After over 10 years as the chief negotiator on the Israel/Palestine conflict, Dennis Ross has absolutely nothing to show for it except for a classroom at Georgetown. Now, maybe his lack of success is not proof of that he is an incompetent Zionist ideologue, but it sure is evidence. I have not read his "statecraft" book, but i highly doubt he says anything worth a damn in there. Being that every time he opens his mouth he just further shows how useless his advice is. Why not read Sharon's book? At least he never claimed to be an "even-handed broker", and it probably says the same things as Dennis Ross does. man, it's just pathetic that these people like Ross are still around. 10 years and no accomplishments, every single policy he advocated was wrong or useless... Maybe we should start taking Kissenger's advice on how to win in Vietnam too. Oops, i mean how to win in Iraq.

Dan,

Looks like a fun class. I'm surprised that Clausewitz doesn't make the list and Mahan does (though I see what you are trying to do with Mahan). It is a classic of international relations, not just military science, worth reading and rereading.

Best,

WR

Joe M., why can't you say something positive and righteous for a change? Why all the negative waves, man?

I just picked up Statecraft and so far it's been extremely good. I would also check out Joffe's editorial in the WSJ: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118817044606009284.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

As someone who has been against the war since the beginning it essentially unwraps why a knee-jerk pull-out is a horrible idea.

I wouldn't mind having a classroom at Georgetown!

Nevermind Ross, though I would have thought that one would assign a textbook that had stood the test of time...

...Francis Fukuyama?

Here's hoping the course lectures mention his, er, checkered history.

Here's also hoping that there's at least a quick primer on IR Theory for the "Art and Science" course. Yes, it's a praxis course, but since when are praxis not informed by theory? The answer to the question of "multilaterism vs. unilaterism" is rather thoroughly informed by said theory, and from what I see of this outline, it doesn't even feature people with nice things to say about the UN!

(I mean, yes, TNI and the guy that wrote "America Unbound" might have something to say, but a little theoretically-informed balance would be useful, no?)

Two challenging reading lists, for two demanding and worthwhile-looking courses.

The one for the statecraft course is a little heavier on the punditry and lighter on history, especially American history, than one might wish.