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Why We Fight: Defeating America's Enemies - With No Apologies
"Sebastian Gorka was [President Trump's] strategist. Dr. Gorka knows Donald Trump and the threats we face. Buy and read Why We Fight to find how we win and what it means to be an American hero." — RUSH LIMBAUGH WAR. It will happen again. We must be ready. Sober words from Dr. Sebastian Gorka, a man who has made the unvarnished truth his specialty. And there’s one eternal truth that Americans are in danger of the most important weapon in any geopolitical conflict is the will to win. And we must win. In this powerful manifesto, Dr. Gorka explains the basic principles that have guided strategists since Sun Tzu penned The Art of War in the sixth century B.C. To defeat your enemy, you must know him. But that’s the last thing liberal elites are interested in. Willful ignorance about our adversary—whether it’s Russia, China, or the global jihadi movement—has been crippling. Tearing off America’s politically correct blindfold, Dr. Gorka clarifies who our foes are and what makes them tick. An eight-year vacation from geopolitical reality under Obama left our country dangerously weakened. Dr. Gorka addresses the pressing questions we face as we rebuild under President Trump’s - What are the most serious threats to American security? - How are they different from the threats of the past? - What can we do to counter these threats? - How can we achieve the “perfect victory” of vanquishing our enemies without mortal combat? All the money and weapons in the world cannot substitute for the will to fight for our precious country and what she represents. To remind us of what the will to win looks like, Dr. Gorka intersperses the stories of four American heroes—Stephen Decatur, Chesty Puller, “Red” McDaniel, and a warrior who never took up arms, Whittaker Chambers—men who believed in their country and put everything on the line for her.
243 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 9, 2018
145 people are currently reading
242 people want to read
About the author
Sebastian Gorka
9 books66 followersAmerican military and intelligence analyst, a professor and a member of the national security advisory staff under the Trump administration.
Gorka has written for a variety of publications and is generally considered politically conservative.
Gorka specializes in irregular warfare, counterinsurgency and counterterrorism.
Gorka has written for a variety of publications and is generally considered politically conservative.
Gorka specializes in irregular warfare, counterinsurgency and counterterrorism.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
January 19, 2019
Politics = war.
Excellent study of war purposes. And specifics about the types and methods we will see when the worst perpetrators of homicide and torturous mass assaults/ genocides are not nation-states but fluid organizations etc.
Much of it after the first half was over my head. He is brilliant and connects all these specifics to past war "instructions" and the theories of onus.
His family history is so specific and telling it and its aftermaths, you certainly understand the "eyes" of his military life and studies.
The biographies included were all of aspects or people that I had heard their names but had no idea of the stretch of their real life actions and how many outcomes were changed by those actions. Especially Chesty!
If you are of the persuasion that we will all just hold hands and "get along" someday, and can imagine no tribes, no nation states, no self-identities, or no cultural or religious dictates differences and that all finite goods will or are possibly able in any homo sapiens constructions to be evenly distributed- then this book is not for you. Nor if you think the Leftist Socialist or Communist governmental authoritarian constructs are the "answer".
It's a bit dated in parts and it's also too individually experienced to be widely understood (despite his clear graphics) by the cozy, safe, and protected. Nearly anywhere at that, not just American citizens. And it lacks in one central core feature to encompass the title surety as a whole piece "quantity" (he should give that mindset to "defense" as it is called now, to define it by its newer name)- that's where it lost the star. His writing is clear and precise. But he needed to dig into "the will" that is lacking presently in what used to be called "defense" and "protective identity".
But it's an excellent book regardless. His Dad and his Grandfather after all they went through- if they were still alive; they would be so proud. Why are not the stories of Eastern Europe from the last century from Hungary or Poland or Ukraine, Lithuania, Estonia etc. in particular (like his folks) or any of the real Stalin outcomes so glossed over in our current "history" or literature or movies or any number of "art" memorials? Millions and millions killed and tortured and starved for "incorrectness". STILL are.
Gorka mentions Zinn (among several others) by name- and all the pure propaganda of outcome deceptions (both positive and negative omissions in particular which tilts the real time progressions/ advancements for the reality of the actual past) that are being taught to our children. And he centers too on the "hearts and minds" values of our common American culture. What, who and why attempts for the "hearts and minds" overthrow purposes in particular. And how that has recently worked out for them.
Excellent study of war purposes. And specifics about the types and methods we will see when the worst perpetrators of homicide and torturous mass assaults/ genocides are not nation-states but fluid organizations etc.
Much of it after the first half was over my head. He is brilliant and connects all these specifics to past war "instructions" and the theories of onus.
His family history is so specific and telling it and its aftermaths, you certainly understand the "eyes" of his military life and studies.
The biographies included were all of aspects or people that I had heard their names but had no idea of the stretch of their real life actions and how many outcomes were changed by those actions. Especially Chesty!
