Pentagon's New Map: Dr. Thomas Barnett

[MJG]

Has anyone read this book, The Pentagon's New Map by Thomas Barnett, Phd. ??

I believe he's some kind of analyst at the Naval War College. I saw a presentation on C-SPAN that he gave at some symposium the other day. I was very impressed with his presentation. He seems to be one of those rare folks who are on a whole different level of comprehension than the rest of us. Maybe I'm giving him too much credit but I am wondering if anyone else has seen or read his stuff?

 

[46Driver]

He worked as a senior strategic researcher at the Naval War College as well as at OSD in Strategic Futures. The book is an extremely good read - he takes the Pentagon to task for planning to much for a "near-peer" competitor (read as China...) and not enough for the economically underdeveloped regions such as the Middle East that are causing the vast majority of the problems in the world.

 

[MJG]

Great, thanks..

 

[pony251]

MJG, I saw the same C-span show you did. I've never actually watched a whole "show" before, but this Barnett guy seemed to really have his act together. He really made me think. I will definitely read the book.

 

[AceCrackshot]

Barnett is smart...as they say, read the whole thing. However, I don't think his writing is earthshaking, from a strategic standpoint. Ralph Peters, among others, was postulating what is essentially Barnett's position a long time ago (see the Seven Signs of NonCompetitive States.) http://carlisle-www.army.mil/usawc/Parameters/98spring/peters.htm.

Anyway, its a nice presentation, with some real off the wall points (Mexico getting integrated in the U.S. circa 2050.) I feel postulating his position isn't enough, he needs to come up with a better means of implementing his position.
Like my crackpot theory of spliting the DoD into the DoN and the old Dept of War, leaving the Navy the job of fighting "small wars," and the War Dept. the job of the heavy lifting. Anyway, its always a treat to argue with the khaki at the ResCen.

Also, the Navy in particular will miss the boat (so to speak) on the whole disconnectness theory, and will use it to push its "600 boat Navy" Littoral Combat Ship with UAV scheme. Just my $.02.

 

[46Driver]

Peters is quite good. I am using several of his works as reference material for a paper I am currently writing. Thought his best work was "Stability, America's Enemy" otherwise known as "The Shah Always Falls."

 

[AceCrackshot]

Peters goes kabuki at times, but otherwise is excellent. I just wish there was an easier way to access his NY Post articles, they are pretty good.