National Security Advisor Robert C. O'Brien's first book, "While America Slept," contains a few essays that are meritorious (I'm thinking in particular of his assessment of the KSM trial and "Liberty and the Rule of Law are Universal Values"), others that are very telling (I'm thinking of section 6, where he expresses his preference in 2015 that Mitt Romney launch a third bid for the White House and, when Mitt proves intractable, that Rubio or Cruz be nominated), but is mostly a cri de Coeur against President Obama's approach to foreign policy. Like most voters, I attempt to consider both a President's domestic and foreign policies when deciding whether to vote for or against him. Rather than review O'Brien's book, I would like to take a few paragraphs to review President Obama's record in the Middle East.
There have been 3 Democratic Presidents in my lifetime and two of them produced lasting peace treaties between Israel and an Arab state in their first terms. Obama's failure to do so almost led me to vote Green in 2012. There is no longer a serious dispute between the peoples of Iraq and Israel; Obama could have conditioned American withdrawal from Iraq (which the Iraqis badly wanted and deserved) on a peace treaty with Israel. The biggest missed opportunity in the Middle East, however, was the opportunity to do to Assad exactly what we did to Qaddafi, which we should have started doing the day after the latter was killed. This would have picked off a state sponsor of terrorism and also made a peace treaty between Israel and Syria possible. There is no serious question but that this would also have saved hundreds of thousands (though not all) lives that were subsequently lost in the Syrian Civil War.
In Iraq, I am compelled to argue that the removal of a terrorist government and its replacement by one that is both stable and non-terrorist was a victory for the United States. This victory would have been squandered, however, if our troops had remained there in their previous numbers forever. We would have seen (as we did in Afghanistan) disaffected members of the Iraqi Army themselves turning their guns on American troops in significant numbers. Most importantly, in the last year of George W. Bush's presidency, we PROMISED TO LEAVE Iraq. This was a promise we had to keep, though as I argued above, we might have gotten something in exchange.
The most important failure of Middle East policy under President Clinton was the failure to prevent the war against Iraq launched by his successor. I am sure this was at the forefront of President Obama's mind when he made his much-maligned deal with the Iranians. Had this deal not been done, it is highly likely President Trump would already have invaded Iran. It counts as perhaps President Obama's most important foreign policy success.
Finally, Afghanistan. The major reason I am now considering voting to re-elect President Trump is that he would never have gone along with something like the Afghan surge (which NOBODY thought would win the war). As a result, many fewer US servicemen have died in his first term than died in Obama's. This is a salutary development for which Trump deserves credit. We should remove all our troops from Afghanistan and also take in the next million people that flee from that country.
Their approach to the Middle East is the most important thing that separates Democratic Presidents from each other (although in the emerging Seventh Party System, it will not be the most important thing separating them from the Republicans). I give President Obama a D in this critical area for his mistakes regarding Israel, Syria and Afghanistan. But his successes in Iraq and Iran are not completely overshadowed. The book I am here "reviewing" is of interest only if you are or were a hawk yourself.
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While America Slept: Restoring American Leadership to a World in Crisis Hardcover – September 6, 2016
by
Robert C. O'Brien
(Author)
| Price | New from | Used from |
Robert C. O'Brien's collection of essays on U.S. national security and foreign policy, with a forward by Hugh Hewitt, is a wake up call to the American people. The world has become steadily more dangerous under President Obama's "lead from behind" foreign policy. The Obama Administration's foreign policy has emboldened our adversaries and disheartened our allies. Indeed, Obama's nuclear deal with Iran is a 1938 moment. At the same time, the U.S. military has been cut and risks returning to the hollow force days of the 1970s. O'Brien lays out the challenges and provides the common sense "peace through strength" solutions that will allow the next president to make America great again.
- Print length184 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherEncounter Books
- Publication dateSeptember 6, 2016
- Dimensions6.5 x 1 x 9.5 inches
- ISBN-101594039038
- ISBN-13978-1594039034
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About the Author
Robert C. O’Brien is a trial lawyer with an international practice at Larson O’Brien LLP in Los Angeles. He was a senior foreign policy advisor to Governor Scott Walker and Senator Ted Cruz during the 2016 presidential campaign. O’Brien served as a senior advisor to Governor Mitt Romney on both of his presidential campaigns.
