Embattled & Embedded

Tomorrow, the Naval Institute Press will publish former Marine officer Wesley Gray's account of his seven months advising the Iraqi Army. Since General Petraeus' strategy for success in Iraq and Afghanistan includes building up capable indigenous security forces, Gray's reflections on his own experiences in that regard are worth a careful reading. I believe that the author is too cynical about Iraqi culture and too pessimistic about Iraq's future prospects, but who knows? The future is a moving target.

Embedded: A Marine Corps Adviser Inside the Iraqi Army, by Wesley Gray. Naval Institute Press, $28.95 (272p) ISBN 978-1-59114-340-6

Former Marine officer and Iraqi War veteran Gray saw a lot during his seven months as an adviser to the Iraqi Army. What he didn't see was the future. Nobody can, of course. But, that doesn't stop him from venturing into the void.

In mid-2006, Gray was assigned to a MiTT (Military Transition Team) team embedded within a battalion of the Iraqi Army in Al Anbar Province in western Iraq. Their mission was "to train, support, and advise the IA [Iraqi Army]." That turned out to be a frustrating challenge.

Despite pre-deployment training for their mission in Hawaii and in-country training in Iraq, Gray and his teammates were overwhelmed by what they found awaiting them. "[Nothing] can prepare anybody," he writes, "for the levels of ineptitude, laziness, and lack of motivation rampant in the Iraqi army."

What follows is a litany of complaints: Iraqi officers use their soldiers as servants; the logistics system is "inept and corrupt'; Iraqis "are glorified beggars" and employ "selective hearing"; there are "few true Iraqi patriots"; torture is "part of Iraq"; and laziness is endemic and epidemic. To his credit, Gray offers ample testimony to support his charges. And, he tries to put his conclusions in context: Laziness, he concludes, is "a survival mechanism" in a hostile environment.

As the only member of the MiTT team who spoke Arabic, Gray spent many hours socializing with the Iraqis. He seems to have been tolerated if not liked, and the troops gave him an affectionate nickname: "Jamal."

The Iraqis loved to talk about sex, but the author found them sexually illiterate. One reason was that they got much of their information from internet pornography. How was it, they asked Gray, that American men were so well endowed and could perform so long? When Gray tried to explain that porn actors tended to be above average in size and that the movies were edited to prolong the action, his audience was not convinced.

By the end of his tour, a disillusioned Gray had come to believe that the U.S. is "wasting time and resources in Iraq," and that a civil war is inevitable once the Americans depart. He concludes that the Iraqis "probably never will be successful."

Events might yet prove Gray right. But, for the moment, a stable and prosperous Iraq remains a viable possibility. The recent successful provincial elections and continued security gains are steps in the right direction.

There appears to be a consensus among the military and political leadership that success in Iraq and Afghanistan depends upon building up competent security forces (police and military) in those nations. The MiTT teams are on the front lines of that effort.

Despite his pessimism, Gray's unvarnished memoir is a revealing look at the enormous challenges facing MiTT teams in this Long War. Read as a cautionary tale, it's a valuable contribution to our ongoing assessment of the way forward in Iraq.

With luck, a critical mass of Iraqis will surprise the author and embrace the future. Maybe, after all, Iraqi culture is less deterministic and Iraqi society less static than Gray assumes.

QUOTABLE

"'The only time a woman is allowed on top in Iraq is in the bedroom.'"

"Those who succeed in Iraq learn to deal with Iraqi culture; those who fail in Iraq try to change Iraqi culture."

"[S]ix sleeping bags were filled with Iraqis, dreaming about pork chops and unveiled women."

"In their [Iraqis] mind, lazy people are wise people."

"Relying on Iraqis for anything besides a cup of chai (tea) with heavy sugar was rarely solid advice."

"Sure, they [Iraqis] were selfish, lying, untrustworthy, backstabbing, begging bastards for the most part, but they were my friends."

No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency

Ten years ago, Alexander McCall Smith, an African-born, Scottish academic published a
modest little mystery set in Botswana. The result has been anything but modest.

The book, The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, follows the exploits of Mma Precious Ramotswe, the first and only female detective in the southern African nation of Botswana. Mma Ramotswe, with no background in detection but armed with common sense, uncommon intuition, and keen powers of observation, sets out to help others and her beloved country.

The book was an instant hit with reviewers and readers. Publishers' Weekly called it "a little gem of a book"; the Wall Street Journal judged it a "literary treat"; the L.A. Times settled for "smart and sassy"; and the N.Y. Times dubbed Mma Ramotswe "the Miss Marple of Botswana." Before long, the book was delighting readers everywhere and climbing the best-seller lists.

Smith, a professor of medical law at the University of Edinburgh, followed that first title with nine more in the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series including the most recent, Tea Time for the Traditionally Built (2009).

The prolific Smith is the author of two additional mystery series—the Sunday Philosophy Club and 44 Scotland Street—as well as academic texts and children's books.

Last night, HBO, in partnership with the BBC, brought the endearing series to the little screen with a two-hour pilot episode that's sure to please both fans of the books and those who are new to Mma Ramotswe and her friends. Written by Richard Curtis and the late Anthony Minghella and directed by Minghella, it's a consistently faithful adaptation of Smith's wryly humorous series. If the six follow-on episodes—written by Nicholas Wright and Robert Jones and directed by Charles Sturridge and Tim Fywell—sustain the initial momentum, HBO should have a hit on its hands.

The production, shot entirely on location in Botswana, looks great, and the actors are uniformly solid. American singer/actress Jill Scott plays the detective heroine with just the right balance of charm and good-natured determination. Anika Nonie Rose is spot-on as Mma Ramotswe's prim and proper secretary, as is Lucian Msamati as Mr. JLB Matekone, the proprietor of Speedy Motors.

Media outlets have been consistent in their praise of the pilot. USA Today calls it "perfect." That's a bit extreme, of course, but the nation's daily is not a stranger to hyperbole. See their review here: http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/reviews/2009-03-26-ladies-detective-agency_N.htm?csp=23&RM_Exclude=aol

The more-circumspect Detroit News pronounces it "a winner." See here: http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090328/OPINION03/903280314/HBO+s++Ladies+Detective+Agency++a+winner

The New York Daily News says it's "full of charm" here: http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2009/03/28/2009-03-28_the_no_1_ladies_detective_agency_stories.html

For much more on the series including an interview with Alexander McCall Smith, check out the official site: http://www.hbo.com/no1ladiesdetectiveagency/

Weekend Adviser

March is going out like a lion—entertainment wise.

March Madness continues to build with the Elite 8 round this weekend. After Sunday, only four teams will remain standing. Ironically—for an event advertised as March Madness—the semifinals and championship game will be played in April. That seems to be the rule in sports anymore: seasons expand until they're out-of-season. Hockey in June. Baseball in November. Football in February. Who knew?

With fewer hours of basketball action this weekend and baseball's return still a week away, there's more time for other things this weekend. If you missed last Saturday's release of the "Twilight" DVD and you dig teenage vampires, maybe now's the time to check it out. On the other hand, if you're from Mars, there's the latest in the James Bond franchise, "Quantum of Solace," newly-released on DVD. It's the second—following "Casino Royale"—to star Daniel Craig as the iconic spy in the early stages of his career as a double-O and continues to take the franchise in a darker, and more realistic, direction.

