Red Line

Over the past quarter century, four consecutive American presidentstwo Democrat, two Republicanhave spent more time, diplomatic capital, and military resources on Iraq than any other country in the world. Much as the Vietnam syndrome cast a long shadow over American security policy in the decades after the end of the Vietnam War, Iraq provides the commanding narrative for this generation of American leaders. In this book, former Deputy Secretary of State P. J. Crowley, one of Americas most insightful national security commentators, unpacks the legacy of American triumphs and failures in Iraq . He argues that presidents have fallen victim to the Iraq Syndromethe disconnect between politics, policy, strategy, and narrativethat has hampered Americas foreign policy in the Middle East and hotspots throughout the world. In order to maintain Americas global leadership role, Crowley argues that the next president must realign Americans national security politics, policies, strategies, and narrative for the long term.