Fighting for the Future

by Ralph Peters

New introduction reflects upon the events of September 11, 2001 Highly acclaimed military strategist and writer Ralph Peters challenges America's defense establishment and national leadership with startling insights and no-holds-barred criticism. His radical assessment of the future of conflict and the kinds of enemies we will face has already excited international controversy and influenced policy. Peters identifies a 'new warrior class' and a new culture of conflict that could undo America on the battlefields of the future, as seen in the events of September 11, 2001. He broadly reinterprets the meaning of strategy. His writing-tough, yet elegant-makes dramatic new ideas accessible to the general reader, as well as to businessmen, diplomats, and soldiers. Will America Win? Yes, but only if her leaders open their minds to the new and dangerous international environment left in the wake of the Cold War.

Genres: Military Fiction

210 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Ralph Peters is a novelist, an essayist, a former career soldier, and an adventurer in the 19th-century sense. He is the author of a dozen critically acclaimed novels, two influential works on strategy, "Beyond Terror" and "Fighting for the Future".

Mr. Peters' works can also be found under the pen name "Owen Parry." He also appears frequently as a commentator on television and radio networks.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/ralphp...

Reviews

[Mike (the Paladin) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Looking for a "scary" book. Well, put aside Stephen King, postpone Clive Barker, even let Bentley Little wait. This can be a very scary book if we don't accurately read history, the world we are in, and the conflicts of the future. And it's not fiction.

I am what is often called a "history buff", an autodidact. Some people sneer at that (no degree) but as I'm sure a lot of people know (here especially) that knowledge of history does not necessarily require a string of letters after one's name. I took almost every history course offered when I in college so I suppose I could call it a minor, but most of my reading has been done outside the "hallowed halls" of learning. I start this way because the world we live in today, calls (rather loudly) for a knowledge of history. Edmund Burke said: "Those who don't know history are destined to repeat it." (George Santayana is sometimes credited with this but he actually said "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it," a subtle difference but a relevant one.). There are threads that run through history and we can see some of the same thinking today.

This book (a series of essays) looks at the situation (situations) we (America) find ourselves in today and considers some of the whys and whats about them. By extrapolation you can see the same type of military thinking that has always been there (the military being quite conservative and resistant to change) that has existed throughout history. The British refusal to recognize that the Indians (native Americans) nor the American Revolutionary soldiers were going to line up and fight the European way. The resistance of the establishment in the American Army to switch to repeating rifles, some generals reasoning it would "cause" soldiers to "waste" ammunition. The refusal of the military to adapt to change with disaster, for example Vietnam. Then there is political thinking, the same type of repetitive mistakes but for different reasons, for example thinking the war in Vietnam could be run by "bean counters.

I could go further but rather I suggest you read this book. Whether you end up agreeing with it or not (and I can't say I agree with everything said and all conclusions reached) try reading it with an open mind and follow some of its reasoning.

There is a lot I'd like to say on this book, maybe some discussion, but believe me it is one I believe should be read. I recommend it.

I considered 5 stars, but finally went with 4.

[Ietrio · Rating 1 out of 5]

America, like Jeanne d'Arc, is a person. And that person is going around dressed in camouflage with a gun on their shoulder, fighting in the place of Future, another individual.

No wonder Peters can't sleep at night thinking of this "dangerous world". After all, gnomes, djins and gods are real and they are among humans.

[Eldon Kellogg · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was written a couple of years before 9/11, which makes it 20 years old. It is frighteningly predictive in its portrayal of the barbarism we would be fighting in just a few years. This isn't a military novel, per se. It's a novel about cultural conflict on a global scale.

[Lillian I Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Seeing" is Believing

Reading now, a decade and a half after most of the chapters in this book were published, it is impossible to doubt Col. Peters' ability to forecast and analyze the developments of the opening years of the 21st Century.
His unique combination of intellect, experience, world travel, grit and honesty are refreshing; deserving of your most careful consideration.
This book is not fatalistic. Emphasis is placed on reason. For those unfamiliar with our Military, it provides a hard headed primer (the good, the bad and ugly). In my own 80+ yrs, the failures of leadership have never seemed so misguided, extreme and critical.
He does not claim clairvoyance. However, he does offer tools with which to both envision the tremendous opportunities and pitfalls facing the United States of America.

[Howard Anders · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Fighting for the Future" is a collection of essays with the central theme of what war will be like in the 21st Century. Mr. Peters postulates that major conflicts between nation states is unlikely for the foreseeable future. He visualizes war in the 21st Century as primarily a series of low intensity conflicts, involving both state and non-state actors. He presents his views as a series of challenges for the US government and armed forces. He concludes with a call for US policy-makers to re-evaluate our use of military power as a diplomatic tool, and challenges the United States to assume an even greater role in international affairs.

[Martin Lamb · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an intense book that discusses the need for us to prepare for the 'actual' future instead of the future we currently think of. I agree with the authors belief that are wars will be fought in the cities and urban environments, not the open battlefields that we prepare for. It is true that our enemies today do not wear a uniform but are a "faceless" warrior. This book is very insightful into how we should fight our wars and the way we should prepare for the future. As someone who is going into the military, I find this a great read.

[Keira F. Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did enjoy his suggestion that ballistic missile subs would be better if turned into low-rent housing.

[Steven]

Great read by a favorite author.