Conversations with History: Institute of International Studies, UC Berkeley

See the Conversations with History Blog See a webcast of this interview: Summers

This interview is part of the Institute's "Conversations with History" series, and uses Internet technology to share with the public Berkeley's distinction as a global forum for ideas.

Welcome to a "Conversation on International Affairs." I'm Harry Kreisler of the Institute of International Studies. Our guest today is Colonel Harry G. Summers, who has had a distinguished career as a soldier, a military strategist, and now a military commentator. He's the author of the widely acclaimed On Strategy: A Critical Analysis of the Conduct of the Vietnam War. This month he's at the Berkeley campus as the Nimitz Lecturer on military affairs. Joining us is Professor Tom Barnes from the History Department.

1. Strategic Thinking ... what it is ... how it can be learned ... what makes it effective ... U.S. political culture
2. The Case of Vietnam ... U.S. objectives ... was the war winnable? ... Korea analogy ... World War II analogy ... North Vietnam vs. U.S. objectives ... public support ... Johnson's advisors
3. Lessons of Vietnam ... public support ... relevance of conventional warfare ... counter-insurgent warfare
4. Post - Cold War World ... fighting vs. peacekeeping ... vital interests ... proper military roles
5. Conclusion ... domestic politics and the military ... the Gulf War ... the media ... preparing for the future

© Copyright 1997, Regents of the University of California

Photo by L. Carper Long. Site questions: Email iis_webmgr at berkeley.edu.