Book Review--DRIFT

Drift is somewhat of a history lesson on what has happened with the military and our penchant for war. And, how to conduct it with the least amount of political fallout and if not in secret, close: use civilian contractors. This has been one, if not the best book, I've read, on perspective in our misguided rosy policy in terms of the "fast train to nowhere" in Afghanistan. But, this book is more. Incredibly readable, the Commander in Chief should be reading even as we speak. Unfortunately, based on our continued direction in Afghanistan,  he will not nor his aids and that is a major f..k up. If I gave any criticism and it really is not that: it is more a different view. Maddaw, like many of the strategists about our present debacle in Afghanistan, simple don't "get" the nuances of the military, having not served. I think the president has learned quickly, i. e., the generals ganged up on him and based on his lack of experience, he caved on something like the "so called" surge in Afghanistan. It has not worked: it only worked in Iraq because the military forced their own type of ethnic cleansing and literally separated the factions. Maddow's history lesson on the love affair or lack thereof between the military and Americans, is superb and so, "right on." She does the best  evaluation I've seen about Vietnam and vets in particular. It was awful seeing the way we treated returning soldiers from Vietnam (thanks to the President who used the word, shameful). Men and women who had given their life's blood and the country gave them the "finger" with mostly nothing but distain. We will never get ovet it!  If Vietnam vets have a legacy, it is that we were treated so badly that Americans who care(not all do); are trying to get it right this time around. At least our leadership publicly acknowledge our soldiers. I doubt it will last. What Maddow gave short shift too in terms of fallout is I think the Prez is in trouble over that which he can't do anything about. Thoughts of the Republicans returning us to 1950 makes me nauseous. As a white boy from NC, I've been proud that we elected an African American president. Somehow, I thought, "wow, we have come a long way."  I never dreamed for a moment that we would experience this enormous hatred  by the right wing nuts. To me, there is simply noway to look at it but racial. And, I am leaning toward conspiracy theory. Bankers hate him, business hates him. Banks sitting on two trillion of cash. Won't lend, companies are struggling, they can't hire. Banks/big business equal Conspiracy. It sounds crazy but the objective data is there. Poor guy has learned how to be president. Inherited worse economy since the great depression, two wars. I am amazed that the guy can stand upright. So, my thought is that we Americans who care (And, not all do) need to get off our ass and stand up for what is right. F..k the racists! I was especially incensed at Maddow's  descriptions of the cavaliar contractors and their horrendous behavior and the awful way they represented our country. I, like most Americans, have been "asleep at the wheel" on this one.  The sorry immoral MFers. She nailed it. (I would like to think that "Drift" contributed to the Secret Service types getting caught in Columbia. Unfortunately, the contractors and their awful behavior seemed to get a free pass). She deals with our nuclear mess in a "shake your head" unbelief way. The practicality of where we find ourselves with all these nukes is almost beyond belief. Drift's conclusions leads us to discover that Maddow is an idealist. She thinks we can turn all this around. I am more skeptical. We would do well as a country to take to heart this very laudable and readable book. I don't have much hope that we will. I plan to do my part and read Drift again and buy two or three more copies for friends. I have never watched Maddow's show. Not a single time but I'm going to start.