For those with lots of time on their hands and few responsibilities, CBS has just released the eighth season of its hit series J.A.G. J.A.G., of course, is the Judge Advocate General branch and is the military's legal eagles. Each of the three services has its J.A.G. branch, but these are Navy lawyers. The lawyers include Navy Cmdr. Harm Rabb (David James Elliot), a former fighter pilot turned lawyer, and Marine Lt. Col. Sarah "Mac" MacKenzie (Catherine Bell). (The Marine Corps, of course, is not a separate branch of the military but part of the Navy.) The eighth season (2002-2003) features cases involving murder, treason, and terrorism. If you've got eighteen spare hours this weekend, maybe there's a J.A.G. marathon in your future.

I've already set aside a couple hours Sunday evening for the premiere of HBO's newest series: "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency." Based on a delightful set of mysteries by British writer Alexander McCall Smith—nine so far including the latest, Tea Time for the Traditionally Built—the series follows the exploits of Botswana's very first (and only) female private detective, Mma Ramotswe (played here by American singer/actress Jill Scott). Mma is an unconventional detective, relying on observation and intuition to solve cases instead of cynical bravado. Mma is assisted by her prim secretary Mma Makutsi (Anika Noni Rose) and encouraged by her friend (later husband) Mr. Matekone (Lucian Msamati), the owner of Speedy Motors. With unique (and lovable) characters, eccentric mysteries, and an exotic setting, I suspect this will be must-see TV. For more, see here: http://www.hbo.com/no1ladiesdetectiveagency/ And, I'll have more on the HBO series and the books next week.

There's not much of note opening on the Big Screen this weekend. Oscar-winner Reese Witherspoon lends her voice to the animated sci-fi flick "Monsters vs. Aliens," and there are two derivative thrillers: "The Haunting in Connecticut" and "12 Rounds." In "Monsters vs. Aliens," Witherspoon channels "Die Hard" hero John McClane in her role as a monster who battles aliens to save the planet. Take the kids. You might enjoy it too. I'd check the reviews before forking over eight bucks (or more) to see either of the thrillers.

Another Exotic Thriller

The Adversary, by Michael Walters. Berkley Prime Crime, $15 (358p) ISBN 978-0-425-22596-7

Here's another title from my exotic mysteries backlog. It's a sequel to Walters' much-praised debut mystery featuring Mongolian sleuth Nergui, The Shadow Walker. See my review of that auspicious debut here: http://www.military.com/entertainment/books/book-reviews/military-bookshelf-paperback-corner

If Mongolia is an exotic setting for a mystery series, Walters' hero is a complicated protagonist. Educated in the West (Britain and the U.S.), he's conflicted about the rapid Westernization of his native Mongolia. Cosmopolitan and sophisticated, he's a romantic nationalist who rues the erosion of folk culture. He's also an honest man in a society rife with corruption; a workaholic; a bachelor; and a high-ranking government bureaucrat with an enigmatic portfolio.

Formerly head of the Serious Crime Team, Nergui now serves as an aide to the Minister of Security. It's obvious that he misses his old job, and he can't resist interfering, much to the dismay of his protégé and successor Doripalam. When's his old boss is around, Doripalam can't stop comparing himself to Nergui. Unfavorably, of course.

This latest episode pits Nergui against the country's most prominent crime boss, a man named Muunokhoi. Nergui has spent twenty years pursuing Muunokhoi and suspects that he's always come up short because the crime lord has infiltrated the cops.

What's different this time is a cache of incriminating documents that a late business associate of Muunokhoi's hid away. Years later, the documents turn up in the possession of the associate's widow, Judge Sarangarel Radnaa. Determined to destroy the evidence, Muunokhoi begins to take chances, and Nergui plans to be there when he makes a mistake.

Exotic locations, intriguing characters, robust action, and literate prose continue to distinguish this highly entertaining new series.

The World According to Nergui

"Complicated things, children. I've generally managed to steer clear of them."

"Young people today are much too smart for their own good."

"They're politicians. Their job is to avoid embarrassment."

"In my experience, it never pays to delve too deeply into the psychology of anything."

"Integrity's like virginity. You can't get it back."

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For fans of historical fiction, I'd also recommend Conn Iggulden's excellent series of novels tracing the life and times of Mongolia's founder, the legendary conqueror Genghis Khan: Genghis: Birth of an Empire (2007) and Genghis: Lords of the Bow (2008) and Genghis: Bones of the Hills (2009).

Spring thriller

Life's short. Read a mystery or thriller.

Well, that's my theory. I read lots of serious stuff: Histories, biographies, classics, literary fiction. So, I figure that I deserve a rather large serving of frothier stuff too.

In fact, on a rainy spring day, I like nothing better than settling down with a delicious thriller or mystery.

Here's one by a perennial favorite that's just out:

Dead Silence, by Randy Wayne White. Putnam's, $25.95 (352p) ISBN 978-0-399-15540-6

Best-seller White returns with his 16th Doc Ford mystery (following 2008's Black Widow).

Marine biologist and former government assassin Ford finds himself on the trail of kidnappers in this thriller set in a post-Fidel Castro future.

Castro is gone and his personal effects—including documents and loot—have been seized by the U.S. Various agencies including a Senate committee headed by Senator Barbara Hayes-Sorrento, an acquaintance of Ford's, are busy examining the documents. Lots of others, including a notorious Cuban interrogator who conducted experiments on American POWs, want to get their hands on the files.

The interrogator, Rene Navarro, a.k.a. Farfel, in league with two shadowy accomplishes—a New Yorker and a Venezuelan—set out to kidnap Senator Hayes-Sorrento and ransom her for Castro's files.

Doc Ford foils the kidnapping and rescues the senator, but the kidnappers don't get away empty-handed. The senator had a passenger in her limousine: Will Chaser, a 14-year-old Native American who was being honored for winning an essay contest.

The kid is tough and savvy and gives the kidnappers fits. But, they manage to bury him with just enough air for twenty-four hours and offer to exchange him for the files. That sets Ford up for a frantic race against time to track down the kidnappers and free the boy.

The kidnapping and burial theme echoes the real-life case of Floridian Barbara Mackle. Otherwise, much of the action here is wildly improbable and coincidental. That much said, Doc and his stable of friends and acquaintances are an intriguing bunch to spend a few hours with on a rainy spring day. And, the bad guys are truly nasty. The plot twists will keep you guessing and the action will keep you turning the pages.

QUOTABLE

"[Pensacola] is Key West without the cruise ships or bondage crowd."

"I didn't choose to be a beach bum . . . It's a calling."

"Farting was as close as he came to showing emotion."

"One of life's simple rules: never, ever lie to a cop."

Battlestar Galactica

The critically-acclaimed Sci Fi Channel hit "Battlestar Galactica" is now in the home stretch. The second half of the final season—dubbed "Battlestar Galactica 4.5"—premiered in January, and the final original episode aired this past Friday. For one critic's fond farewell to the series see here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2009/mar/19/battlestar-galactica-review

The producers have one more surprise in store for fans: a second telemovie (after last year's "Battlestar Galactica: Razor") entitled "Battlestar Galactica: The Plan," that will air on the Sci Fi Channel in June 2009. The writer of the telemovie, Jane Espenson, says that it will tie up loose ends and cap off the series.

The end of this excellent series got me thinking about a couple of things. The first is the number of laudable science fiction series that have graced the small screen over the years. Any such list has to start with Rod Serling's now-classic "Twilight Zone" that ran on CBS from 1959 to 1964. "The Twilight Zone" not only introduced millions of viewers to science fiction but also showcased the genre as serious—as opposed to simply escapist—drama.

This is just off the top of my head, but other series that have captured the imagination of viewers—and advanced the genre—include: "Star Trek," probably the killer app and certainly one of the most loved of sci fi franchises; "My Favorite Martian"; "Mork and Mindy"; "The Outer Limits"; "Twin Peaks"; ""Sliders"; "The Incredible Hulk"; "The X-Files"; "Heroes"; and "The 4400." I'm sure I've left some important names out. Feel free to post your suggestions.

