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The Grand Chessboard: American Primacy And Its Geostrategic Imperatives

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DamnDirtyApe said:
Has anyone read this book by Zbigniew Brzezinski?

I've been thinking of picking it up.
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Yes it is called the Grand Chessboard. He was a Deputy Former National Security Advisor to the White House.Forward to this time as of today, his book makes alot of sense "in relation to America's foreign policy abroad.
 
Irishseekers said:
Yes it is called the Grand Chessboard. He was a Deputy Former National Security Advisor to the White House.Forward to this time as of today, his book makes alot of sense "in relation to America's foreign policy abroad.
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Yea he worked for Carter(!!!???) back in the 70's and apparently he is one of Obama's foriegn policy advisors (or they have at least met). Obama is quick to deny any close association, but who know for sure what goes on behinds the scenes? His son Mark definately does serve as an advisor to Obama.

The reason I'm interested in reading the book is because it goes into explaining his whole Machevallian strategy for dealing with Eurasia (but was written back in 98 - pre 9/11) From what I've gathered, his views were very influential in establishing our policy objectives of keeping other countries from gaining too much power in that area, especially undermining the Soviet Bloc (ie. helping to create the mujahideen), and thus maintain US influence in central Europe and Asia. Of course that was before the Soviet Empire collapsed. It may help explain America's true reason for mucking around in the middle East.

Either way, it sounds like an interesting history lesson on global political machinations by a guy who influenced America's foreign policy for better or worse. Considering that Obama will most likely get elected, and Brzezinski's ideas have, at the very least, percolated into Obama's views in one shape or another, then this book might give some insight into what the power brokers are thinking behind the scenes.
 
DamnDirtyApe said:
Yea he worked for Carter(!!!???) back in the 70's and apparently he is one of Obama's foriegn policy advisors (or they have at least met). Obama is quick to deny any close association, but who know for sure what goes on behinds the scenes? His son Mark definately does serve as an advisor to Obama.

The reason I'm interested in reading the book is because it goes into explaining his whole Machevallian strategy for dealing with Eurasia (but was written back in 98 - pre 9/11) From what I've gathered, his views were very influential in establishing our policy objectives of keeping other countries from gaining too much power in that area, especially undermining the Soviet Bloc (ie. helping to create the mujahideen), and thus maintain US influence in central Europe and Asia. Of course that was before the Soviet Empire collapsed. It may help explain America's true reason for mucking around in the middle East.

Either way, it sounds like an interesting history lesson on global political machinations by a guy who influenced America's foreign policy for better or worse. Considering that Obama will most likely get elected, and Brzezinski's ideas have, at the very least, percolated into Obama's views in one shape or another, then this book might give some insight into what the power brokers are thinking behind the scenes.
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Dont know much "what he has done with his life since the book. But it in the book you get a better understanding of foreign policy through the eyes of the American elite.The book deals with oil, and how haveing oil makes you more powerful than your rivals! i recommend the book
 
Irishseekers said:
Dont know much "what he has done with his life since the book. But it in the book you get a better understanding of foreign policy through the eyes of the American elite.The book deals with oil, and how haveing oil makes you more powerful than your rivals! i recommend the book
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cool thanks!
 
Yes, I have read it. It's funny you bring this book up. It's probably the book I most frequently recomend to people who want a better understanding of current geo-politics. It's also close to the outline of what Obama's foreign policy will be.

It should make you a bit angry. It makes me angry. I think Zbig makes me more angry then reading Kissinger or Shultz's views. A must read.
 
The book is essential reading if you want to understand the world views shaping current foreign policy.
 
Looks interesting. My own view is that USA has pissed away a great deal of influence in eight years.

I also think this is by design, but that's a topic for the conspiracy thread.
 
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