Synopses & Reviews
Scott Ritter, former Marine and UN weapons inspector, argues that there is a growing despondency amongst the anti-war movement. Ritter proposes the anti-war movement seek guidance from sources they normally spurn that one must study the "enemy" in order to learn the art of campaigning and of waging battles when necessary. They need to understand the pro-war movement's decision-making cycle, then undertake a comprehensive course of action.
Synopsis
In the months leading up to the invasion of Iraq, and ever since, Scott Ritter--a former US marine and UN weapons inspector--spent many hours speaking to numerous antiwar forums across the country and around the world. He was struck by the sincerity of the vast majority of those who call themselves antiwar and impressed by their willingness to give so much of themselves in the service of such a noble cause. But lately Ritter has noticed a growing despondency among this movement. With the United States now entering its fourth year of an illegal war and occupation of Iraq, and with the pro-war movement moving inexorably toward yet another disastrous conflict with Iran, there is an increasing awareness that the cause of the antiwar movement seems lost. What to do? Ritter proposes that the antiwar movement seek guidance from sources they would ordinarily spurn: the philosophies of those who have mastered the art of conflict, from Caesar to Napoleon, Sun Tzu to Clausewitz. In the vein of Rules for Radicals and The Art of War, Ritter argues that one must study the "enemy" in order to learn the art of campaigning, of waging battles only when necessary, and having the ability to wage a struggle on several fronts simultaneously. The antiwar movement needs to understand the pro-war movement's center of gravity. It needs to grasp the pro-war movement's decision-making cycle, then undertake a comprehensive course of action that learns to preempt this cycle, getting "inside" the pro-war system of making decisions.
About the Author
Scott Ritter was one of the UN's top weapons inspectors in Iraq between 1991 and 1998. Before working for the UN he served as an officer in the US Marines and as a ballistic missile adviser to General Schwarzkopf in the first Gulf War. He is the author of many books including Iraq Confidential and lives in New York State.