3. Max Boot, "It's Not Over Yet," Time Time, September 3, 2006.

4. Bob Egelko, "Pelosi's First Priority Is to Halt Iraq War," San Francisco Chronicle San Francisco Chronicle, December 10, 2006, http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/12/10/BAGJGMSTAQ1.DTL?#ixzz0U0BWyLWi.

5. "President's Address to the Nation," January 10, 2007, http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2007/01/20070110-7.html.

6. Paul Krugman, "Things to Come," New York Times New York Times, March 18, 2003, http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/18/opinion/things-to-come.html?pagewanted=1.

7. Gen. Sir Rupert Smith, The Utility of Force: The Art of War in the Modern World The Utility of Force: The Art of War in the Modern World (New York, 2007), pp. xiii, 291. (New York, 2007), pp. xiii, 291.

8. Rick Atkinson, "The Long, Blinding Road to War," Washington Post Washington Post, March 7, 2004, http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A36843-2004Mar6?language=printer.

9. David Howell Petraeus, "The American Military and the Lessons of Vietnam: A Study of Military Influence and the Use of Force in the Post-Vietnam Era" (unpublished Ph.D. dissertation, Princeton University, 1987), p. 305. Force in the Post-Vietnam Era" (unpublished Ph.D. dissertation, Princeton University, 1987), p. 305.

10. Petraeus, "The American Military and the Lessons of Vietnam," p. 241.

11. Petraeus, "The American Military and the Lessons of Vietnam," p. 13.

12. "FM 3-24 Available in Hard Copy," Small Wars Journal Small Wars Journal (May 8, 2007), (May 8, 2007), http://smallwarsjournal.com/blog/2007/05/-fm-324-the-new/.

13. http://www.press.uchicago.edu/Misc/Chicago/841519.html.

14. FM 3-24/MCWP 3-33.5, Counterinsurgency Counterinsurgency (December 2006): ix, 1-4; hereinafter cited as FM 3-24. (December 2006): ix, 1-4; hereinafter cited as FM 3-24.

15. FM 3-24, pp. 1-27, 1-28. In all likelihood, Petraeus himself is the author of the paradoxes. They bear a close similarity to the lessons enumerated in "Learning Counterinsurgency," an article that Petraeus contributed to the journal Military Review Military Review in JanuaryFebruary 2006. in JanuaryFebruary 2006.

16. Col. David Petraeus et al., "Why We Need FISTs-Never Send a Man When You Can Send a Bullet," Field Artillery Journal Field Artillery Journal (MayJune 1997): 35. (MayJune 1997): 35.

17. FM 3-24, pp. 1-29, 2-2.

18. FM 3-24, p. 1-21.

19. Indeed, ample precedent exists for putting civilians in charge: In 1900, with the recently annexed Philippine Islands racked by an insurgency, President William McKinley appointed William Howard Taft, a federal judge without military experience, to direct U.S. efforts to pacify the archipelago. American generals in the Philippines took their orders, however unenthusiastically, from Taft.

20. William B. Caldwell, "FM 3-07, Stability Operations: Upshifting the Engine of Change," Military Review Military Review (JulyAugust 2008), (JulyAugust 2008), http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0PBZ/is_4_88/ai_n28048846/.

21. Steven Lee Myers, "Deadly Blasts Rock Shiite Mosque in Baghdad," New York Times New York Times, September 12, 2009, http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/13/world/middleeast/13iraq.html.

22. Elisabeth b.u.miller, "General Sees a Longer Stay in Iraq Cities for U.S. Troops," U.S. Troops," New York Times New York Times, May 8, 2009, http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/09/world/middleeast/09military.html?_r=1.

23. FM 3-24, p. 1-14.

24. Frederick W. Kagan and Kimberly Kagan, "The Patton of Counterinsurgency," Weekly Standard Weekly Standard 13 (March 10, 2008), 13 (March 10, 2008), http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/014/822vfpsz.asp.

25. Jeffrey Bell, "The Petraeus Promotion," Weekly Standard Weekly Standard, May 5, 2008, http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/015/038lzirr.asp.

26. FM 3-24, p. x.

27. "Petraeus Cites Areas of Improvement in Baghdad," PBS NewsHour PBS NewsHour, April 4, 2007, http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/middle_east/jan-june07/petraeus_04-04.html.

28. Quoted in Barbara Tuchman, The March to Folly: From Troy to Vietnam The March to Folly: From Troy to Vietnam (New York, 1985), p. 326. (New York, 1985), p. 326.