The second thing that "Battlestar's" swan song has me thinking about is the primary issue raised by the series—and that's the prospect that the robots we create might some day turn on us. On "Battlestar," the Cylons were created for use as slaves and warriors, but became sentient and turned on their creators.

Technology run amok has been a fear—and issue—almost since the emergence of computers. Who can forget the computer HAL from Stanley Kubrick's classic "2001: A Space Odyssey?" Or, all its imitators?

I recently read P.W. Singer's Wired for War: The Robotics Revolution and Conflict in the 21st Century and it readdresses the issue in light of the giant leaps being made in robotics. See my review here: http://www.military.com/entertainment/books/book-reviews/military-bookshelf--grand-strategy-x-2

After four years of research, Singer concludes that we might be approaching "the end of humans' monopoly on war"—a development that "will literally transform human history."

The unmanned vehicles already in use in Iraq and Afghanistan are only the tip of the iceberg. DARPA—the Pentagon's main research lab—is working on "22 different prototypes of intelligent vehicles." Then, there's the Army's massive $230 billion Future Combat System project that aims to network the battle space.

My sense is that machines aren't likely to take over any time soon. It's natural to fear what we don't truly understand, and how many of us truly understand how these infernal machines work?

I think the more relevant real-world issues are whether unmanned weapons' platforms make war more likely since they remove the likelihood of human casualties, and how the widespread use of battlefield robots will change what it means to be a warrior.

What do you think?

Weekend Adviser

All weekends are special; this weekend is especially so since it marks the official arrival of spring.
I say official because metereorological spring starts on March 1. Astronomical (traditional) spring begins on the Vernal Equinox (March 21) and ends on the summer solstice (June 22). That's in the Northern Hemisphere, of course, It's reversed in the Southern Hemisphere.

Most people like spring. Look forward to spring. Spring means the end of winter's icy grip. A season of rebirth. Spring Break. March Madness. Spring Training.

Lovers like spring. And, poets. Well, most poets. There is T.S. Eliot's famous line from The Waste Land: "April is the cruelest month." I'm not sure exactly what he means—I'm not sure exactly what any poet means—but I think it must have something to do with the ambivalent nature of birth/rebirth: at once painful and joyful. Anyway . . .

Just because the weatherman or the calendar says it spring doesn't mean Mother Nature will cooperate. Especially here in the upper-Midwest where I've seen blizzards in mid-April. All weather is local, so check your forecast and make your plans accordingly. If the weather keeps you indoors, there's plenty to keep you busy.

Everything else this weekend takes a backseat to March Madness. Second-round games will be contested on Saturday and Sunday, and by sunset on Sunday, the original 65-team field will have shrunk to a Sweet Sixteen. With any luck, the games will be close and a few will be decided by buzzer-beaters like Dukester Christian Laettner's dramatic game-winner against Kentucky in 1992. That's an iconic Madness moment, but my favorite of all time is NC State coach Jim Valvano's exuberant dash onto the court after his Cinderella Wolfpack won the 1983 tournament. Check your local listings for games in your area.

The World Baseball Classic semifinals at Dodger Stadium will likely get overlooked in the round ball hoopla. The U.S. squad assured itself a spot in the semis with a dramatic come-from-behind win over Puerto Rico Tuesday night. The other semifinalists are Japan, Korea, and Venezuela. Semifinal games will be televised on ESPN and MLB.TV. The final will be Monday, March 23.

For you basketball widows, there are a couple of new movies debuting at the cinemax that look promising. First, there's "Duplicity," a steamy crime drama with Julia Roberts and Clive Owen. Then, there's "Knowing," a Nic Cage sci-fi featuring an artifact that predicts natural disasters. If your taste runs to the sophomoric, you might want to check out "I Love You, Man," a new buddy comedy with Paul Rudd and Jason Segel.

If March Madness isn't your thing, maybe Midnight Madness is. That's what will be happening at lots of retail outlets tonight when the DVD for the vampire romance "Twilight" will be officially released. Many merchants are staying open late and some have special events planned for the launch. To find a "Twilight" release party near you, go here: http://www.twilightthemovie.com/

"Twilight," of course, is director Catherine Hardwicke's screen adaptation of novelist Stephanie Meyer's best-selling eponymous franchise.

The movie stars Kristin Stewart as Bella Swan, the moody new girl in a dreary Pacific Northwest town, who falls for a handsome fellow student—and closet vampire—Edward Cullen (played by Robert Pattinson). Edward's got a secret, of course, and initially he plays hard-to-get, but what's a drama without conflict? A romance without a chase?

I've never been a fan of vampires—in literature or on film—but they are exceedingly popular these days. Besides Meyer's string of Twilight best-sellers and Hardwicke's blockbuster film—it grossed some $200,000,000—there's also HBO's hit series "True Blood." So, maybe it's me.

Anyway, I'll be watching the two-hour finale of the Sci Fi Channel's hit series "Battlestar Galactica" tonight. This is the final episode of the critically-acclaimed series, but it's not the final word. Stay tuned. I'll blog about "Battlestar" next week.

Historical noir

Bernie Gunther's Return

Tomorrow brings the publication of British novelist Philip Kerr's fifth mystery featuring Nazi-era Berlin detective Bernie Gunther. Fans of Kerr's hard-bitten, cynical detective hero in particular and of historical mysteries with a noir twist in general will welcome Gunther back.

A Quiet Flame: A Bernie Gunther Novel, by Philip Kerr. Putnam/Marian Wood, $26.95 (389p) ISBN 978-0-399-15530-7

Kerr's latest finds Gunther, who served as an SS officer during the war despite his distain for the Nazis, seeking refuge in Argentina following World War II. Along with thousands of former Nazis, he's given sanctuary by the dictator Juan Peron.

The former Berlin detective is soon recruited by the Argentine secret police to help with a horrific case. A young girl has been murdered and her womb and reproductive organs removed. The Argentineans turn to Gunther because he investigated a similar case in Germany in 1932. A second young girl—the fourteen-year-old daughter of a German-Argentine banker—also is missing, and Gunther is put on her trail.

Because of the similarities between the Berlin and Buenos Aires cases, Gunther—and the Argentines—suspect a connection, and the narrative moves back and forth between 1932 Berlin and 1950 Buenos Aires.

There's much more going on here than the Argentineans tell Gunther, and our intrepid hero is soon stumbling onto things that others would prefer remain hidden.

Along the way, Gunther encounters more than a few historical figures: including Adolf Eichmann, Josef Mengele, and Juan and Evita Peron who all figure prominently in the mystery.

In Gunther, Kerr has created an ambiguous hero and placed him squarely in morally-compromising settings. The result—from the very first Bernie Gunther novel, March Violets, in 1989—has been innovative and provocative historical mysteries of the first order. A Quiet Flame continues that tradition.

The World According to Bernie

"All newspapers are fundamentally fascist."

"All men come to resemble their fathers. That isn't a tragedy. But you need a hell of a sense of humor to handle it."

"In this job you meet the lazy, the stupid, the cruel, and the indifferent. Unfortunately, that's what's called an electorate."

"I used to be a cop. We do all of the things criminals do, but for much less money."

"All electorates are bought in one way or another."

"You can grow tired of seeing the same face in the mirror every day. That's why people get married."

"It [slapping a woman's ass] wasn't exactly a hobby. But I was good at it. A man ought to be good at something."

