Waging Peace: The Art of War for the Antiwar Movement

by Scott Ritter

Scott Ritter, former Marine and UN weapons inspector, argues that there is a growing despondency amongst the anti-war movement. Ritter proposes the anti-war movement seek guidance from sources they normally spurn — that one must study the "enemy" in order to learn the art of campaigning and of waging battles when necessary. They need to understand the pro-war movement's decision-making cycle, then undertake a comprehensive course of action.

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics

192 pages, Paperback

First published April 24, 2007

Reviews

[Matt Maldre · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's certainly an interesting read so far, because he very much criticizes the anti-war movement and how it can be improved. Apparently, an article he wrote last year upset some people with his criticisms. But he's so incredibly honest and straightforward with what works and what doesn't work. I love it when people just cut down to the chase and really break things down.

[David Gross · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book expands on an earlier op-ed - http://www.alternet.org/bloggers/ritt... - that challenged the anti-war movement for being so devoted to failure, impotence, futility, and feel-good nonsense. That’s a message the anti-war movement desperately needs to hear.

This book, unfortunately, doesn’t add much that needs hearing. It’s slim: fewer than 200 pages, and half of those pages are filler (like the complete text of the U.S. Constitution, including a full list of signatories, and of the U.N. Charter — as though nobody knew how to look those up on-line). It’s really a magazine article-sized argument that’s been puffed up to fit in a book.

And the argument, though it has moments of insight, for the most part seems silly and unrealistic. Ritter imagines the U.S. anti-war and progressive movements becoming effective by uniting under a national organization that defines its operational terminology, makes the defense of the U.S. Constitution its core value, and organizes in a hierarchy in which people obtain ranks such as Activist I, Activist II, and so forth according to their training and skills so that they can be assigned and deployed as their leaders see fit.

The anti-war movement could certainly stand to take itself and its goals more seriously. Scott Ritter’s insights in this regard, if condensed and collected onto both sides of a single sheet of paper, would still be legible and valuable.

[Juan Conatz · Rating 2 out of 5]

Establishment figure disagrees with Bush Doctrine, writes short book intended to aid antiwar movement. Advocates organizing antiwar movement like the military or FEMA, in order to be more effective. Sort of bizarre and I thought it was nonsense even when I was a newbie to radical politics.

[Rae · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not a good book for a true seeker of peace, he thinks like a marine. That isn't an appropriate thought process for anyone but a marine. Interesting read