This book is a great summer read. When the President fails to respond to an act of international terrorism, the Congress uses an obscure clause in the Constitution to act on its own. A political crisis ensues as the United States Navy is caught between conflicting orders. This book took me right back to the flight deck of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower. Much of the story's action takes place on a fictional aircraft carrier, and I found, as I read, I was transported back to my own stint on CVN-69. Along with an engaging plot and some great battle scenes, the meat of the story--the wrangling over the War Powers Act--is both pertinent and troubling. Congress, not the President, has the power to declare war. In our recent history (Korea, Viet Nam, Central America) it's been the President who has ordered troops in what have been euphemistically called 'police actions.' This story pushes back against that reality.A fun read. I'll get more from this author.
James Huston's Balance of Power is partisan politics on steroids - what happens when the Democratic President and Republican Speaker of the House draw a line in the sand and refuse to compromise. It made for an interesting plot, even though I found the intransigence irritating. Huston is eager to show his familiarity with Naval terms; I don't think I've ever read a book with so many acronyms! The ending lost momentum, and the hinted conflict between two Naval Battle groups never came, but it was still a fun read.
What do You think about Balance Of Power (1998)?
This was a good book and I liked the novel approach to the battle between congress and the President; it was an interesting twist on the War Powers Act and an interesting idea that the whole congress could wrap their arms around a bill and that there would be cross party agreement, something we don't see much of in Congress these days. I found myself liking some of the characters, especially the Admiral. Be sure to read "Price of Power", the sequel to this book, to find out what happens to the major characters from this book. Both books together tell the whole story. Recommended for someone who likes political thrillers.
—Tim