"I like a little vulnerability in my women. Especially at breakfast time."

"Everything's dangerous when you read the small print."

Furture Shock

7 Deadly Scenarios

The world has always been a dangerous place, but the threats that national security strategist Andrew Krepinevich describes in his new book 7 Deadly Scenarios are truly daunting. Part of the problem is the asymmetrical nature of the threats—non-state actors, cyber war, terrorism—and another part is our own reluctance to address them seriously.

The future is a moving target—as the author acknowledges—but that's no excuse not to plan ahead. The goal is not to avoid future surprises like Pearl Harbor or 9/11 but to be prepared to "respond quickly and effectively" when surprised.

It was one thing that the military in the 1930s dismissed any possibility of an attack on Pearl Harbor. It was quite another that they failed to prepare for any potential Japanese aggression in the Pacific. As a result we very nearly lost the war before we got started.

In Europe, the French hunkered down behind their Maginot Line and prepared to re-fight World War I. The German high command, however, had moved beyond the static model of the previous war and embraced a strategy of blitzkrieg—or lightning war. The Maginot Line, built at great cost, proved irrelevant. France, of course, was woefully unprepared and fell within a matter of weeks in 1940. Unlike the U.S. after Pearl Harbor, there was no second chance for the French.

Let's hope that the Obama Administration, in its eagerness to rein in defense spending to pay for other initiatives, doesn't shortchange future security. The Maginot Line turned out to be a boondoggle. That doesn't mean the French overspent on defense. It means they bought the wrong things. More tanks might have helped forestall the German blitzkrieg.

And, it's not like there was no warning. The Germans staged elaborate exercises in which they honed their blitzkrieg strategy. Wishful thinking is not a useful tactic.

[Defense Secretary Robert Gates appears to be moving in the right direction. By all accounts, he's thinking about the nature of future threats and trying to align the military—personnel and weapons systems—to meet them. For more, see here: www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2009/03/17/gates_readies_big_cuts_in_weapons/ ]

A retired Army officer, defense consultant, and president of the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, Krepinevich is worried that the nation isn't doing enough to "identify future threats to national security."

To remedy this situation, he proposes that the national security establishment engage in scenario-based planning in order to identify "credible new military challenges." Only then can we begin to develop the strategy to counter emerging threats.

Following his own advice, Krepinevich offers seven potential scenarios that would seriously threaten U.S. security. Some are unsurprising: e.g., the collapse of Pakistan or coordinated terrorist attacks on global economic infrastructure. Some are almost too frightening to ponder: e.g., terrorists detonating nuclear weapons in American cities or nuclear Armageddon in the Middle East.

Krepinevich only proposes and outlines these potential scenarios. He does not draw any conclusions about how we should prepare for them. His goal is to sound a warning that we are not doing enough to identify future threats. I think readers will agree that he succeeds. I know that I won't be sleeping as soundly.

Spies

Spy novels are a literary staple and a personal favorite. Here are a couple that I've read lately. The first is just out (March 10) and is set in the present era of global terrorism, and the other came out in 2006 and is set in World War II.

Corsair: A Novel of the Oregon Files, by Clive Cussler with Jack du Brul. Putnam, $27.95 (448p) ISBN 978-0-399-15539-0

The prolific Cussler and collaborator Brul return with the sixth (following Plague Ship) thriller in their popular "Oregon Files" series.

This time out Juan Rodriquez Cabrillo and his team aboard the high-tech Oregon are chasing a cunning terrorist whose nom de guerre, Suleiman Al-Jama, is borrowed from a 19th Century Barbary pirate and jihadist.

The world is on the brink of a negotiated Middle East peace accord, and American Secretary of State Fiona Katamora, one of its architects, is flying to Tripoli, Libya, for the final negotiations. Al-Jama is determined to derail the process. Having infiltrated the Libyan government, he plans to kidnap and behead Katamora and deploy a squad of suicide bombers against the peace conference.

When Katamora's plane is forced down in the Libyan desert, Cabrillo, a former CIA agent whose Corporation does security work for the Agency, is detailed to rescue her and foil whatever plot is afoot.

What follows is an Indiana Jones chase on steroids. Cabrillo doesn't have a bullwhip but he does have a prosthesis with a built-in .44 caliber pistol. Along the way, Cabrillo and his intrepid operatives have more close calls than a Saturday matinee serial: a close-quarters battle at sea, a harrowing race through an underground labyrinth complete with elaborate and deadly traps, and a gunfight against unseen foes in a pitch dark subterranean chamber. There's even a lost archaeological treasure and a magical talisman: the Jewel of Jerusalem that is alleged to contain a drop of Jesus' blood.

The whole thing is wildly improbable and appears to have been hastily written. Its singular virtue is a frenetic pace that ensures a quick read.

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Restless: A Novel, by William Boyd. Bloomsbury, $14.95 (324p) ISBN 978-1-59691-237-3

Boyd's literate, enthralling story of betrayal and vengeance strips away the glamour to reveal the "particular, unique fate" of the spy: "to live in a world without trust."

On the eve of World War II, Eva Delectorskaya, a twenty-something Russian émigré living in Paris, is recruited by British spy Lucas Romer. Rechristened Eve Dalton, she's trained and eventually posted to America where she's part of a propaganda effort to draw the United States into the war. Along the way, she begins an affair with Romer, who's her superior. Romer's number one rule for his charges is simple: "'Don't trust anyone.'"

Ironically, it's Romer—who's actually a Russian mole—who betrays Eve and sets her on the run. Managing to evade detection, Eve makes her way home to England, changes her appearance, and adopts a new identity.

Three decades later, Sally Gilmartin [a.k.a. Eve Dalton] is a 66-year-old grandmother with an agenda: to expose Romer after all these years. To this end, she enlists the unwitting help of her daughter Ruth, a 28-year-old single mom and Oxford graduate student.

As she reveals her past, in pieces, to Ruth, Sally sets in motion a plan to finally confront Romer and exact a measure of vengeance—and justice.

The story has two discrete strands—one set during World War II; the other in 1976—and Boyd alternates between the two until they finally merge in the culmination of Sally's plan. The tactic works well enough, but it does slow the narrative at times. It doesn't help that the second act doesn't match the first for intrigue and suspense.

Nevertheless, this is an addictive tale of spy craft that's worth discovering.

Weekend Adviser

Ouch! This is the second Friday 13th in two months. How often does that happen?

I actually looked it up. There's at least one Friday 13th in every calendar year. Some years have two, and a few have three. No calendar year has more than three. Interestingly enough, the 13th day of the month is more likely (only slightly so) to fall on a Friday than on any other day. Who knew?

2009 is one of those unlucky years with three: February 13, March 13, and November 13. So, batten down the hatches.

This only matters if one is superstitious. Which I am. I know better. I know that superstitions are irrational. But, I can't help myself. Better safe than sorry, I guess. I'm not alone though as this piece shows: http://www.forbes.com/2009/03/06/superstitious-ufo-alien-conspiracy-opinions-columnists-superstition.html

Anyway, I won't be taking any chances today. But, starting tomorrow, I'll be enjoying the weekend. And, there's a lot to enjoy.

If you want to get out of the house on Saturday night—and have outgrown the bar scene—there's always the multiplex. This weekend sees the opening everywhere of Disney's remake of the 1975 sci-fi classic "Race to Witch Mountain." I haven't seen it, but the early reviews aren't encouraging. Joe Morgenstern, the Wall Street Journal's film critic praises "Sunshine Cleaning" (see next paragraph) while panning "Witch Mountain" here: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123689237471111537.html

If you're lucky enough to live in markets where "Sunshine Cleaning" opens today, consider yourself lucky. It's from the same independent studio that brought us "Little Miss Sunshine," and it stars Amy Adams and Emily Blunt as sisters who start a business cleaning up crime scenes. Both are fine actresses and appeared together in "Charlie Wilson's War"—Adams in a supporting role; Blunt in a small (but revealing) role. After this weekend's limited open, the film expands into more theaters next week and should be open everywhere by March 27.

