Antidote to Anarchy? Empire!

Professor Andrew J. Bacevich of Boston University, an alleged military historian, stated in his recent book The New American Militarism: How Americans Are seduced By War that Americans are brainwashed by our government into loving the military and getting bloodthirsty about sending troops abroad. Who better to review Kaplan’s Imperial Grunts for The Nation? See the complete review here.

Bacevich has a lot of beef. First, he’s appalled by Kaplan the man, who Bacevich see as too masculine, too romantic, a reactionary, and a “chest-thumping” jingoist. Bacevich must think that out soldiers should be more sensitive and in touch with their feelings. And somehow, he thinks that Kaplan is an angry, angry man:

The targets of his wrath include, but are by no means limited to, narcissistic intellectuals, risk-averse politicians, micromanaging generals, bean-counting bureaucrats, wimpy journalists who have never visited Djibouti or Mongolia, the entire “policy nomenklatura in Washington and New York—in its cocoon of fine restaurants and theoretical discussions,” and all manner of effete civilians, especially those residing in New England, which Kaplan, who makes his home in Massachusetts, describes as awash with pacifists.

Bacevich is also pretty shocked that Kalan spent several days without taking a shower. Ivory tower scholars are shaken when they sense they could lose central heating and espresso machines. Somehow, I’ve managed to tolerate similar conditions in Kazakhstan, as has Younghusband in Cambodia, and Chirol in Syria. That’s one price we’re happy to pay to get out and see the world.

Beyond that, Professor Bacevich doesn’t say much. He doesn’t like Kaplan’s thesis, hecriticizes current policy, and does lots of complaining. Attention Random House: you do realize that if you had sent us advance copies as requested, the first review of Imperial Grunts wouldn’t have been by Bacevich, right?

Meanwhile, here’s the blogosphere roundup on Imperial Grunts:

• Verbum Ipsum also mentions Bacevich’s review, albeit agrees with Bacevich.
• Publius Salon says current events suggest that Kaplan’s theory is right.
• Lincoln’s Boys give Kaplan credit for actually going into the field (unlike, say, those such as Professor Bacevich).
• Ben Casnocha also has some kind words, sorta.
• Our friends at International Views beat us to the punch in announcing that the book is now out.
• More kind words at Right in Raleigh.
• … and Dr. Thomas P. M. Barnett says he’ll review the book in his next newsletter. Hopefully he’ll remember his medication this time and avoid stuff like his last review of Kaplan’s work: “whores itself more for the most over-the-top strategic fantasies,” “What that means, I have no idea, but screw it, the man’s on a roll,” “It’s enough to make you want to slap some sense into the man,” “down right dumbass,” and “Pass the hash.”