facing the United States. We are engaged in a War that goes well beyond diplomatic and military resources, skills, and experience.

Harlan Ullman objectively presents background of these most serious and difficult threats to our democratic and free enterprise systems. He offers potential options available to us and advocates common sense ideas and recommended actions. His Long Term Plan would appear to have a much better chance of success than other "band aid" solutions that have not and are not likely to achieve our national interests. In honestly stating the current situation, Dr. Ullman offers recommendations that will require ongoing and major commitments by our country.

Unfinished Business is a clearly written and logical work that provides insights into huge challenges facing the US. This book is most successful in defining with clarity, from an American perspective, the magnitude of the current threats to our society. Dr. Ullman, most importantly, offers sound ideas and recommendations as to actions that can truly make a difference.

Three things made me buy the book without hesitation; John McCain's introduction, the endorsements by current leaders of our country, and the mention of Afghanistan. What I found in reading it was a fine review of events of the last twenty years by an insider with his notes of conversations with the principals. For anyone who read the New York Times or a similar newspaper daily, and watched a bit of news in the evening, it was so much repitition. The bit on Afghanistan was miniscule. It is, however, a fine read for those not inclined to the daily news.

A must read that places contemporary events into a well developed and insightful perspective. Could not put it down!!

Current, provocative, informative yet an exciting read as well. Many interesting private insights and exchanges. Synthesizes the current geopolitical landscape with options for the future.

Well written, very informative. Shows the big picture, the cause and effect, and how things are linked together. I would recommend this book to anyone wanting a better understanding of what is happening in the world today and why.

As a senor presidential appointee in the policy formation area, I have yet to read a more granular analysis of the current global security environment. More importantly Dr. Ullman, with startling prescience and clarity, provides the reader and, one hopes, contemporary strategic planners, with a blueprint to homeland security and international stability. Lessons learned are skillfully integrated into lessons to be applied. Bravo Zulu!

If you want a thorough and indepth analaysis of the ongoing problems in the Middle East, this is the book to have. Very reader friendly and informative....

Dr. Ullman has, with startling clarity and prescience provided the reader with a blueprint for international stability and national security. His analysis is sound and uncompromising and his recommendations capture the essence of not only today's strategic environment, but the future's as well. This book needs to be required reading for the present presidential administration, as well as the entire defense establishment. More importantly, it should be in the library of every informed American. To turn a nautical term denoting excellence: Bravo Zulu!