We Have Liftoff! A Great Overseen or Overlooked Book Launch

 Last night, Carleton's Faculty of Public and Global Affairs held an Authors Meet Readers event at Irene's Pub for the Steve/Phil/Dave book: Overseen or Overlooked--Legislators, Armed Forces and Democratic Accountability.  I gave our origin story--how the book started from a surprising conversation with a Canadian member of parliament who sat on the defence committee.  His lack of information, lack of influence surprised me (not so much Phil) and got us started on this project.  Phil summarized our argument, dodging the invitation to discuss how hard it is to co-author with me.  Justin Massie, from UQAM, served as our discussant/commentator.  He asked great questions as did the audience, which was a good, engaged crowd.

 Our basic message--in most democracies, legislators and legislatures are not doing enough, and Canada's parliament is among the most blissfully ignorant.  Woot! 

Phil presented the argument of the book

Justin asked some very thoughtful questions
that produced an excellent conversation

Required post-event pic

 

Worst Secretary of State

After reading that Rex Tillerson is going to meet with Putin after saying he wasn't, and after saying yesterday that the US wanted regime change in Syria shortly before SecDef Mattis and Trump both denied that was a goal, I had to ponder this:

Tillerson is the worst Secretary of State since:

— Steve Saideman (@smsaideman) April 12, 2017

It is a twitter poll.  But you can comment below with your own candidate.  Sure, Tillerson has only has a few months in office, but Mike Flynn seized the crown of worst National Security Adviser Ever (easier since position didn't exist before 1947) from Condoleezza Rice.  Well, being a Russian agent made that easy.  Oh, and being crazy.

So, Tillerson is an amateur.  We knew that.  He has little help since he has not been able to fill in the four layers under him: DepSecState, UnderSecState, AssistantSecState, DeputyAssistantSecState.  Yet he also shows little self-awareness, not much of a learning curve and a hostility to many of the basic parts of the job.  So, is he the worst?  If not, who was worse than Tillerson?

A Grateful Prof

Yesterday was a pretty amazing day.  First, the local CBC morning radio program talked to me about my book.  The interview was really good as the host, Hallie, did a nice job of building on the pre-interview but in a very natural way.  I was able to talk about the book and link it to recent events.



Then I did the @FPAtakeover tweetup. The second event in the Steve promota-palooza involved getting access to the @FPACarleton twitter account--their idea, not mine--and respond to questions.  I storified it (see the link).  The topics ranged from the book to Iraq/Syria/ISIS to how many Tim Horton's are on Carleton's campus (5).  It seemed to go well and the FPA folks seemed to be delighted.

 And then I had the Author Meets Readers book launch at Irene's pub.  This was very well attended. Karen Schwartz, the Associate Dean of FPA, mc'ed.  The participants were myself, Phil Lagassé of the U of Ottawa, retired LTG Stu Beare, and Ambassador Elissa Golberg.  Stu asked the audience about their ties to the mission, and more than half knew someone who lost "life or limb."  That created a very moving context for the conversation.  Phil took me to task for expecting too much from our politicians, who are only responding to the incentives--that we the public are to blame ultimately.  Elissa criticized the book for repeating some myths about the civilian side of things.  I was quite grateful to all three for taking the book seriously and coming to the event armed with their perspectives.  

I am grateful to the FPA folks for setting up the latter two events and the media relations Carleton for setting up the first event as well as some other stuff.  I said during my intro that FPA at Carleton has given me far more support, encouragement, recognition and assistance than any other Dean's office in my career, and it is not even close.

It was a stimulating day, and it was great to get folks engaged in discussions about the stuff that I have been studying and writing about for years.  Indeed, while I do not intend on writing another book on Afghanistan (two is enough), I may end up doing some more research to fill in some holes.

Thanks to one and all for a great day!

Happy Anniversary, Access to Information Request

Facebook reminded me of some interesting timing--that today is not just the Ottawa book launch of Adapting in the Dust but also the third anniversary of the rejection of my access to information request regarding the lessons learned effort.

The government engaged in a serious effort to figure out what we can learn from the Afghanistan campaign, and then buried it.  Why?  Because learning lessons means admitting mistakes and the previous government would not dare do that.  Yes, the rejection cited advice to cabinet and embarrassing allies, but the Info Commissioner's website makes it clear that one can appeal such grounds.  Alas, the appeal is three year's old.  Perhaps the new government will let not just me but the rest of the government see this document.  I just need to find my old rejection letter before I call up the appeals folks.

Anyhow, this rejection helped to motivate me to write the new book, as I decided that we needed to figure out the lessons and share them if the government was too cowardly to do so.