If you are of the persuasion that we will all just hold hands and "get along" someday, and can imagine no tribes, no nation states, no self-identities, or no cultural or religious dictates differences and that all finite goods will or are possibly able in any homo sapiens constructions to be evenly distributed- then this book is not for you. Nor if you think the Leftist Socialist or Communist governmental authoritarian constructs are the "answer".
It's a bit dated in parts and it's also too individually experienced to be widely understood (despite his clear graphics) by the cozy, safe, and protected. Nearly anywhere at that, not just American citizens. And it lacks in one central core feature to encompass the title surety as a whole piece "quantity" (he should give that mindset to "defense" as it is called now, to define it by its newer name)- that's where it lost the star. His writing is clear and precise. But he needed to dig into "the will" that is lacking presently in what used to be called "defense" and "protective identity".
But it's an excellent book regardless. His Dad and his Grandfather after all they went through- if they were still alive; they would be so proud. Why are not the stories of Eastern Europe from the last century from Hungary or Poland or Ukraine, Lithuania, Estonia etc. in particular (like his folks) or any of the real Stalin outcomes so glossed over in our current "history" or literature or movies or any number of "art" memorials? Millions and millions killed and tortured and starved for "incorrectness". STILL are.
Gorka mentions Zinn (among several others) by name- and all the pure propaganda of outcome deceptions (both positive and negative omissions in particular which tilts the real time progressions/ advancements for the reality of the actual past) that are being taught to our children. And he centers too on the "hearts and minds" values of our common American culture. What, who and why attempts for the "hearts and minds" overthrow purposes in particular. And how that has recently worked out for them.
September 4, 2019
This was a good read. Author Sebastian Gorka explores the 3 existential enemies to Western Civilization since the late 30s: Nazi totalitarianism in WW2, Communist expansionism during the Cold War, and Islamic jihad in modern times.
He begins by talking about the famous "On War", by Carl von Clausewitz, who described war as "the continuation of politics by other means".
He writes briefly about his personal history under Communist rule in Hungary, and his father's torture by government thugs.
The book is interspliced with mini-stories about select American war heros; Stephen Decatur, Chesty Puller, "Red" McDaniel, and Whittaker Chambers.
He talks at length about the threat to the West from Islamic jihad. He breaks down a basic history of fundamentalist groups; including the Islamic State, the Muslim Brotherhood and al Qaeda. He also talks about the history of conflict between Islam and America, going back to the Barbary pirates in the late 1700's.
The author speaks with a rare clarity and great insight about the jihadist threat, in a manner-of-fact, on the nose format that is refreshing in today's climate of PC sensitivities.
The book closes with a blurb about his position working for the Trump administration.
I enjoyed this book, and would recommend it to those interested in warfare, the military, and history in general.
It was a good short read, that I rate 3.5 stars.
I'll bump it up to 4 stars, because it was very refreshing to hear an author speak about Islamic jihad with such knowledge and clarity.
He begins by talking about the famous "On War", by Carl von Clausewitz, who described war as "the continuation of politics by other means".
He writes briefly about his personal history under Communist rule in Hungary, and his father's torture by government thugs.
The book is interspliced with mini-stories about select American war heros; Stephen Decatur, Chesty Puller, "Red" McDaniel, and Whittaker Chambers.
He talks at length about the threat to the West from Islamic jihad. He breaks down a basic history of fundamentalist groups; including the Islamic State, the Muslim Brotherhood and al Qaeda. He also talks about the history of conflict between Islam and America, going back to the Barbary pirates in the late 1700's.
The author speaks with a rare clarity and great insight about the jihadist threat, in a manner-of-fact, on the nose format that is refreshing in today's climate of PC sensitivities.
The book closes with a blurb about his position working for the Trump administration.
I enjoyed this book, and would recommend it to those interested in warfare, the military, and history in general.
It was a good short read, that I rate 3.5 stars.
I'll bump it up to 4 stars, because it was very refreshing to hear an author speak about Islamic jihad with such knowledge and clarity.
December 26, 2018
Fantastic Book - Thank You Dr Gorka!
There will undoubtedly be plenty of one star reviews of this book posted by the feral left: ignore them. If you like Dr Gorka’s work you’ll love this extremely user-friendly and accessible book. This well-written book makes an extremely compelling argument for defending American culture by explaining how those who don’t share our values will subvert and endanger us with an ideology at odds to our own. Read and digest.
There will undoubtedly be plenty of one star reviews of this book posted by the feral left: ignore them. If you like Dr Gorka’s work you’ll love this extremely user-friendly and accessible book. This well-written book makes an extremely compelling argument for defending American culture by explaining how those who don’t share our values will subvert and endanger us with an ideology at odds to our own. Read and digest.
