Wednesday, May 02, 2007

The World According to Barnett

After we interviewed Thomas PM Barnett last year on NARN, about his books The Pentagon's New Map and Blue Print for Action, Chad and I talked about how interesting it would be to have him on and just start naming countries and regions and get his commentary on what's happening there now and how it will effect global security concerns in the future.

We never did that. But I'm glad to see we don't have to feel guilty about it, because Esquire Magazine has done the work for us, publishing Barnett's article The State of the World.

Barnett is a brilliant guy, with important things to say, and there is much to be learned from him. But, be warned Conservatives - he's a rather strident Democrat. He's a fan of Hillary (called her a "centrist" on the NARN interview) and likes her prospects in '08. Not coincidentally, he doesn't like Bush and he's not above using petty insults and hyperbole to communicate that. I wish he could stay above this lefty blogger level of discourse, he's better than that. I suspect some of this is playing to his presumed audience (metrosexual Esquire Magazine subscribers) and the Esquire editors surely wouldn't do him any favors by cleaning it up.

But, other than that Mrs. Lincoln, it's a fine article explaining what is and what might be all around the world. Hold your nose and enjoy. The truth is in there, somewhere.

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