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National Insecurity: American Leadership in an Age of Fear Hardcover – October 28, 2014

by David Rothkopf (Author)

19 customer reviews

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In the wake of 9/11, America and its people have experienced a sense of vulnerability unprecedented in the nation’s recent history. Buffeted by challenges from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to the financial crisis, from Washington dysfunction to the rise of China and the dawn of the era of cyber warfare, two very different presidents and their advisors have struggled to cope with a relentless array of new threats.

You may think you know the story. But in National Insecurity, David Rothkopf offers an entirely new perspective into the hidden struggles, the surprising triumphs, and the shocking failures of those charged with leading the United States through one of the most difficult periods in its history. Thanks to his extraordinary access, Rothkopf provides fresh insights drawing on more than one hundred exclusive interviews with the key players who shaped this era.

At its core, National Insecurity is the gripping story of a superpower in crisis, seeking to adapt to a rapidly changing world, sometimes showing inspiring resilience—but often undone by the human flaws of those at the top, the mismanagement of its own system, the temptation to concentrate too much power within the hands of too few in the White House itself, and an unwillingness to draw the right lessons from the recent past. Nonetheless, within that story are unmistakable clues to a way forward that can help restore American leadership.

National Insecurity: American Leadership in an Age of Fear

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Product Details

Hardcover: 496 pages
Publisher: PublicAffairs; First Edition edition (October 28, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1610393406
ISBN-13: 978-1610393409
Product Dimensions: 1.8 x 7 x 9.8 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #135,179 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #272 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Politics & Government > International & World Politics > Security
- #299 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Politics & Government > United States > Executive Branch
- #915 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Politics & Government > Political Science > History & Theory

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Customer Reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars

5 star		42%
4 star		32%
3 star		16%
2 star		10%
1 star		0%

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Top Customer Reviews

Doesn't follow through with "enemy in the mirror" theme; becomes a bland, unsubstantiated review of US foreign policy since 2005

By Frank J. Wassermann on December 18, 2014

Format: Hardcover

This book was endorsed by Thomas Friedman of the New York Times in a recent column. The introduction is entitled "the enemy in the mirror" which presages a theme that our foreign-policy establishment is its own worst enemy. The author suggests that groupthink is highly prevalent and is at fault for much of the failure in US policy during the last two decades. This policy has been driven by a systematic overreaction and lack of understanding of the Islamic jihadism movement and its connection with the Arab states in which it is most active.

Too bad the author did not really follow through on this theme. Instead he offers a wide-ranging account of US foreign (security) policy starting with Bush's second term. There is way too much focus, using insider accounts, on the policy process without providing much insight into policy substance. Which leads to a second major problem with the book. It overstates the recovery in the second Bush term from the disasters of the first term. And it uncritically equates arguable problems with Obama's foreign policy process with substantive policy errors.

In summary, the author’s judgments about many facets of foreign policy under Obama in particular are largely unsubstantiated by any analysis demonstrating that viable alternatives existed that had a better risk vs. reward calculus. His criticisms about process within the National Security Council and other security agencies are reasonable but don’t register as supporting his substantive policy criticisms - with the obvious exception of the Cheney-Rumsfeld end-run around the Bush NSC leading to the Iraq invasion etc.

His primary argument as to why we are ready to move beyond the climate of fear created by 9/11 is mistaken.Read more ›

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Gordian's Knot

By Amazon Customer on December 31, 2014

Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase

Few people really understand (or care) about the current scope and breadth of the military-industrial complex here in America (unless of course you are benefitting from it). Taken on its own, this hyperbolic growth pattern could be seen to endanger our freedoms or our future more than we can imagine. That said, the alternatives to this phenomena may well be even worse. There simply are no easy solutions to mankind's- let alone- Earth's future. Sadly.
Rothkopf does a respectable job of exposing (aspects) of this difficult subject in a manner that is understandable and invites reflection. There have been a slew of new works by fairly competent scholars and laymen that have attempted to wrestle with this subject. Interestingly, in spite of the avalanche of material on our government's overreach into just about every aspect of our lives, the general population (at least in the U.S.) appears undaunted by this breach of trust by its own elected representatives and their vassals? Leaves one wondering what's next?
Looking forward to your next expose David. Will be interesting.