Hopefully, folks won't mind going through the slush to Irene's Pub at 5:30 for the Author Meets Reader panel--Phil Lagassé (U of Ottawa), Stu Beare (former commander of all Canadian operations) and Elissa Golberg (former Representative of Canada in Kandahar).  

Today's song, despite the snow/rain/slush is:

Quebec Trip Report

Other than much challenging weather on the way out of Ottawa, the trip went quite well.  I had two great but very different days of skiing and had interesting conversations with two very different audiences. 

The crowd at Laval were mostly graduate students and faculty, while the audience at Bishop's was mostly undergrads with a few faculty sprinkled in.  Both groups asked sharp questions.  The latter group had a big advantage: the bookstore had copies of my book and brought a bunch to sell!

At both stops, I got to spend time with my former PhD students, which I discussed here.

The ski days were different.  Massif had a thin layer of snow over a hard surface, which meant very fast runs.  Jay Peak, where I have skied a few times but not very recently, had much ice before yesterday but then got a bunch of snow the night before and then much precipitation throughout the day.  The top was closed due to winds, which was very Jay-ish.  Still plenty of excellent blue cruising terrain which much fresh snow.  The challenge was not speed, but sight--that it alternated between snow, freezing rain and maybe some rain.  So, I looked like this:

And the visibility looked like this:

Oh, and Jay had the more familiar food (unlike Massif): egg/bacon bagel sandwiches, cinnamon rolls, burgers and chocolate milk.  The big shock at Jay was the development of the base area--completely unrecognizable from the road as they built hotels/restaurants/indoor waterpark around the old cafeteria/base area.

The book tour continues this week with my taking over the @fpacarleton twitter feed Thursday morning (Feb 25th) at 11:30 and the Author Meets Readers event at Irene's Pub at 5:30 on the same day.  A week later, I will have multiple talks in Vancouver.  After that, we shall see but I expect to make it to Toronto and Calgary at some point.

Video Killed the Radio Star?

Laval University taped my book talk yesterday:

You can get some of the highlights of the book in this presentation.  I didn't spoil the entire book, which is only $10 or less via e-book and about $20 at UTP or Amazon.

The next book talk is in Ottawa of all places (where is the skiing?) as part of Carleton's Author Meets Readers program (and International Writers week or something like that).  The ad for that event and another, go here:

Other/Self Promotion

Tis a strange moment today where I was taping an ad for Carleton University's Faculty of Public Affairs to promote two events that will promote my new book (have you heard of it?).  Both events are on February 25th.  The first is virtual: I take over the @fpacarleton twitter account and respond to questions from 11:30-1:30.  I am thinking of having this account recommend heaps of raises!  The second event is Author Meets Readers, a panel discussion about the new book with three experts: Phil Lagassé of U of Ottawa, Ambassador Elissa Golberg (who was the senior rep for Canada in Kandahar--the RoCK), and Lt. Gen.  (ret) Stu Beare (former commander of Canadian Joint Operations Command).  This will be at Irene's Pub at 5:30-7.

While I was typing this, one of my former students posted this on facebook:
Oh, and this talk is a day after this one.  So, my Winter Break will be full of talk in Quebec.

UPDATE: The video is now available

Adapting in the Dust Is Ooooot!

Today, the book is officially released!  Why am I excited about it?  Why should Spew readers care? Why should other folks be interested?

The basic premise of the book is that we learn best about someone or someplace when they are under pressure--that crises reveal character.  And my guess is that no international effort caused more stress for the Canadian political system than the Afghanistan war.  Fighting in Afghanistan put many politicians, the parties, the media, and even the public in difficult positions of trying to understand and react to a confusing place and a confusing war.

So, the book tries to pop some myths while trying to understand why the various parts of the Canadian political system reacted as they did.  Some adapted, some did not.  Some adaptations were functional and productive.  Some were, alas, not.  Indeed, some adaptions were almost craven as politicians sought to shield themselves from the responsibilities of the war.  Yes, I am referring to Prime Ministers Martin and Harper.

The details about the book are here, the book tour's details are here, and the soundtrack is here.  I am available to talk about the book for any media outlet interested.  My contact info is here (better to email than call).

The song du jour reflects the war, my research and the book tour ahead.

Happy New Book Eve

The academic publishing process is so long and often very frustrating, so when a new publication comes out, one cannot help but be relieved and use it as an excuse to do stuff like order out for Chinese food.  Oh, is that just me?

Tomorrow, Adapting in the Dust: Lessons Learned from Canada's War in Afghanistan will be officially released.  It can be ordered via the usual places (U of Toronto Press, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, etc).

