Conversations with History: Institute of International Studies, UC Berkeley

See the Conversations with History Blog See a webcast of this interview: Zinni See also the 2007 interview with Zinni, "Challenges for U.S. National Security Policy"

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 with History. I'm Harry Kreisler of the Institute of International Studies. Our distinguished guest today is General Anthony C. Zinni, United States Marines, Retired. For thirty-nine years, General Zinni etched a distinguished military career. His last assignment was as the Sixth United States Commander in Chief of the Central Command.

1. Background: Becoming a Marine ... family ... WW II movies ... mentors ... military as a calling ... ROTC
2. A Marine in Vietnam ... the change to insurgent warfare ... a soldier's lessons from Vietnam ... the McNamara reorganization ... the military's lessons from Vietnam
3. The Military Today ... the Weinberger doctrine ... the soldiers' environment ... leadership tasks more complex ... military - society relationship ... risk aversion and Somalia ... the press ... inter-service rivalry ... theory versus practice
4. New Transnational Threats ... today's reality ... new threats and interdependence ... terrorism ... roots of extremism ... stability through non-military means ... isolationism ... beacon versus crusader ... limits to what military can do ... multilateral organizations ... Iraq
5. Back to the Future ... understanding the world's complexity ... public education ... our military ... technology

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