If you'd rather cocoon, the choices are practically endless. New DVDs this week include "Milk," with Sean Penn starring as gay activist Harvey Milk, and "Rachel Getting Married," a dysfunctional-family drama starring Anne Hathaway. Penn won a Best Actor Oscar for "Milk," and Hathaway was nominated for a Best Actress Oscar for "Rachel Getting Married."

How about a viewing marathon? I don't do it often, but when a new season of a favorite show comes out on DVD—"Friday Night Lights," "Life"—I hunker down for episode after episode. It's the only way to watch episodic television. This week's new releases include "The Starter Wife: Season One" and "Caroline in the City: The Second Season." That's seven hours of Hollywood ex-wife Molly Kagen (Emmy Award nominee Debra Messing) or nine hours with sexy cartoonist Caroline Duffy (Lea Thompson).

This is a big weekend for sports fans. The World Baseball Classic begins Round 2 on Saturday. The U.S. team has already qualified for a spot in the second round. Games will be televised on ESPN2 and MLB.TV.

And, for college basketball fans, March Madness is upon us. There is no calm before the storm. This weekend is the storm before the storm with most conferences holding end-of-season tournaments. Winning teams go straight to March Madness. The fate of losing teams is in the hands of the NCAA selection committee. With finals in the ACC, Big 12, SEC, Big 10, Big East, and Pac 10, there should be plenty of marquee matchups. Check your local listings.

The weekend's round ball climax arrives at 6:00 p.m. (EDT) Sunday with CBS's "Selection Sunday" program when the 65-team field for this year's NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship will be announced. Seeds, brackets, and initial matchups also will be revealed. Full scale Madness begins next week.

Enjoy your weekend!

Long Lost

Long Lost, by Harlan Coben. Dutton, $27.95 (384p) ISBN 978-0-525-95105-6

Prolific best-seller Coben returns with his ninth Myron Bolitar thriller (after 2006's Promise Me). This time out the former basketball star and current entertainment agent is caught in a fiendish terrorist plot that has him piling up the frequent-flier miles.

It all starts out innocently enough. The forty-something Bolitar, who's involved in a relationship with a "Nine/Eleven widow," gets a call from old flame Terese Collins. The two once shared a passionate three weeks in the Caribbean, but Terese, a former CNN anchor, disappeared shortly thereafter and hadn't been seen in eight years.

"Come to Paris," she asks. Bolitar is reluctant, but his best friend and business partner Win Lockwood, reminds him of Terese's "world-class derriere" and before long our hero is headed for Paris.

As it turns out, Terese has more than sex on her mind although there's that too. It seems that her ex-husband, investigative journalist Rick Collins, has disappeared and she wants Bolitar's help in finding him.

Things get complicated thereafter. Collins turns up dead. DNA tests of the blood at the scene show that Collins' daughter also was present. The only problem—and it's a big one—is that Collins doesn't have a daughter. He and Terese had a daughter once—seven-year-old Miriam—but she died in a tragic traffic accident. That's why Terese disappeared. To darkest Africa, it turns out.

Then, things get really complicated. It further turns out that Collins—and now Terese and Bolitar—have stumbled onto an international terrorist plot of diabolical proportions. Before it's over—and is it ever over?—Bolitar will encounter all manner of challenges: Mossad, anti-abortion activists, CIA black sites, Interpol, rendition, waterboarding, stem cell researchers, and enough facile jokes to embarrass a lesser man.

Bolitar's best buddy, the forty-something Win, has a twenty-something Oriental girlfriend. Her name is Mee, pronounced "me." Win, it seems, loves Mee jokes. Maybe he knows that they're lame, but he can't help himself. Here's an example: "Win slapped my back. 'Feel good about yourself, Myron. After all, I feel good about Mee.'" It gets tiresome. To his credit, Coben doesn't resort to the ultimate Mee joke: "The devil make Mee do it."

People are dying right and left, and these two middle-age professionals manage to keep up the frat boy humor throughout. It does have a way of diminishing the suspense.

Nevertheless, Coben knows how to keep the action moving along briskly and the reader turning the pages. The plot twists like a mountain road but Coben ties everything together in a tense climax. It's not Robert B. Parker. It's not even Randy Wayne White. But, Coben's fans likely will be happy to see Bolitar back again.

Future Shock, II

Yesterday, I was discussing the chances of anyone being able to predict the future.
My musings were sparked by a book I've recently finished: A Brief History of the Future, written by French economist, and futurist, Jacques Attali. ($25, Arcade Publishing).

Monsieur Attali has quite a biography. He's the cofounder and first president of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and was an adviser to former French president Francois Mitterand. He's written four previous books including Millennium: Winners and Losers in the Coming World Order (more on this later*).

M. Attali's publisher hails his new book as "brave and controversial." I'd certainly agree with the former. I'm not brave enough to put my name on such rubbish. As for the latter, it's not substantial enough to be controversial.

But, you don't have to take my word for it. M. Attali's will do.

Like Marx before him, M. Attali believes he can apply the rigors of science to history: "history obeys laws that allow us to make predictions and channel its course," he writes. Sounds like another big thinker: Let's see: M. Attali lives in Paris. Marx once lived in Paris. Maybe it's something in the water.

M. Attali has identified what he says is the "single, stubborn, and very particular direction" of history. That direction is toward ever greater personal freedom. Except in Zimbabwe. Okay, he doesn't allow for exceptions. That's me poking fun.

Right now, we're near the end of what M. Attali calls the mercantile order. The mercantile order will exhaust itself defending its markets and be replaced by a unified, stateless global market—a super-empire—run by an innovative class of hypernomads. (M. Attali's fertile mind dreams up lots of new concepts with fancy names: infranomads (the poor), hyperconflict (planetary warfare), hyperdemocracy, hyperventilating. Okay, more kidding on that last one.)

This super-empire will lead to such extreme imbalances—in wealth particularly—that it too will collapse, perhaps in a round of hyperconflict. This, however, will lead to Utopia: a hyperdemocracy of complete equality led by transhuman hypernomads acting through new institutions modeled on the U.N. This time, we get to skip the dictatorship of the proletariat.

In this hyperdemocracy, everyone will have "access to good times" [M. Attali's italics]; there will be no violence; and the fundamental rights of "life, nature, and diversity" will be guarded. For left-liberals everywhere, the end-of-history will have arrived. For the rest of us . . . well, we'll see. But, I wouldn't plan on partying like it's 2065 just yet.

*In his earlier peek into the future [Millennium], M. Attali predicts the end of the U.S.'s global supremacy. He predicts something similar in A Brief History of Time, but much has changed. In the earlier work, he saw U.S. dominance retreating sooner rather than later with either the European Union or Japan replacing the Americans. Such a prediction wasn't particularly bold back in the late 1980s/early 1990's when he was writing Millennium. Back then, Japan, Inc., especially, looked unstoppable. Of course, nothing of the sort happened. Japan was just entering into a lost decade of economic stagnation, and the U.S. a decade of explosive growth. Who knew? Well, a futurist should have. History in one single channel and all that stuff.

Anyway, M. Attali has now given up on the Japanese and Europeans. The U.S., he says, will continue to dominate for a while longer—but only because "there's no credible rival on the horizon." Nevertheless, there's still that stubborn smashup ahead.

