Drawing lessons from the Cold War, Mark N. Katz makes the case that, rather than signaling the decline of American power and influence, the removal of military forces from Afghanistan and Iraq puts the U.S. in a better position to counter the forces of radical Islam. He explains that, since both wars will likely remain intractable, for Washington to remain heavily involved in either is counter-productive. Katz argues that looking to its Cold War experience will help the U.S. find better strategies for employing America's scarce resources to deal with its adversaries now. Although leaving Afghanistan and Iraq may appear to be a victory for America's opponents in the short term--as was the case when the U.S. withdrew from Indochina--the larger battle with militant Islam can be won only by refocusing foreign and military policy away from these two quagmires.
"Katz offers a strong, cogent argument."--Choice
"This slender volume is packed with many insights. A collection of short chapters, some not much longer than op-eds, reveals author Mark Katz's wisdom and prudence when it comes to the use of military power and the need for patience and persistence when pursuing long-term objectives . . . His straightforward prose engages the reader in what often feels like a quiet one-on-one conversation . . . The book is suffused with a tone of welcome optimism, but not naïveté."--Christopher Preble, Middle East Policy
"As the U.S. searches for a way forward, Katz's largely objective and thoughtful analysis offers much to consider."--Publishers Weekly
"Katz makes a concise and readable argument for why withdrawal from Iraq and Afghanistan will serve to weaken the forces of radical Islam, and along the way provides a trenchant critique of the uses to which American power has been put over the past decade."--Francis Fukuyama, Stanford University