International Journal of Naval History

Colin S. Gray, The Sheriff: America’s Defense of the New World Order, The University Press of Kentucky, Lexington KY , 2004.  195 pp. notes, bibliography, index.

Review by John T. Broom

Master’s in Military History Program

Norwich University

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Professor Colin S. Gray is thoughtful as well as prolific.  The Sheriff is a rather brief but persuasive argument not that the U.S. ought to become the gun-slinging cowboy in the 21^st Century but rather a selectively responding ‘sheriff’ acting in its own best interests as well as the interests of the international community, even if sometimes they won’t quite see it that way.  His sheriff analogy is drawn more from Gary Cooper’s portrayal in High Noon, than Kurt Russell’s in Tombstone .

His nine point argument is simple and effective.  It is not one of the well worn “this is what our strategy ought to be” nor is it a primer on limited warfare, instead it lays the foundation for strategy and the resulting military doctrinal choices by first pointing out what the role of the United States ought to be in the international system of the 21^st Century.  It would be well if our political leaders would read the book and if not accepting Gray’s suggested role, it might stimulate them to consider what role the U.S. ought to assume.  This is something that has to be determined before we can begin to develop the appropriate strategies, doctrines, and weapons systems of the future. 

This little book is well worth the time it takes to read it, but read it slowly and thoughtfully.