What do you think? Can M. Attali suspend human nature? Are most forecasters essentially charlatans? Is Al Gore the model for the transhuman hypernomad? He's already been the model for one-half of one of the most tragic couples in popular literature: Oliver Barrett, IV, in Erich Segal's Love Story. At least that's what Al claims. And, why wouldn't I believe the man who invented the internet?

Bottom line: A little humility in the face of the unknown goes a long way.

Future Shock

I've just finished a little book by French economist—and futurist—Jacques Attali entitled A Brief History of the Future (Arcade Publishing, March 2009). And, it got me thinking. First, about predicting the future in general, and second, about Monsieur Attali's particular take on the future.

Lots of people try to predict the future. Lots of people are wrong.

Believe what you want. Nostradamas. "Revelations." Carnac the Magnificent.

But, as Doc Brown reminds Marty McFly in "Back to the Future": "your future hasn't been written yet. No one's has."

That, however, can't stop people from speculating. And, that's okay. It's not all quixotic. Visions of the future can inspire us. Remind us of opportunities. Warn us of pitfalls. But, there are NO immutable laws that history must obey. So, history is always dynamic, never static. Always a moving target that few can hit consistently.

Beware anyone who claims differently. Think about it: If someone could really tell the future, he'd be richer than Croesus and wouldn't be anxious to share the wealth.

I've been checking and have corralled a few examples of predictions that went spectacularly wrong:

Back in 1936, John Langdon-Davies in A Short History of the Future—substitute the synonym "Brief" for "Short" and you've got Attali's title—predicted that "[d]emocracy will be dead by 1950." Who knew? Besides Mr. hyphenated surname?

In 1895, scientist and president of the British Royal Society, Lord Kelvin, stated unequivocally that "[h]eavier-than-air flying machines are impossible." Those hopelessly naïve—and optimistic—Americans weren't listening though. Within a decade, bicycle mechanics Orville and Wilbur Wright would take wing.

Two years later, Lord Kelvin was at it again promising anyone who would listen that "radio has no future."

Then, there's Robert Millikan, American physicist and Nobel Prize winner, who promised in 1923 that "there is no likelihood man can ever tap the power of the atom." Whoops!

Business Week magazine boldly and confidently predicted in 1968 that the auto industry didn’t have to worry about the Japanese: "With over fifteen types of foreign cars already on sale here, the Japanese auto industry isn't likely to carve out a big share of the market for itself." Unfortunately, the Big Three and the UAW spent the next forty years acting as if this was gospel.

There are those big thinkers who aren't interested in discrete pronouncements about the future. That's what makes them big thinkers. No, they have discovered what eludes the rest of us: natural historical laws. Immutable. So, all they need do is extrapolate into the future and everything becomes clear. Everything. A comprehensive, one-size-fits-all, end-of-history future.

My favorite is Karl Marx. Here's a guy who never did much in his life. He lived off handouts from sponsors. He ignored his family. But, that's okay because he was a prophet. No, more than that: a savior.

Marx discovered the key to the future: a future that was spooling out according to immutable laws. A utopian future of justice and equality that was preordained. The Russians got there first. How'd that work for them?

Lots of American liberals fell for Marx and his disciples in places like the Soviet Union and Cuba. The muckraking journalist Lincoln Steffens visited the Soviet Union early on and proclaimed, "I have seen the future, and it works." Sixty-plus years later—even as the Soviet Union tottered on the edge of collapse—many western liberals still pined for a Marxist Utopia in their future.

Please feel free to post your favorite examples of predictions gone awry.

Next: Future Shock, II—Jacques Attali's Future

Happy Birthday Chuck

Happy Birthday Chuck

This is a big year for Charles Darwin. Too bad he's not around to enjoy it.

February was the bicentennial of his birth, and November marks the sesquicentennial of the publication of his landmark Origin of Species that laid out his theory of evolution.

Of course, not everybody will be celebrating. There are those pesky Creationists for one. There's also a cabal of Darwin deniers who claim that Charlie stole a key ingredient—natural selection—from a fellow English naturalist, Alfred Russel Wallace. For more on the controversy see: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122972744031122737.html

I think that change is hardwired into nature, and competition for resources seems as good a trigger as any. But, a little disagreement—okay, sometimes a lot of disagreement—helps to keep things interesting.

Right on time for the Darwin celebrations, there are two—yes, two—Darwin biopics in the works for later this year.

Each focuses on Darwin's relationship with his very religious wife, Emma. One is called "Creation" and will star Paul Bettany as the great man and Jennifer Connelly as Emma. The other is titled "Mrs. Darwin,"—clever, eh?—and stars Joseph Fiennes and Rosamund Pike as the conflicted couple.

Excuse me if I'm not overly enthused. Charles Darwin might have been a genius, but he seems to have been a rather dour man and was often ill—or a hypochondriac.

When trying to decide whether or not to marry Emma—who was his cousin—he compiled two lists: one citing reasons for the marriage and the other against. Nobody ever accused Charlie of being impulsive. Or, romantic.

In the "Yea" column, he noted that a wife meant “constant companionship and a friend in old age ... better than a dog anyhow.” The "Nays" included “less money for books” and “terrible loss of time.” This from a man who got excited about sex among pigeons and earthworms.

I'm thinking neither "Creation" nor "Mrs. Darwin" is going to be a conventional romance. (On the other hand, the two did manage to have ten children so they were either serious about their duty, enjoyed sex, or had exquisite timing.)

My favorite Darwin-inspired entertainment is the classic movie "Inherit the Wind" that stars Spencer Tracy and Fredric March. Based on Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee's 1955 Broadway play of the same title, the movie is a fictionalized recreation of the famous 1925 Scopes Monkey Trial.

John Scopes was a Tennessee high school science teacher who was prosecuted for teaching evolution. Tracy is the defense attorney and March is the prosecutor. Their characters are ficitional stand-ins for the actual lawyers in the case: Clarence Darrow, the most famous defense attorney of the day, and William Jennings Bryan, a former presidential candidate and the most famous orator of the day. (Bryan's "Cross of Gold" speech from the 1896 Democratic convention attacking the gold standard and touting the benefits of monetary inflation once was required reading in many schools. I know. I read it. I can still declaim the final fiery line: "You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns, you shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold.")

If you rent the DVD, pay attention to the other actors too. Gene Kelly plays a journalist covering the trial. He doesn't dance. Dick York plays the accused schoolteacher. "Bewitched" is still in his future, but he already looks henpecked. Harry Morgan plays the judge. A long-time character actor, Morgan later plays Jack Webb's partner in "Dragnet" and Col. Potter in "MASH."

Happy Birthday Chuck!

Weekend Adviser

TGIF!

Yeah, I know. It's not all happy hour and sleeping late. There's lots to get done before Monday morning. Wash the car. Sweep out the garage. Vacuum the house. Drive the kids to soccer practice. Yadda, yadda, yadda.

But you know what they say: All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. It doesn't do much for Jill either. You have to make some time for yourself. To relax. Hire a sitter and take the spouse to dinner and a movie. Rent a DVD and stay in for a quiet evening. Snuggle up in your favorite chair for a Sunday afternoon read. See what's up on Wisteria Lane.

The local cineplex offers lots of choices: some of them enticing. Best Picture Oscar winner "Slumdog Millionaire" is still playing in most areas. If you haven't seen it, it is definitely worth your while. For action, Clive Owen and Naomi Watts team up to expose an international arms ring in "The International." If you can't get enough comic book superheroes, the much-anticipated "Watchmen" opens today. And, yes, there are a couple of chick flicks on the marquee. First, there's "He's Just Not That Into You" with the three Jennifers (Aniston, Connelly, & Goodwin). Okay, so one spells it with a G. Or, you can catch the Isla Fisher vehicle "Shopaholic."

