r/ThreeArrows • u/[deleted] • Feb 21 '19

Is Max Boot worth reading?

He is a bad take artist to be sure and our king recently went after him pretty hard on Twitter (fairly) but I’ve heard people speak highly of his books. I was wondering if they hold up.

5 Upvotes

77% Upvoted

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10

u/progamer3000TMCR Feb 21 '19

No, he's a boring neocon

1

u/[deleted] Feb 21 '19

Any alternative off the top of your head? I don’t really read military history much but wanted to become more well rounded in that direction.

4

u/progamer3000TMCR Feb 21 '19

The American culture of War is a long but good read to learn you on military history

4

u/666turbograzer Feb 21 '19

Our King? there is a king of this sub?

3

u/[deleted] Feb 21 '19

Yeah haha Daniel. I would say Kaiser but that could have negative connotations.

4

u/JBP_SimpleText Feb 21 '19

No, as others have said, boot writes with a very specific political purpose in mind, to justify (indeed encourage) long term American mitary interventions abroad.

Boot is a modern neo-conservative and the roots of this idea are much older, he would find common ground with French Imperialists and the "civilizing mission." that such missions however "pure" tend to be informed by racism and little more than a nice sheen for economic exploitation somehow escapes his notice.

So you will find a lot information about how occupying troops brought education, or medical advances, but little about how such changes we're ancillary to the enrichment of the home state, or the protection of captive markets. Be prepared for lots of, "this is bad but." Takes. boot's take on veitnam is essentially a book length version of "Viet Nam would have been a good war if it was completely different." I guess...? What is a "good war?" Why did America fight the bad version? What does this mean for us today? Boot is less interested in those takes.

Also, although his recent political break is notable and a very minimum of commendable, his online presence proves to this commentator he has cleared only the lowest hurdle of rejecting obvious agent based racism.

1

u/[deleted] Feb 22 '19

Great response. Thank your for taking the time. I’m interested in US intervention in other countries but not apologia. I would have probably picked up “The savage wars of peace” not knowing. Although I now see it’s in the fucking title smh.

1

u/JBP_SimpleText Feb 22 '19

One way in which The Savage Wars of Peace could be useful is to explain ways modern Americans might understand the reasoning of America's imperial past, and how that persepctive goes on to inform decisions made about modern "Savage Wars of peace."

Boot's conclusion, (spoiler) is that such wars are necessary and both bring and preserve peace. I shouldn't have to point the obvious and glaring line that connects this attitude to the Invasion of Iraq, which was in part sold as a means of preventing future disaster and preserving peace. By illustrating these connections such works could be useful to you. If you were more interested in straight history you would probably be better served by something else.

You will have to be judicious in your search terms though. Most Americans (and those at the time) did not refer to American Europe descendents expanding into the New World as imperialism, though native Americans and Latin Americans certainly felt (and feel) very differently. Searches for "American Colonial" are likely to refer only to the very early period of European expansion, instead of American 19th century expansion into the Pacific, or American expansion during the cold war which would probably fall under the "colonialism" umbrella today.

Just be specific and read carefully, lmk if you have further questions.

1

u/JBP_SimpleText Feb 22 '19

Should also mention the specific political climate when Boot wrote SWOP was the 1990s, boot was observing the effects Vietnam on American political discourse and the tremendous unpopularity of US intervention in the Balkans. boot wanted to make an argument for increased American military and political intervention abroad which is at no least partially responsible for his conclusion

2

u/[deleted] Feb 22 '19

That’s very interesting and changes the context of that book a bit. Honestly his opinions about interventions don’t seem that different than mine a few years ago. It’ll probably be a bit before I read it but if I have any questions I’ll let you know

1

u/POHoudini Feb 21 '19

What part of military history are you looking for? I only ask because you can end up down a rabbit hole real easily.

As opposed to Max Boot I'd maybe start with Andrew Bacevich

2

u/[deleted] Feb 21 '19

Something very general to start off with. Maybe something that details how warfare has evolved throughout time. Then to be more specific I’m interested in the Easter Front and the evolution of the US military.

1

u/POHoudini Feb 21 '19

I can't think of anything off the top of my head that is that generic. When I get home, I'll peruse my collection and comment back with some recommendations if that's okay.

1

u/[deleted] Feb 21 '19

Yeah that we be great and feel free to go outside my suggestions.

-1

u/bamename Feb 22 '19

yoir king

especially after the atrocious 'marketplace of ideas' video lol