February 4, 2020
This book was very informative in a concise sort of way. It basically gets right to the point about the radical Islamic threat facing western civilization. It definitely made me stop and consider just how opposed their ideology is to ours in the West and how important it is that we as a country understand that. These extremist groups consider the US to be the “Great Satan” and are commanded to wage war against anyone that opposes living under an Islamic state.
In addition to that, this book had a few biographies of American war heroes as well as bits of Gorka’s own autobiography and his experience which was pretty interesting too. Overall though, I felt like the book was kind of all over the place and felt a little dry at some points. Still, I learned a good bit and enjoyed quite a few stories.
In addition to that, this book had a few biographies of American war heroes as well as bits of Gorka’s own autobiography and his experience which was pretty interesting too. Overall though, I felt like the book was kind of all over the place and felt a little dry at some points. Still, I learned a good bit and enjoyed quite a few stories.
January 1, 2019
In Why We Fight: Defeating America's Enemies--With No Apologies, Sebastian Gorka provides a readable yet erudite analysis of the threats posed to America and all of Western civilization today and suggestions as to how to cope with them. He argues that while the ideas of classical military theorists such as Carl von Clausewitz remain valid in coping with threats posed by traditional nation-states such as Russia and China, new thinking is needed when it comes to dealing with non-state actors such as Islamic jihadist groups. He contends that President Trump is aware of the threat that Islamic jihadis pose to civilization and that he wants to win the fight with them.
Gorka weaves into his argument stories about his own and his family’s experiences as well as short biographies of “America’s Warriors,” men both in and out of uniform who battled the enemies of the United States.
Also useful is a list of print and online resources provided by Gorka to help the reader better understand contemporary national and international security issues.
This book will be an asset to anyone wanting to know about the national and international threats currently facing the US and its allies and the Trump administration’s efforts to cope with them.
Gorka weaves into his argument stories about his own and his family’s experiences as well as short biographies of “America’s Warriors,” men both in and out of uniform who battled the enemies of the United States.
Also useful is a list of print and online resources provided by Gorka to help the reader better understand contemporary national and international security issues.
This book will be an asset to anyone wanting to know about the national and international threats currently facing the US and its allies and the Trump administration’s efforts to cope with them.
June 4, 2019
This is a book all should read. It gives a sound basis for conservative economics and decisive global opposition to aggressive socialism and physical jihad. I came out committed to vigorously support Capitalism and Free-Market Nationalism while opposing National Socialism. Mussolini created and aggressively advanced the National Socialist concept of "strength in unity" where businesses are privately owned, yet controlled by the government; where people, unlike communism, are proud of their country. Gorka gives us the horrible outcome of this philosophy and the physical jihad philosophy. I really love the sharpening and filling out of my own analysis of these issues.
February 9, 2019
Purchased this book under the assumption that it would be poorly written and unnecessarily polemical. It’s actually enjoyable and well thought out. Gorka’s treatment in the media as an Austin Powers villain is unwarranted. If you have an interest in the war theory, check out this book.
Want to read
July 14, 2018Rec by Sean Hannity
December 20, 2018
Well written and easy to read! I love Sebastian Gorka...Hungarian, raised in England, who is now a proud citizen of the USA!
August 7, 2019
Real good. More details than I needed but valuable also. SG is an amazing guy.
January 27, 2019
Dr Gorka does a great job on this book. I highly recommended it to anybody interested in conservative politics.
April 20, 2022
I love political books. Be it books about political or social ideologies or just books written by people in and around politics.
The problem with them though is ; They get dated very quickly.
Take 'Why We Fight' by Sebastian Gorka. It was written while he (Gorka) was on President Trump's staff.
a) Trump left office in 2021 and even when Gorka WAS in Trump's administration, it didn't last long (as with most of Trump's staff).
However, aside from the "dated" stuff this was still an interesting read. Gorka's knowledge of Jihad alone is worth the quick read.
The problem with them though is ; They get dated very quickly.
Take 'Why We Fight' by Sebastian Gorka. It was written while he (Gorka) was on President Trump's staff.
a) Trump left office in 2021 and even when Gorka WAS in Trump's administration, it didn't last long (as with most of Trump's staff).
However, aside from the "dated" stuff this was still an interesting read. Gorka's knowledge of Jihad alone is worth the quick read.
June 8, 2020
Excellent book on the ongoing war between the West and the leftists who want us defeated: America haters, Jew-haters, Israel haters, Communists and anarchists. We cannot allow the leftists to destroy America and our way of life.
November 15, 2020
I really like the information Sebastian Gorka shares from his life and expanding knowledge. I learn so much more about America from immigrants that truly love what our country has to offer the world.
March 20, 2024
BEing a conservative, this provided me with some "ammunition" on why Americans continue to fight to save our country. Not for the liberals to read, unless they would like a better understanding of what we believe we face.