To keep the kids and the sitter entertained, you might pick up a copy of "High School Musical: Senior Year" (Walt Disney Video, $29.99). It's the third edition of Disney's phenomenally successful--and lucrative--franchise featuring the boys and girls of East High School's class of 2008. Senior year brings another basketball championship for the Wildcats. It also means the graduating seniors have to select a college and prepare for eventual separation. It's a dilemma that basketball heartthrob Troy (Zac Efron), who has a scholarship offer from a local college, and sweetheart Gabriella (Vanessa Hudgens), who's headed to Stanford, must contend with. While they contemplate the future, they also find time for plenty of infectious music and dancing.

If you'd rather cocoon, you could join the kids for HSM or pull rank and insist on something a bit more . . . well, mature. But, in a PG-13 sort of way. What I have in mind is director Baz Luhrmann's historical drama "Australia" ($29.99, 20th Century Fox), out on DVD on March 3. Set in Australia on the eve of World War II, the film stars Nicole Kidman as upper-class Englishwoman Sarah Ashley, who comes to Australia, finds her husband has been murdered, and stays on to run his Outback cattle ranch. She's helped by Drover (Hugh Jackman), a handsome cowboy and romantic interest. There's a cattle drive, a fancy ball, and a Japanese attack. In other words, something for everybody. There's also an examination of the Aussie's shabby treatment of the continent's natives, the Aborigines.

There are other choices though. HBO has the romantic comedy "Definitely, Maybe" on Sunday night. If you're a fan, Showtime bids goodbye to original series "The L Word" with a "Finale Special" that looks back over the show's six seasons. That's immediately followed by the series finale: "The L Word: Last Word." Say goodbye to the girls--one of whom is killed off--in an episode that Showtime promises is rocked by betrayal and deceit.

While you guys wait for March Madness to begin, check out some of the top teams this weekend. CBS features UConn at Pitt on Saturday and Tobacco Road rivals Duke and North Carolina on Sunday.

If you prefer hard ball to round ball, check out pool play in the World Baseball Classic. You can find the schedule here: http://web.worldbaseballclassic.com/schedule/

If you're bored this weekend, you have only yourself to blame.

Cyber War

Last month, I read the apocalyptic thriller Daemon. It's a gripping novel of internet Armageddon by Daniel Suarez, an independent systems consultant. It's his first novel, and it's quite an impressive debut.

It also got me thinking. First, about plausibility. I did some checking and found that lots of smart people are worried about internet security and cyber attacks including the Pentagon as Wall Street Journal columnist L. Gordon Crovitz makes clear in this commentary: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122930102219005425.html

Science fiction has been interested in the issue for decades, and Hollywood has shown increasing interest. I'm not exactly a sci-fi fan. Or, a computer whiz. That would be my brother and son. My brother—who majored in math and computer science and is a math professor—has read every sci-fi novel ever published. Okay, I exaggerate. But only slightly. I usually rely on him and my son—whose engineering track at West Point was computer science—for sci-fi recommendations.

The movies on the subject of computer systems, cyber attacks, internet security, etc., that I can name off the top of my head make a short list. But, I figure that if I've seen them, most everyone else has too.

The list begins with "The Matrix," a haunting tale of computer tyranny. Wildly popular, "The Matrix" mixes action, groundbreaking special effects, sci-fi, and philosophy to provocative effect. The movie's message is that computers are part of the problem, not part of the solution, which seems to be the typical conceit of computer-themed movies.

"The Matrix" was a breakout role for Keanu Reaves. "The Net," another 1990's cyber thriller, owed much of its success to the presence of Sandra Bullock who was already a star. Bullock plays a systems analyst who discovers a back door in a popular computer security program that allows hackers to tap into classified systems. (Interestingly, the daemon of Daemon also exploits back doors to invade computers. Again, the message is one of sinister forces let loose upon society.)
The Robert Redford vehicle "Sneakers" likewise plays upon our fear of technology out of control. In the film, Redford leads a team of hackers who are blackmailed into finding a black box that can compromise any computer system.

"I, Robot" completes my short list. I probably saw it because it stars Will Smith and Bridget Moynahan. Set in 2035, it raises fears about robots turning on their putative masters. The film takes its title at least from the Isacc Asimov short story of the same name.

(It's interesting that one of the leading robotics firms has a similar name, iRobot, and provides robots to the Department of Defense. The troops love them. And, why not? Among other things, they're used to check out and dismantle IEDs. None have been reported to have turned on their handlers.)

So far, I'd say that computers and the internet have been more liberating than anything else. But who knows what the future holds?

We should remember that entertainment thrives on drama, and drama thrives on conflict. So, it's no surprise that writers and filmmakers are drawn to the potential conflict in any new technology—and especially one as pervasive and mysterious as computers. And, to be honest, computers pose real dangers.

Daniel Suarez has tapped into that potential danger in a big way. I'm guessing that you'll be seeing Daemon on the NY Times bestseller list. You might also be seeing him at the movies. Author Suarez has signed a film deal with producer Walter Parks whose movies include "Minority Report" and "A.I." Plus, Suarez just got the USA Today treatment here: http://www.usatoday.com/life/books/news/2009-01-05-daemon_N.htm

"Miracle at St. Anna"

With my son returning from 14 1/2 months in Iraq last month, I fell behind in my reading and viewing. Now, I'm hustling to catch up, but I'll never get to everything. Since it takes much less time to watch a DVD than read a book, I imagine that the DVD inventory will fare better. Even so, I'm afraid that several titles--"Body of Lies," the Ridley Scott CIA thriller starring Russell Crowe and Leonardo DiCaprio and the Clint Eastwood/Angelina Jolie collaboration "Changeling," among them--will have to be postponed indefinitely.

I was able to rescue Spike Lee's World War II drama, "Miracle at St. Anna," from the "Purgatory Pile." As a former historian and a student of war films, I especially wanted to see how Lee would handle a story based on World War II's all-black 92nd Infantry Division.

The Italian Front, where the 92nd Division fought, is largely the forgotten front of the European war. But, some of the war's bitterest fighting took place there in some of the worst conditions, and some of the most unique units fought there: the 92nd Division; the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, a Japanese-American outfit; and the 10th Mountain Division--all three experimental units that distinguished themselves.

Unfortunately, Lee's effort doesn't measure up to his subject.
***********************************************************

"Miracle at St. Anna," DVD-2009 ($29.99, Touchstone/Disney) Also available in Blu-ray.

Director Spike Lee ("Inside Man") should leave the war movies to others and stick with the edgy urban dramas he does best.

I can imagine any number of excellent films drawn from the war-time service of the all-black 92nd Infantry Division.

Unfortunately, "Miracle at St. Anna" is none of them.

The 92nd Infantry is historical. Lee's story is beyond fiction. It's fanciful.

The story begins in 1984 in New York City when a postal clerk, Hector Negron (Laz Alonso) inexplicably pulls out a Lugar and guns down a customer who had asked for a stamp. Who knew? Turns out this isn't just another case of going postal. No, it's a framing devise for a mystery that has its roots in Italy in 1944.

Back then, Negron was a member of the 92nd Infantry fighting its way up the Italian peninsula. Ordered to cross a river by a racist officer, the unit is ambushed by entrenched Germans, and four GI's—Staff Sergeant Aubrey Banks (Derek Luke), Sergeant Bishop Cummings (Michael Ealy), Negron, and PFC Sam Train (Omar Benson Miller)—are stranded behind enemy lines.

