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Journalists write instant history of major conflicts. When the fog of war lifts, many such accounts prove to be not completely accurate. For major events that alter the course of history, decades go by before definitive judgments can be pronounced. In between, many observers argue for their points of view with carefully chosen evidence. Books of this genre often read like legal briefs. Refreshingly, Chivvis takes a rigorous, scholarly approach analyzing a diverse set of opinions and facts. The reader may or may not agree with all his conclusions, but he would have been exposed to all the evidence. That is the main strength of this book and should be read by everyone interested in the subject.
In spite of the title of the book, toppling Qaddafi was not the original object of the intervention, or prescribed by the UN resolution. Chivvis gives a vivid description of the military actions taken by the US and NATO that allowed the rebels to take Tripoli and kill Qaddafi. Also, the book was published a few days before the New York Times front page article on December 29, 2013, presenting the result of a long investigation that there was no al Qaeda involvement in the killing of Ambassador Stevens. This does not convince everyone (e.g., Issa) who believe otherwise on ideological grounds.
It is impossible for the reader not to keep Syria in the back of his mind when reading this book. This book is a must read for all opinion makers who are calling for more aggressive action in Syria. They should try to predict in some detail how a military intervention in Syria will play out. After the high testesterone misadventure by President Bush in Iraq that even his defense secretary called dumb, after the massive tax cuts, and the near collapse of the American economy, the US President must find a delicate balance between what he wants to do and what is prudent and practical to do. President Obama's "leading from behind" approach to get NATO partners more involved, without becoming an isolationist, seems to be his solution. Speaker Boehner, second in line of succession, was miffed in not being consulted more closely. However, when he brought two bills to the House floor: one to authorize combat operations and the other to defund it, both were defeated. Amusingly, the House had no opinion on the subject. It would be interesting to find out what it has to say about Syria.
It would also be interesting to find out how this author would apply the lessons learnt from Libya to the situation in Syria.
- Paperback: 268 pages
- Publisher: Cambridge University Press (December 16, 2013)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1107613868
- ISBN-13: 978-1107613867
- Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.6 x 9 inches
- Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
- Customer Reviews: 15 customer reviews
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Amazon Best Sellers Rank:
#1,448,173 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #714 in African History (Books)
- #1255 in Foreign & International Law
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