Six Nightmares: Real Threats in a Dangerous World and How America Can Meet Them

Anthony Lake's book outlines six potential threats to our nation's national security. Unfortunately the reality of ambigious warfare (chapter 3) has already reared its ugly head...Anthony Lake has unfortunately made himself into somewhat of a prophet. The other chapters are incredibly pertinent also. As someone who participated in and helped craft major U.S. foreign policy initiatives and decisions, Lake is able to share anecdotal snipets which really bring his subject into focus. I especially enjoyed the chapters on peacekeeping and Washington politics and the experiences Lake was able to share to illustrate his points. The only negative aspect of the book is that sometimes he can delve into examples where it seems as if he is more interested in vindicating himself than staying focused on the topic. I truly however feel and it is evident in the book that Lake was able (and desired) to remain non-political while writing the book and when he was the National Security Advisor. As he suggests in the book, national security is one issue in which politics and ideology should have the least influence.

More than 2,000 years ago in The Art of War, Sun Tsu suggests that every battle is won or lost before it is fought. Hence the importance of anticipation and (especially) preparation. As indicated in The Art of the Long View, Peter Schwartz is among those who advocate that anticipation and preparation are even more important now than ever before. Recent and tragic events offer neither the first nor the last evidence of that. But first there must be recognition of plausible possibilities and then an understanding of what the probable implications and consequences of what each possibility may be. In this book, Lake examines six different "nightmares." No doubt there are several others he also could have included. He introduces each of the six within a fictional context but, make no mistake about it, any one of them could well become a reality at any moment. It would be unfair to the current administration to suggest that it is unaware or indifferent to the potential dangers which Lake identifies. (Presumably many of the senior-level members of that administration have either read or will soon read Lake's book.) The greatest value of his book, in my opinion, is that he helps readers such as I to think about -- and think more clearly and knowledgeably about -- the unthinkable. There really are no acceptable alternatives to doing so as we proceed into an uncertain and, indeed, a perilous future.

Anthony Lake's Six Nightmares is an exciting and important treatment of the most pressing threats to U.S. national security. The book portrays six potential threats to our way of life ranging from terrorism employing weapons of mass destruction and information warfare to partisan politics dividing our government from the people and against itself. Each chapter begins with an actual nightmare, a short fictional premise that unfolds events that many would consider unthinkable but which Lake, who served as President Clinton's National Security Advisor from 1993 to 1996 and now teaches at Georgetown University's Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, is in a position to know are possible. Reflections on Lake's own extensive government service round out this rousing cautionary work that prescribes urgent change to safeguard the United States. While making complex issues accessible to most readers, Six Nightmares also draws the attention of the national security policy community in Washington to issues that Lake believes are not being addressed. A useful as an intriguing primer or refresher, or as a textbook supporting serious study, Six Nightmares is well worth reading.