October 21, 2025
If you liked Kamala, you will not enjoy this experience.
Gorka, son of Hungarian freedom fighters, was born in London Uk.
Wiki page is useless, read this book.
Gorka, son of Hungarian freedom fighters, was born in London Uk.
Wiki page is useless, read this book.
October 20, 2019
Sebastian Gorka gives an amazingly concise summary of all the major (plus most minor ones) out of the 460 wars & armed conflicts conflicts the US has been involved in since the end of the Napoleonic wars in 1815 to the present in a very clear fashion. Just in the first chapter he makes it clear that he reads (more importantly!) and understands the classic authors on the topic. Beginning with the classic quote "Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum!"* Sun Tzu and Von Clausewitz are quoted frequently.
A very different view of the Vietnam conflict was presented when he quoted an Asian Ambassador to the US. He said: "To many Americans today, especially young millenials, Vietnam is considered to be the war that America lost. Not to me, my fellow countrymen of the citizens of the free nations in Asia. By comitting the blood & treasure of your country for so many years to the cause of stopping communism in Vietnam despite the outcome for you, America guaranteed that my nation would never fall to the Marxists or Maoists. Comminism died a political death in our country exactly because thousands of Americans died in Vietnam." Personally I have to say I find that viewpoint quite heartening!
Even the captions for the photos in the book are aspirational & positive! Regarding Israel, our military and the blessings we receive thanks to living in the greatest country in history! Yes, we have faults, but the basic premise still is beyond anything ever attempted.
An interesting observation Gorka pointed out is the fact that we have numerous former and active Generals from the Marine Corps at the highest levels of the administration, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, the Chief of Staff and the Secretary of defense that all come not just from the Corps, but from the same Division. That Division has a Motto "No Better Friend, No Worse Enemy". That's America First
So I say, read this book for a basic primer on our history & place in the world. I also say G-D Bless the USA! America has nothing to do with your skin color, your social class, your sexual preference or gender. Americameans a set of external values that must apply for ALL of our citizens.
*Si vis pacem, para bellum (Classical Latin) is a Latin adage translated as "If you want peace, prepare for war". The phrase is used above all to affirm that one of the most effective means to ensure peace for a people is always to be armed and ready to defend oneself. From Wikipedia, The phrase Si vis pacem, para bellum is adapted from a statement found in Latin author Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus's tract De Re Militari (4th or 5th century AD), in which the actual phrasing is Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum ("Therefore he who desires peace, let him prepare war.") The idea which it conveys also appears in earlier works such as Plato's Nomoi (Laws) and the Chinese Shi Ji. The phrase presents the counter-intuitive insight that the conditions of peace are often preserved by a readiness to make war when necessitated.
A very different view of the Vietnam conflict was presented when he quoted an Asian Ambassador to the US. He said: "To many Americans today, especially young millenials, Vietnam is considered to be the war that America lost. Not to me, my fellow countrymen of the citizens of the free nations in Asia. By comitting the blood & treasure of your country for so many years to the cause of stopping communism in Vietnam despite the outcome for you, America guaranteed that my nation would never fall to the Marxists or Maoists. Comminism died a political death in our country exactly because thousands of Americans died in Vietnam." Personally I have to say I find that viewpoint quite heartening!
Even the captions for the photos in the book are aspirational & positive! Regarding Israel, our military and the blessings we receive thanks to living in the greatest country in history! Yes, we have faults, but the basic premise still is beyond anything ever attempted.
An interesting observation Gorka pointed out is the fact that we have numerous former and active Generals from the Marine Corps at the highest levels of the administration, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, the Chief of Staff and the Secretary of defense that all come not just from the Corps, but from the same Division. That Division has a Motto "No Better Friend, No Worse Enemy". That's America First
So I say, read this book for a basic primer on our history & place in the world. I also say G-D Bless the USA! America has nothing to do with your skin color, your social class, your sexual preference or gender. Americameans a set of external values that must apply for ALL of our citizens.
*Si vis pacem, para bellum (Classical Latin) is a Latin adage translated as "If you want peace, prepare for war". The phrase is used above all to affirm that one of the most effective means to ensure peace for a people is always to be armed and ready to defend oneself. From Wikipedia, The phrase Si vis pacem, para bellum is adapted from a statement found in Latin author Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus's tract De Re Militari (4th or 5th century AD), in which the actual phrasing is Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum ("Therefore he who desires peace, let him prepare war.") The idea which it conveys also appears in earlier works such as Plato's Nomoi (Laws) and the Chinese Shi Ji. The phrase presents the counter-intuitive insight that the conditions of peace are often preserved by a readiness to make war when necessitated.
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January 7, 2019Good read. Easy to understand. Well delivered.
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