Synopses & Reviews
For the better part of the last half century, the United States has been the Worlds Police, claiming to defend ideologies, allies, and our national security through brute force. But is military action always the most appropriate response? Drawing on his vast experience, from combat in Vietnam to peacekeeping in Somalia, to war games in Washington, DC and negotiations with former rebels in the Philippines, retired four-star General Tony Zinni argues that we have a lot of work to do to make the process of going to war—or not—more clear-eyed and ultimately successful. He examines the relationship between the executive and the military (including the difference between passive and engaged presidents); the failures of the Joint Chief of Staff; the challenges of working with the UN, coalition forces, and NATO; the difference between young, on the ground officers and less savvy senior leaders; the role of special forces and drone warfare; and the difficult choices that need to be made to create tomorrows military. Among his provocative points:* Virtually every recent American military operation follows a disconnected series of actions that lead to outcomes we never foresaw or intended.* We need to assign accountability for the political decisions that can make or break a mission.* Words and ideas are as important to victory in todays conflicts as bullets.* The cyber “war” is ongoing. Either you must build better tech than the other guy, or you must steal it.* Our foreign aid budget is pitiful, our State Department, USAID, and the other government agencies that we critically need to be on a par with our military are underfunded, undermanned, and poorly structured for their current objectives.From the Oval Office to the battlefield, Before the First Shots Are Fired is a hard-hitting analysis of the history of Americas use of military action and a spirited call for change.
Review
Praise for Zinni's previous works:
The Battle for Peace
"A warning that deserves serious consideration." — The New York Times
"Provocative, insightful, and straight-from-the-shoulder blunt" —William S. Cohen, former U.S. Secretary of Defense, 1997-2001
“[Zinni] has a lot of interesting things to say about the dangers of pursuing our current course in foreign policy. He is a distinctly non-ideological man in an era when ideology is running rampant.”—Michael Abramowitz, The Washington Post
Review
"If more Americans would listen to General Zinni, we'd have a better foreign policy—and a happier country." —Thomas E. Ricks, author of Fiasco and The Generals
Review
Praise for General Zinni
"If more Americans would listen to General Zinni, we'd have a better foreign policy—and a happier country."
—Thomas E. Ricks, author of Fiasco and The Generals
"Zinni is one of the more interesting men produced by the American military, with a supple mind that quickly adjusted to the new realities brought about by the collapse of the Soviet empire."
—Philip Caputo, New York Times Book Review
"One of the most respected and outspoken military leaders of the past two decades."
—60 Minutes
"Zinni is an interesting man, and he has a lot of interesting things to say about the dangers of pursuing our current course in foreign policy. He is a distinctly non-ideological man in an era when ideology is running rampant both home and abroad."
—Michael Abramowitz, The Washington Post
Synopsis
The New York Times bestselling author of The Battle for Peace and retired four-star General Tony Zinni examines how Americas “military first” view of foreign policy continues to embroil our troops in unwinnable wars
About the Author
General Tony Zinni (retired) was commander-in-chief of CENTCOM and special envoy to the Middle East before retiring as a four-star general. He has appeared on
The Daily Show and
Meet the Press, among others. He is the author of
The Battle for Peace and
Leading the Charge. He lives in Williamsburg, Virginia.
Tony Koltz co-authored Colin Powell's bestselling It Worked For Me; many Tom Clancy nonfiction bestsellers, including Every Man A Tiger, Shadow Warriors, and Battle Ready; General Tony Zinnis memoirs; as well as The Battle for Peace. He lives in New York City.
Table of Contents
CONTENTS
IntroductionOne...................................................How the Hell Did We Get Here?Two.................................................. A Day Which Will Live in InfamyThree.................................................Knowns and UnknownsFour...................................................The Buck Stops HereFive...................................................Europe FirstSix....................................................My Fellow AmericansSeven................................................Two and a Half WarsEight.................................................The New BattlefieldNine..................................................Body CountTen....................................................Endings and Outcomes Eleven...............................................America and the WorldEpilogue