More a treatise on national security than a consideration of the two books in question, this review by Samantha Power provides a broad overview of national security issues that is worth reading. Never having been invaded or attacked broadside (Pearl Harbor and 9/11 notwithstanding), Americans seem not to appreciate national security in the way that most other nations do--just ask the Russians, the Chinese, or even the French, and they will respond that national security means not being taken over by another nation. In that light, all American presidents during the last 60 years, earn at least a "C" in national security--especially those who helped us avoid a nuclear halocaust during the Cold War. Power's sometimes disjointed review mostly discusses perceptions, potential threats in the present, and hypothetical threats as the future unfolds, and she does a good job inspiring thoughtful consideration of these issues.