1999: Victory Without War
The former president's latest book focuses on the relations of the United States with the Soviet Union and advances a familiar realpolitik line. "What moves the world for good or ill is power, and no sovereign nation will give up any of its power to the U.N. or any other body-not now and not ever." Power is discussed primarily in military terms. Nixon argues that the Kremlin continues to aim at world dominance through a system of repression and he calls for a forceful American response. He is wary of Gorbachev's foreign policy initiatives and shows no sympathy for those who see America in decline. "We hold the future in our hands" are the book's closing words.
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The recent troubles of the CIA date back to its early years, when dashing young men toyed with foreign governments. Evan Thomas evokes the time. Jeffrey T. Richelson catalogs the consequences.
One does not rise through the bureaucracy as spectacularly as Colin Powell has without shrewd insight into of the game of government. But to understand Powell's views on issues ranging from the use of force to civilian control of the military, one has to return to his foot-soldier origins.
If it hopes to achieve its foreign policy agenda, the Obama administration will need to undo the damage to the Foreign Service wrought by the Bush administration.

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