29. Walter LaFeber, America, Russia, and the Cold War America, Russia, and the Cold War (New York, 1976), p. 100. (New York, 1976), p. 100.

30. Address at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Convention, Phoenix, Arizona, August 17, 2009, http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/remarks-by-the-president-at-the-veterans-of-foreign-wars-convention/.

31. The quotations come from Nagl's foreword to the University of Chicago Press edition of FM 3-24, p. ix.

32. John Kerry, "A New Approach to Fighting Terrorism," July 31, 2008, speech delivered at the Center for American Progress, http://www.americanprogressaction.org/issues/2008/kerry_event.html.

33. Bruce Hoffman, "Terrorism's Twelve Step Program," The National Interest Online The National Interest Online, January 13, 2009, http://www.nationalinterest.org/Article.aspx?id=20592.

34. Bennet Sacolick, "Character and the Special Forces Soldier," Special Warfare Special Warfare (JanuaryFebruary 2009): 89. (JanuaryFebruary 2009): 89.

35. Daniel S. Roper, "Global Counterinsurgency: Strategic Clarity for the Long War," Parameters Parameters (Autumn 2008): 106. (Autumn 2008): 106.

36. Figures are taken from The CIA World Factbook The CIA World Factbook, https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ym.html.

37. "Obama Approves Afghanistan Troop Increase," February 18, 2009, http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/02/17/obama.troops/index.html.

38. Ann Scott Tyson, "Top U.S. Commander in Afghanistan Is Fired," Washington Post Washington Post, May 12, 2009, http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/11/AR2009051101864.html.

39. Dexter Filkins, "Stanley McChrystal's Long War," New York Times Magazine New York Times Magazine, October 14, 2009, http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/18/magazine/18Afghanistan-t.html?ref=magazine.

40. Evan Thomas, "McChrystal's War," Newsweek Newsweek, October 5, 2009, http://www.newsweek.com/id/216237.

41. Mark Thompson, "A New General, and a New War, in Afghanistan," Time Time, July 10, 2009, http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599?,1909261-1,00.html.

42. These included Stephen Biddle and Max Boot of the Council on Foreign Relations, Anthony Cordesman of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Frederick Kagan of the American Enterprise Inst.i.tute, and John Nagl of the Center for a New American Security.

43. Lou Dobbs Tonight Lou Dobbs Tonight, November 2, 2009, http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0911/02/ldt.01.html.

44. Frederick W. Kagan and Kimberly Kagan, "The Cost of Dithering," Weekly Standard Weekly Standard, November 11, 2009, http://weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/017/197pvvru.asp?pg=1.

45. The complete text of "COMISAF's Initial a.s.sessment," August 30, 2009, is at http://media.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/doc.u.ments/a.s.sessment_Redacted_092109.pdf?sid=ST2009092003140.

46. Gen. Barry McCaffrey speaking on Meet the Press Meet the Press, October 11, 2009, http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2009/10/11/senators_levin__graham_generals_myers__mccaffrey_on_meet_the_press_98669.html.

47. John F. Burns and Alan Cowell, "McChrystal Rejects Lower Afghan War Aims," New York Times New York Times, October 1, 2009, http://www.iiss.org/whats-new/iiss-in-the-press/october-2009/mcchrystal-rejects-lower-afghan-aims/.

48. Alessandra Stanley, "Situation Report: The Dilemma of Afghanistan," New York Times New York Times, October 12, 2009, http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/13/arts/television/13stanley.html.

6. CULTIVATING OUR OWN GARDEN.

1. Dwight D. Eisenhower, "The Chance for Peace," April 16, 1953, http://www.edchange.org/multicultural/speeches/ike_chance_for_peace.html.

2. John Winthrop, "A Model of Christian Charity" (1630), http://religiousfreedom.lib.virginia.edu/sacred/charity.html.

3. "Washington's Farewell Address" (1797), http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/washing.asp.

4. "John Quincy Adams on U.S. Foreign Policy" (1821), http://www.fff.org/comment/AdamsPolicy.asp.

5. William James, "Address on the Philippine Question" (1903).

6. Randolph Bourne, War and the Intellectuals War and the Intellectuals (New York, 1964), p. 45. (New York, 1964), p. 45.

7. George F. Kennan, Memoirs, 19501963 Memoirs, 19501963 (Boston, 1972), p. 84. (Boston, 1972), p. 84.

8. George F. Kennan, Realities of American Foreign Policy Realities of American Foreign Policy (Princeton, New Jersey, 1954), p. 115. This book reprints a series of lectures that Kennan gave at Princeton University in 1954. (Princeton, New Jersey, 1954), p. 115. This book reprints a series of lectures that Kennan gave at Princeton University in 1954.