The book is different from anything else I have written:

• It is shorter, with no lit review section (disguised or otherwise).
• It does not aim to develop or test theories, but instead to inform the Canadian debate about how Canada operates at whom as it operates overseas.
• It was somewhat accidental.  Much of the research that shows up in this book was not conducted with this book in mind, but came to me as I was focused on a more comparative project. 
• It was kind of pre-written, as I wrote much about Canada and Afghanistan here at the Spew over the years while I was researching the NATO book and reacting to events in Canada.  The blogging really helped the writing of this book--both to get my thoughts down and to articulate them for broader audiences.
• There is far more opinionated Steve here than in my other stuff precisely because I am making judgments about who did well, who did poorly, who adapted intelligently to the new circumstances, and which actors in the Canadian political science adapted poorly.  Readers of the Spew will probably not be that surprised by my assessments, but might be surprised at the tone of the book. Again, this is not an academic book.

The book tour commences next month with stops in Quebec City, Sherbrooke, Ottawa, and Vancouver.  I am sure to be talking about this book elsewhere, not to mention whatever media outlets that will have me.  I am sure folks will get tired of hearing me talk about it, but I enjoyed the research and writing so much that I cannot contain my happiness that this book is now out there for others to read.

Because of all the help I had along the way, today's song from the Adapting soundtrack is:

Trigger Warning: Much Self-Promotion Ahead

I give fair warning to those who read my blog, follow me on twitter, are facebook friends or happen to live in the Greater Ottawa Metroplex: I ramp up the new book promotion machine at the end of this week.  Adapting in the Dust: Lessons Learned from Canada's War in Afghanistan will be flying off the presses as of Friday!  The hard copy of the book is apparently winging its way to me right now, hopefully to arrive tomorrow!

I have created a page or two to promote the book, I have created a playlist of songs that go with the book, and I have organized a book tour that kicks off in Kingston, my Canadian home away from home, on February 9th, followed by dates in Quebec City, Sherbrooke, Ottawa, and Vancouver).  I hope to also give book talks in Toronto and Montreal (and am open to talks elsewhere).

Anyhow, this book is a bit different from my previous stuff.  While the NATO book was aimed to be more readable and more policy oriented than my previously previous stuff and more than the usual academic stuff, it was still an effort to develop and then test a theory.  And a page-turning reading it was (paperback due out in March, which has already deflated the e-book prices!).  But this book is not aimed at theory building nor at addressing the existing literature in the field of Canadian Foreign/Defence Policy.

Nay, the aim of this book is to speak to Canadians about what we can learn from the most intense effort abroad in recent Canadian history.  The premise/contention is that we can learn more about the character of individuals, institutions and even a country when it is placed under great pressure than in ordinary times.  So, the book evaluates how did various parts of the Canadian political system handle the conflict, how they adapted, and whether those adaptations were just good for their careers or institutions or good for the war effort. 

The book starts with some comparisons to the rest of NATO as the first myth to be busted in the book is that Canada was alone or unique.  Much of what happened to Canada and was done by Canada happened to and was done by pretty much everyone else who showed up in the Afghanistan mission.  I do address the Kandahar mission since the choice of Kanadahar has been mythologized.  

After that, I consider the Prime Ministers (Martin and Harper), the parliament and the parties, the effort to develop a "whole of government approach," the Canadian Armed Forces, and then the media and the public.  I conclude by drawing some lessons that the previous government was afraid to discuss publicly--the lessons learned document is buried.  I do wonder if the new government will let me and the rest of Canada see it. 

Anyhow, the book is aimed for wider audiences and even addresses the biggest question of all: was it worth it?  The self-promotion machine is fueled, oiled and armed.  I hope to see you at some stop along the way.  Happy New (Book) Year to you all!

Dutch Travels for a NATO workshop

I am in/at The Hague for a two day workshop on what we can learn about ISAF's performance in Afghanistan.  I had no idea there was a NATO office in this city until last month.  I remember seeing SACEUR Craddock (the military head of NATO) complaining in 2008 about having confusing metrics (measures) about progress.  Apparently, his response to that was to create this office.

It is my second time here, as I interviewed Dutch officials/officers/etc in January 2011 for the NATO book.  Last night, I had dinner with two professors who teach at the Dutch military academy, who were most helpful over the past few years.  One of the best parts of writing a book is giving copies to those who were of assistance.  We met in Leiden, where the Pilgrims hung out between England and Plymouth.

