A retired naval officer and current Washington Times
national security analyst offers a cogent sequel to his Unfinished Business
; where the former dealt with the war in Afghanistan, this one covers Iraq. Ullman offers a number of specific suggestions for gaining ground, the first of which is to acknowledge that the war is primarily against Islamist factions, and not against generalized "terror." Doing so requires that the U.S. take the threatened position of Pakistan more seriously and support its present regime more vigorously, lest it be overthrown by the "jihadists," who will thereby acquire a substantial nuclear arsenal and a much more developed power base than Iraq could ever have given them. Thirdly, Ullman suggests a massive international program of economic and political assistance to Iraq, comparable to the Marshall Plan or, domestically, to the GI Bill. Fourth, Congress is to be held more accountable for its failures—which does not lead to Ullman's exculpating the executive or judiciary branches from crimes, errors and misdemeanors. Newt Gingrich's foreword and Wesley Clark's afterword contribute to an atmosphere of collegiality; Ullman's two cents fall in with others this autumn contributing less partisan perspectives. Agent, Peter Rubie.
(Oct.)
