"Here is a book that Dwight D. Eisenhower—the general and the president—would have greatly admired. Like Ike, Christopher Preble has a keen appreciation for the limits of military power, for the consequences of its misuse, and for the dangers of militarization. The Power Problem is simply terrific.
—Andrew J. Bacevich, author of The Limits of Power: The End of American Exceptionalism
"Those who believe that U.S. military power alone can protect our national security should read Christopher Preble's The Power Problem very carefully. By analyzing the costs and benefits of using military power, Preble provides a useful guide that policymakers and the American public should consider before sending our troops into harm's way."
—Lawrence J. Korb, Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress
"This extremely important book could not be more timely. Should the United States pursue 'military dominance'? Christopher Preble, a traditional conservative, courageously challenges the conventional wisdom. This thoughtful, tightly argued work is rich in insight and useful information and should be required reading for every member of Congress."
—Carolyn Eisenberg, Hofstra University
"Christopher Preble compellingly argues that America’s recent predisposition toward deploying force rather than more subtly using the mystique of limitless ability that only superpowers can wield is hurting its interests and place in the world. The Obama administration is inheriting a nation wounded by a 'power problem' after the exposure of key limits in Iraq and Afghanistan. Preble’s book is must reading for the Obama team and others if they want to understand why American power is slipping and what can be done to reverse this worrisome reality."
—Steve Clemons, Director, American Strategy Program, New America Foundation, and publisher, The Washington Note
"Christopher Preble skillfully analyzes the enormous and unaffordable economic and moral costs of our national security apparatus. He also shows that the cosmetic steps likely to be taken to reform the behemoth will fail. The basis of real reform, reducing the muscle-bound military colossus commensurate with a new grand strategy of prudence and restraint, is not what most liberal and conservative policy poo-bahs in Washington have in mind. Preble provides a useful guide to those truly interested in change, and he raises important questions for those who are going to wait for the wreckage to become obvious even to them.
—Winslow T. Wheeler, Director, Straus Military Reform Project at the Center for Defense Information
“Christopher Preble offers a provocative challenge to the presumption-prevalent among liberal internationalists as well as conservative interventionists since the earliest days of the post-Cold War era--that the world welcomes America's global military presence and that chaos would ensue if the United States were to step back from serving as a global sheriff. With striking clarity of logic and command of current American policy, he makes a strong case that American policy makers routinely allow ambitions to exceed even the awesome military might of a sole superpower-with the result that America is less safe and less free than necessary. The Obama administration would do well to carefully consider Preble's solution to this 'power problem': a more humble grand strategy based on a more realistic balance of America's power and foreign policy commitments.
—Robert A. Pape, University of Chicago, author of Bombing to Win
