Name: Let's rethink America's military strategy
Uploaded: 2007-06-14T00:11:00Z
Duration: 23 min 28 s
Description: In this bracingly honest talk, international security strategist Thomas Barnett outlines a post-Cold War solution for the foundering U.S. military that is both sensible and breathtaking in its simplicity: Break it in two.

In this bracingly honest talk, international security strategist Thomas Barnett outlines a post-Cold War solution for the foundering U.S. military that is both sensible and breathtaking in its simplicity: Break it in two.

Let's rethink America's military strategy

The U.S. military can defeat any opponent in open conflict, as shown by the rapid invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, but consistently falters in the aftermath. Catastrophic successes and a lack of postwar planning expose a gap between overwhelming force and lasting stability. True security, the idea argues, requires splitting military roles—one to fight wars and another to build peace, mirroring how the IMF manages economic crises. Without a specialized 'System Administrator' force, politically bankrupt states remain ungoverned, fueling cycles of violence.