9. J. William Fulbright, The Arrogance of Power The Arrogance of Power (New York, 1966), pp. 4, 81, 217218, 247. (New York, 1966), pp. 4, 81, 217218, 247.

10. Quoted in Eric Miller, Hope in a Scattering Time: A Life of Christopher Lasch Hope in a Scattering Time: A Life of Christopher Lasch (Grand Rapids, Michigan, 2010), p. 300. The quotation comes from a 1983 essay published in (Grand Rapids, Michigan, 2010), p. 300. The quotation comes from a 1983 essay published in Harper's Harper's.

11. Martin Luther King, "A Time to Break Silence," April 4, 1967, http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkatimetobreaksilence.htm.

12. Martin Luther King, "It's a Dark Day in Our Nation," April 30, 1967, http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article16183.htm.

13. George Washington, "Sentiments on a Peace Establishment," May 2, 1783, http://www.history.army.mil/books/RevWar/ss/peacedoc.htm.

14. Treasury Direct, http://www.treasurydirect.gov/NP/NPGateway; Lawrence Kadish, "Taking the National Debt Seriously," Wall Street Journal Wall Street Journal, October 12, 2009; Project on Defense Alternatives, "An Undisciplined Defense," January 18, 2010, http://www.comw.org/pda/fulltext/1001PDABR20exsum.pdf; CIA World CIA World Factbook Factbook, https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2001rank.html; Council on Foreign Relations, "U.S. Interest vs. Defense Spending," October 26, 2009, http://blogs.cfr.org/geographics/2009/10/26/interest-expense/.

15. The Pentagon Papers The Pentagon Papers, Gravel ed., vol. 4 (Boston, 1971), pp. 632633.

16. "Remarks by the President on a New Way Forward in Afghanistan and Pakistan," December 1, 2009, http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/remarks-president-address-nation-way-forward-afghanistan-and-pakistan.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.

I wish to express my grat.i.tude to all those who enabled me to pursue my project of belated self-education. At the very top of the list of those to whom I am indebted are John Wright, Tom Engelhardt, and Sara Bershtel. Literary agents, editors, and publishers don't come any better. To each, I say simply this: Thank you for encouragement, counsel, and friendship.

Rita Quintas and Jason Ng shepherded the ma.n.u.script through the production process with cool efficiency. Lucky for me and the book Melanie DeNardo continues to contribute the skills of a first-cla.s.s publicist.

My young research a.s.sistants Paul Roche, Sibyl Kirkpatrick-McKee, and Larissa Forster did a superlative job in tracking down stray facts. Larissa, you are in a league of your own.

For timely advice, I am grateful to Casey Brower, Gian Gentile, Bob Griffith, and especially d.i.c.k Kohn, one of the wisest and most generous people I've ever been privileged to know.

My debt to the Lannan Foundation grows apace. Toward the end of this project, a Lannan Writing Residency Fellowship allowed me to spend a very productive month in Marfa, Texas. Special thanks to Douglas Humble and Ray Freese for doing so much to make the time spent in Marfa pleasant and rewarding. Since my wife, Nancy, was able to come along, that made Marfa even better. When she is near, things are good. It's that simple.

Fortunate indeed is the academic who lands a post at Boston University, where students and colleagues create a stimulating environment in which to teach and think. I am especially grateful to Dean Gina Sapiro and to my departmental chairs Charles Dellheim, Erik Goldstein, and Bruce Schulman for their superlative leadership and for granting me leave so that I could finish this project and get started on the next one.

The dedication of this book is to three remarkable young women who bring joy to the life of a very proud and loving father.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR.

ANDREW J. B J. BACEVICH, a professor of history and international relations at Boston University, retired from the U.S. Army with the rank of colonel. He is the author of The Limits of Power The Limits of Power and and The New American Militarism The New American Militarism. His writing has appeared in Foreign Affairs, Atlantic Monthly, The Nation, New York Times, Washington Post Foreign Affairs, Atlantic Monthly, The Nation, New York Times, Washington Post, and Wall Street Journal Wall Street Journal. He is the recipient of a Lannan Award and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

Also by Andrew J. Bacevich

The Limits of Power:

The End of American Exceptionalism

The Long War:

A New History of U.S. National Security Policy

Since World War II

The New American Militarism:

How Americans Are Seduced by War

American Empire:

The Realities and Consequences