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SUPERB Conclusion--Has Flaws But Still a Strong Contribution

By Robert David STEELE Vivas HALL OF FAMETOP 1000 REVIEWER on February 25, 2015

Format: Hardcover

Wow. I have met the author and I gave an earlier book of his, Running the World: The Inside Story of the National Security Council and the Architects of American Power a strong review, but I was not expecting the deep common sense and pragmatic observations that conclude this book. There are many aspects of our insecurity that the author is not willing to address -- notably the deep corruption of our political system and undue influence by foreign "allies" that are in fact enemies but that pales in light of his deep evaluation of how badly we are doing as a government. There are many flaws in the author's arguments better covered by Reviewer Frank J. Wassermann, I put this down to the author trying too hard to not completely alienate all the mandarins he still meets for lunch and at evening events. I embrace most of Reviewer Wasserman's comments but still give the book four stars instead of his two.

Mel Goodman's book by the same title National Insecurity: The Cost of American Militarism (Open Media), published a year earlier, strengthens the emerging field of critical scholarship and joins earlier books such as General Smedley Butler's War is a Racket: The Antiwar Classic by America's Most Decorated Soldier and Chalmers Johnson's ...Read more ›

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Phenomenal! Informative, insightful, and fun to read.

By Joseph Herbert on November 13, 2014

Format: Hardcover

It is a unique pleasure to find a book that synthesizes such extensive and exhaustive research into an immensely compelling and enjoyable read. Diving into National Insecurity is like reading the real version of the West Wing.

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Devastating Critique

By Michael on June 12, 2015

Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase

"During the past ten years, while we have seen triumphs of the process...we have also seen great dysfunction and errors that have shaken the world to its foundations and raised questions about America’s international standing." These are the words of the author as he renders an inside view of how the US national security apparatus has functioned during the administrations of G.W. Bush and Barack Obama.
He covers in great detail the tensions and lack of decision-making efficiency amongst Bush's key national security advisers after the 9/11 attacks, including Rumsfeld, Rice and Powell. After all of the egregious mistakes made in his first term, Bush is credited with setting the national security structure on a much stronger foundation before it was turned over to Obama.
In describing Obama's many major foreign policy errors, it is argued that they were caused by a pattern of hesitation, vagueness, use of speeches instead of action , lack of leadership, and reliance on a small circle of mostly political advisors to forge decisions. Cabinet members and experts, in many cases, were left out in the cold. A disturbing picture is presented as to how the lack of focus on science and technology at the highest levels could impact America's preparedness to fight escalating cyber attacks that will be sure to come.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

Excellent on the need for a smaller, process-focused NSC and how the...

As a book, it is a little too repetitive. But it should be "must" reading for the next President, as well as the serious consolidates.

Published 7 months ago by Samuel Bleicher

Sad but mostly true

An interesting read on the national security issues of the last decade and the causes of dysfunction in the National Security Council.

Published 10 months ago by Tom

Five Stars

Excellent insight into America's intelligence community and policy responses to terrorism.

Published 12 months ago by david Young

Three Stars

Kind of wordy........But worth the read!

Published 12 months ago by Gary J Gerthoffer

A useful follow up to "Running the World" but without the ...

A useful follow up to "Running the World" but without the analytical rigour of the former book. Read more

Published 12 months ago by PalatS

Four Stars

Good read.

Published 13 months ago by Michelle

I have recommended it to many others

A MUST read. David presented an objective view of the Bush and O'Bama years, stating their miscues and wins. I have recommended it to many others.

Published 13 months ago by Patrick F. Mcmahon

Four Stars

All good.

Published 14 months ago by John Reese

Five Stars

Very informative!

Published 14 months ago by Pamela C Greer

Five Stars

a really great read and 5.00 cheaper than B&N

Published 15 months ago by tovo

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