One of the interesting happenstances of the NATO project has been that researching and talking about it has led me to a bunch of interesting historical places.  I got to speak about Afghanistan in Bridgewater, Massachusetts, which is near Plymouth Rock.  So, this book project took  me to both the departure and landing of the Pilgrims.  Funny that.

What have I learned/re-learned thus far?

• I don't remember this city being as bike crazy as it apparently is--very Copenhagen-ish.  I am amazed I have not been hit.  
• My favorite Dutch word is rijsttafel--refers to rice table---where you get a pile of tapas like dishes at an Indonesian restaurant.
• I felt like the movie "The Birds" was inspired by a scene here.  Last night, I walked past the loudest trees--populated by so many very loud birds. 
• I have seen ads for kickassmas, but have not yet had a chance to search for it. Hmm.

Gotta run to my workshop.  

Going the Distance

Why am I going to Australia for a three day trip?  Because three days > day to get there + day to get back. 

I was invited to participate in a book workshop to help Ryan Griffiths improve his manuscript.  I have done a few of these before but this is the longest I will have gone.  This, like the previous ones, focus on the International Relations of Secession.  It is a very good book, but I hope to still have a few things to say to help out.

I did not want to go just for one day, so I conned persuaded Ryan to organize a talk where I can speak about what I learned on my first trip to Australia--whether NATO membership matters or not for how countries behaved in Afghanistan.  As a partner of NATO but not a member, does outsider status help or hinder Australia?  Mostly, helps.  So, my book tour goes inter-continental this week. 

On my third day?  Sydney tourism.  And then I come back.  I wish I could stay longer, see more of the country/continent, but I have a class to teach on Monday and preparation for ISA to do. 

All I can be sure of is that I will knackered by the time I am done. 

The over/under on number of manuscripts that I am reviewing for journals on the plane ride there and back is 2.5 (I have four in my bag).  So, over or under, readers of the Spew?

Blogging and tweeting will be quite light for the next week or so.  Tis bad timing since Canada is officially leaving Afghanistan this week (I had to turn down a CBC request), Crimea's sham referendum is Sunday, and, yes, there is a missing plane in the general area.

See you on the other side:

Valentine's Is For Lovers ... of Twitter

So much silliness all the time on twitter.  Today is Valentine's Day, of course, so folks are tweeting silly poems, such as this:

Roses are red Violets are blue If you commit crime on Valentines day We'll put you in a grey cell #polisnotpoets
— EdinburghCityPolice (@EdinCityPolice) February 14, 2014

One of the better academic ones:

Roses are Red Violets are... [Please log into JSTOR or pay $39 to access the remainder of this poem.] #AcademicValentines
— Richard W. Maass (@richardmaass) February 13, 2014

So, I, of course, could not be left out:

hey, baby: let's take turns being the principal and the agent! #PoliSciValentines
— Stephen Saideman (@smsaideman) February 14, 2014

and then I made the book promotion a bit more explicit (because Valentine's Day is all about being explicit, right?)

When it comes to you, I have no caveats #AcademicValentines #shamelessbookpromotion http://t.co/U17Os1oOCF
— Stephen Saideman (@smsaideman) February 14, 2014

KC Rocketh

As I await the ride to the airport, I thought I would review my trip to Kansas City.... it rocks.

Sure, it was really cold, but I am used to that.  The department at the U of Missouri at Kansas City is chock full of young, fun profs led by a friend of mine from grad school.  They were excellent hosts with heaps of humor, sharp questions about my research, and enjoyed my tales about their chair.

The students had a range of experiences so they asked very good questions.  They were quite engaged in the stuff I was presenting.  Indeed, when I guest lectured in the International Security class, I was not told when the class was supposed to end, so we went long.  And no one started to pack up and leave.  Perhaps they were afraid of the new guy.

The beer was excellent, the Raphael hotel was very nice.  I wish I had some time to do some of the museums (Negro Leagues, Jazz), but I am hustling back home to prepare for Monday's class.

If you get an invite to come to KC, especially to the UMKC poli sci dept, you have got to say yes. 

Kicking Off the Book Tour

I will be talking about NATO and Afghanistan in a semi-book tour event on Wednesday.  Roland Paris of U of Ottawa and Lt. Gen (ret) Andrew Leslie could not get the book in time to engage it seriously, so we will just chat about the joy of multilateral operations in Afghanistan and maybe

Libya (chapter eight). 

Roland has written much about international intervention.  General Leslie served a long career in the Canadian Forces, including serving as Deputy Commander of ISAF and as Chief of the Army.

So, come on out on Wednesday to the Rainbow Room in the Byward Market  at 6pm for this CIC organized Politics in the Pub event.