O’Brien was Co-Chairman of the US Department of State Public-Private Partnership for Justice Reform in Afghanistan. He served as a presidentially appointed member of the US Cultural Property Advisory Committee. In 2005, O’Brien was nominated by President George W. Bush and confirmed by the Senate to serve as a US Representative to the United Nations General Assembly, where he worked with Ambassador John Bolton. Earlier in his career, O’Brien was a senior legal officer with the United Nations Security Council in Geneva, Switzerland. He served as a major in the JAG Corps of the US Army Reserve.
A frequent guest on Fox News, The Hugh Hewitt Show, CNN, and other radio and cable TV networks, O’Brien is regularly called upon by the media to interpret and comment on breaking national security and political stories.
He lives in Southern California with his wife and children.
O’Brien was Co-Chairman of the US Department of State Public-Private Partnership for Justice Reform in Afghanistan. He served as a presidentially appointed member of the US Cultural Property Advisory Committee. In 2005, O’Brien was nominated by President George W. Bush and confirmed by the Senate to serve as a US Representative to the United Nations General Assembly, where he worked with Ambassador John Bolton. Earlier in his career, O’Brien was a senior legal officer with the United Nations Security Council in Geneva, Switzerland. He served as a major in the JAG Corps of the US Army Reserve.
A frequent guest on Fox News, The Hugh Hewitt Show, CNN, and other radio and cable TV networks, O’Brien is regularly called upon by the media to interpret and comment on breaking national security and political stories.
He lives in Southern California with his wife and children.
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Product details
- Publisher : Encounter Books (September 6, 2016)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 184 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1594039038
- ISBN-13 : 978-1594039034
- Item Weight : 15.5 ounces
- Dimensions : 6.5 x 1 x 9.5 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #822,297 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #857 in International Diplomacy (Books)
- #9,123 in American Military History
- #38,986 in United States History (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
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Reviewed in the United States on November 3, 2019
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2.0 out of 5 stars
The new National Security Advisor's political and international affairs positions
Reviewed in the United States on September 22, 2019Verified Purchase
With the exception of the section on Africa, this book is best summarized as a narrative that fills in the gaps of Fox News daily proclamations. This book is governed by conservative ideology that you have likely heard many times before. I think that this is important to read and understand as the author is now the National Security Advisor for President Trump. I would only offer that there is often more opinion and ideology than substantiated fact. The section on Africa, however bucks the trend and is an interesting point of view for consideration.
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Reviewed in the United States on September 22, 2019
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I had vainly hoped for more than Bush/Romney platitudes but except for detailed discussion of Naval shipbuilding needs, didn’t get it. O’Brien’s American electoral analysis is weak, can’t pick winners...although generally OK on political climate...so needs to stick to military budgets and away from handicapping elections. Unable to criticize GOP establishment failures. Worst chapter is cheerleading Guantanamo circus, although descriptions of tents are interesting. Hope President Trump can teach him something in his new job...After all, Sandy Berger was a low-profile operator too.
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Reviewed in the United States on September 4, 2016
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O'Brien has been in top geopolitical trenches for two decades. He is a voice in the howling political wilderness, railing against the dangers the DC Industrial Complex (of both parties) are foisting on American security. These are concise essays on topics that may brutally affect the 21st century if not checked. Let's hope this author's depth and insight will change the course of U.S. policy, and that he will never be in the regretful historical position of telling us, I Told You So.
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Reviewed in the United States on November 7, 2016
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A very good read that tells us and reminds us that our govt is altruistic but not necessarily for you. They fought a political war, sacrificed/murdered over 55k young American men, for their motives that still aren't clear.
One thing is clear though; we did not fight for freedom and democracy. Shameful that our govt treated our young men (18-22 years old for the most part) no different than expendable pawns in a chess match
A must read if you need your conscience to be reminded of what is right and what was wrong
One thing is clear though; we did not fight for freedom and democracy. Shameful that our govt treated our young men (18-22 years old for the most part) no different than expendable pawns in a chess match
A must read if you need your conscience to be reminded of what is right and what was wrong
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Reviewed in the United States on May 14, 2021
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Great book. Consise and very informative. Will open your eyes to the true geopolitical reality of this world
Reviewed in the United States on September 8, 2020
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Nice book, very interesting!
Reviewed in the United States on September 13, 2016
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This book is a great read. The parallels between the our time and the run up to World War 2 are frightening. Weakness invites aggression. Robert O'Brien makes a compelling case for peace through strength.
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