Preventing World War III: A Realistic Grand Strategy

This controversial book offers several suggestions for preventing WWIII. The fact that some of these suggestions are totally unsalable in todays political environment does not make them any less interesting. Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, Or.

Abshire, former ambassador to NATO and special counsellor to President Reagan, offers a comprehensive grand strategy aimed at minimizing the uncertainty, division and misperception that could lead to a third world war. His broad array of proposals includes encouraging global stability by ensuring economic growth through an open and free trading system, restoring balance and flexibility to U.S. deterrent strategy, and a plan for making a short-warning Soviet blitzkrieg attack on NATO "obsolete." A self-described cheerleader for NATO, Abshire maintains that conventional forces will be the decisive element in the European power balance in the 1990s. The president should elevate his NATO ambassador to cabinet rank, he urges; his emphasis throughout is on "less Americanization and more on partnership in decisionmaking."
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

As a former U.S. ambassador to NATO under Reagan, Abshire is an obvious candidate to write a book calling for the development of a grand strategy to prevent a third world war. The strategy is based upon the renewal of NATO, particularly the conventional forces. With the alliance strengthened, global stability will result and Soviet coercion will be deterred. Internally the strategy calls for economic renewal through closer ties with Japan, and a revamping of the national security process. The later step includes broadening the vice president's executive powers. The author's experience allows insights into the complexity of decision-making in Washington. However, too many personal anecdotes detract from a practical set of strategic proposals.
- Dennis Felbel, Univ. of Manitoba Libs., Winnipeg
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.