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December 3, 2008
Exclusive: Best National Security Books of 2008
This year has seen its share of history-making political events and figures, but it’s also seen several fantastic books that analyzed some of the world’s most important national security issues, events, and strategies. There were several books published this year that shed light on people and places that I dare say some people never even heard of. These important – and fascinating – books should be on your gift list to yourself:
Ghost: Confessions of a Counterterrorism Agent by Fred Burton (Random House): I’ve had the pleasure of personally interviewing Mr. Burton, and he is an immensely intelligent man who can analyze the heck out of some of the most complex issues in national security. His autobiography details his journey as one of the first counterterrorist agents within the Diplomatic Security Service, a security arm of our nation’s State Department. I’m not too proud to say I’ve never even heard of it until I picked up this book. This man is a hero and a damn fine writer, who describes just how the underworld operates, and how he has helped bring down some major players in the world of international terror.
Baghdad at Sunrise: A Brigade Commander's War in Iraq by Col. Peter Mansoor (Yale University Press): Retired Army Col. Peter Mansoor served as an executive officer to Gen. David Petraeus in Iraq. Mansoor commanded the Ready First Combat Team in Iraq from June of 2003 to July of 2004. His book chronicles the many successes – and failures – of our campaign in Iraq with honesty and a keen understanding of military history. He’s lived the war and is in a unique position to critique it. He doesn’t simply offer a cheerleading version of the war – he’s very specific and critical of certain mistakes – but he also doesn’t let you forget the tremendous successes of our troops while dispelling many myths about al Qaeda (no, they aren’t stronger now in Afghanistan because of our efforts in Iraq). When you have a source like Mansoor, you ought to pay close attention.
The Irregulars: Roald Dahl and the British Spy Ring in Wartime Washington by Jennet Conant (Simon and Schuster): Roald Dahl’s name may not be immediately familiar, but his literature certainly is – from James and the Giant Peach to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Dahl is best known for his writing, but here’s something you may not have known about the man: he was a spy in Washington for Winston Churchill, doing his best to propagandize the American public and politicians into supporting our nation’s entry into the war in Europe to aide Britain. The biography is a wonderful look into a, frankly, dishonest and self-aggrandizing man who was a major British player in Washington during World War II. The book also gets one to inevitably wonder how many American versions of Dahl are out there.
Brotherhood of Warriors: Behind Enemy Lines with a Commando in One of the World's Most Elite Counterterrorism Units by Aaron Cohen (Ecco): Cohen was a typical teenage brat living in Beverly Hills when he decided to make a life-changing move: he would join the Israeli Special Forces. As an American Jew, I can relate to this book on many levels, but most importantly Cohen is a courageous man who has put both Israel and the U.S. first, taking on terrorists and helping secure our nation and our ally Israel in the war against terror. His first-hand account of the grueling training and dangerous operations are riveting and a must-read.
Red Hot Lies: How Global Warming Alarmists Use Threats, Fraud, and Deception to Keep You Misinformed by Christopher Horner (Regnery Publishing): If you don’t think global warming is an issue of national security, consider how much money, attention and resources our President-elect and his future Secretary of State seem to be poised to offer this wholly exaggerated issue. Red Hot Lies is not the fairest title Horner could offer, though you must give him credit for it being compelling (not everyone who believes in global warming is “lying”), but the book is a fair analysis of the science behind the trend of labeling everything and anything “global warming.” There is no scientific consensus on the cause of global warming and while I am definitely an eco-friendly and eco-conscious conservative, we should take a deep breath, step back from the hype, and read up on the science behind this contentious issue. The world will not end tomorrow, Florida will not flood from some chunk of ice in the Arctic melting, and trimming five minutes from your morning shower will have negligible results. Take a gander and this book and tell me you’re 100% convinced humans are causing global warming.
The Last Patriot by Brad Thor (Atria Books): I’m an unabashed fan of Thor, and this novel makes the list because not only does his Scott Harvath series bring up many real-life national security implications, but we not only need a conservative hero in literature, we also need to focus a little bit on just a good ol’ fashioned thriller to take our minds off – but not too far off – the real-life, everyday tragic current events. It’s a healthy alternative to watching 24-hour cable news networks.
FamilySecurityMatters.org Contributing Editor Jason Rantz is President of Rantz Productions, LLC and the executive producer of the nationally syndicated, legendary radio program the Phil Hendrie Show.
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