After Train rescues an enigmatic young Italian boy, Angelo (Matteo Sciabord), the quartet holds up in a small Italian village where they encounter friendly villagers—-including a very sexy Renata (Valentina Cerri)--clash with local partisans, and fight among themselves.

This isn't a conventional war drama. The combat action is just another framing devise. And while Lee is keen to dramatize the injustice faced by African-American soldiers, even that gets lost in the myriad subplots.

Lee's good intentions—to expose a broader audience to the story of the 92nd Infantry—aren't enough to save this particular "joint" from tepid action, stereotypical characters, and a muddled plot. It's enough to make a reviewer wonder what Lee's been smoking.

Miles from Nowhere

Given a reading choice, I usually choose the unusual or unfamiliar over the ordinary or familiar. I'd rather read a crime novel set in Mongolia (The Shadow Walker, by Michael Walters, reviewed here: http://www.military.com/entertainment/books/book-reviews/military-bookshelf-paperback-corner) than another Harlan Coben or Robert B. Parker.

I have nothing against Coben and Parker. Both are good writers and produce invariably interesting and entertaining novels. But, after a while, they don't have the same ability to surprise.

I remember "discovering" Denise Mina a couple years ago—long after more discriminating readers had found her. I tried my first Mina novel only because it was set in Glasgow. Not as exotic as Mongolia, but more so than L.A., New York or even Paradise, Massachusetts.

I began with The Dead Hour (reviewed here: http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,106739,00.html) and discovered not only the gritty underside of 1980s Glasgow but also a uniquely compelling heroine in young reporter Paddy Meehan. Field of Blood quickly followed. Slip of the Knife waits in my "guilty pleasure" queue.

That explains why I've been reading Nami Mun's Miles from Nowhere (Riverhead Books, $21.95 (288p) ISBN 978-1-59448-854-2). It's geographical setting—New York City—is hardly exotic to Americans. Much of our popular culture—literature, movies, and television programs—is set there. It's the sub-setting—the city's underbelly of drug dens, sex parlors, and homeless shelters and the runaways that populate them—that most Americans will find unfamiliar and unsettling.

Author Mun, a Korean-American, was herself a teen runaway who turned her life around—earning a GED and a B.A. from the University of California at Berkeley. Regarding her decision to write about the runaway culture that she escaped, she says that it sprang from necessity. "I needed to tell the story of a teenage runaway," she explains while noting that there are some two million runaways in the U.S.

Mun's protagonist is Joon-Mee, a thirteen-year-old Korean-American from the Bronx, who leaves home to escape her severely dysfunctional immigrant family. Over the next five years, Joon is raped, beaten, lives in abandoned buildings, works as a hooker, becomes a heroin addict, and is arrested. Quite a resume for an eighteen-year-old.

Mun does not try to sugarcoat Joon's degradation. "In order to get what I needed," Joon quickly and regrettably learns, "parts of me, piece by piece, would have to be sacrificed." Predictably, the first things to go are her virginity and her innocence. For the uninitiated, it's a harrowing descent into a hellish place just out of view of mainstream society.

To her credit, Mun does not offer any easy answers for the problems of runaways, throwaways, and the other homeless. The moral of Joon's story for me is that there are no legislative solutions for the kind of alienation that drives Joon and other teens to run away. The best deterrent remains a stable, loving family and a nurturing environment.

Today's Greatest Generation

This weekend, I finished the second of two accounts of small unit combat that are reviewed below. One is set in Iraq, the other Afghanistan. One is about Marines, the other soldiers. Both are thoughtful and provocative. Few Americans these days have any direct contact with our military and know little about who they are and what they do. Let authors Craig Mullaney and Donovan Campbell introduce you to some of today's Greatest Generation.

The Unforgiving Minute: A Soldier's Education, by Craig M. Mullaney. Penguin, $28.95 (400 p) ISBN 978-1-59420-202-5

Every soldier who has ever marched off to war has wondered how he will acquit himself when the shooting starts. Stephen Crane parlayed that elemental question--fight or flight?--into the classic American war novel: The Red Badge of Courage. Crane's protagonist, Henry Fleming, was a private. In this excellent memoir, Craig Mullaney asks the universal question again, but from a different perspective: that of an untested leader entrusted with the lives of young soldiers.

For Lieutenant Mullaney—West Point graduate, Rhodes Scholar, and Airborne Ranger—the answer came on a barren ridge along the Afghan-Pakistan border in 2003. A platoon leader with the Army's 10th Mountain Division, Mullaney's patrol was ambushed and one of his soldiers was killed. In that terrible "unforgiving minute," under withering fire, Mullaney answered the dreaded question affirmatively. Gathering himself—pushing aside the noise and chaos; tamping down the fear—he led his men in repulsing the attack.

Later, Mullaney would reflect that his training—including the "harassing recitations of Plebe Knowledge" at West Point and the deprivations of Ranger School—had indeed prepared him for his baptism under fire.

Mullaney's earnest memoir of "one soldier's education" takes him from his working-class background in Rhode Island through West Point, Ranger School, Oxford University, and combat in Afghanistan. His descriptions of his West Point experience—from an "anxious, exhausted, and terrified" first day to a joyous and proud Graduation Week—and the rigors of Ranger School will surprise the 99% of the population who have little direct contact with America's military.

Mullaney left the Army after his five-year service obligation ended and served as an adviser to the campaign of President Obama. With that in mind, one of his lingering questions regarding Afghanistan takes on increased significance. "Could we ever win," he asks, "as long as Pakistan offered implicit sanctuary to the Taliban and al-Qaeda?"

Mullaney has penned a thoughtful and honest memoir of a military education and the ultimate graduation exercise: war. It deserves a wide audience.
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Joker One: A Marine Platoon's Story of Courage, Leadership, and Brotherhood, by Donovan Campbell. Random House, $26 (336p) ISBN 978-1-1400-06773-2

Joker One is, in many ways, a companion volume to The Unforgiving Minute. Both, at their core, endeavor to explain what it's like to lead an infantry platoon in combat. There are differences, of course: Mullaney was a soldier, Campbell, a Marine; Mullaney fought in Afghanistan, Campbell in Iraq. But, when the shooting starts, it's the similarities, not the differences, that stand out.

Campbell, a Princeton grad, deployed to Iraq with the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment from March to September 2004. A platoon leader in Golf Company's first platoon—dubbed Joker One after its radio call sign—Campbell spent seven bloody months patrolling the streets of Ramadi, one of "Iraq's most dangerous places."

Campbell cared deeply about his men and his mission and questioned his ability to discharge his duty honorably and effectively. On the eve of entering Iraq, he prayed, "'Dear God, please don't let me screw up and get everybody killed.'"

When he finally lost a Marine in combat, it came as "a severe shock" and he was paralyzed for a time by a "deep depression." He raged against "the whole miserable city of Ramadi for forcing us to make horrible choices, day in and day out." But, his men's love for each other finally helped him recover. Leadership, he concluded, "meant serving others to an increasingly great degree."

What Campbell and Joker One encountered in the streets of Ramadi was "a classic urban counter-insurgency," and his description of the fighting is intense, compelling, and often painful. In the end, Joker One's Marines acquitted themselves with honor.

Campbell stumbles only rarely in what is an excellent account of small-unit combat, and those missteps usually occur when he ventures from the grunt's-eye view of war to larger issues.

Mostly though, Campbell's memoir is a moving tribute to a remarkable band of [Marine] brothers.