i think we will on rue that decision. >> host: jeremi suri, is there haralson the world that the u.s. is nationbuilding? >> guest: we are in libya and we should acknowledge that. we are part of a multinational operation that i'm seated a long serving dictator, moammar gadhafi for more than four decades. we've been working very closely along with our allies with the transitional council, basically made up of various rebel forces. so we are part of this process. to say were involved in nationbuilding doesn't mean we have military occupation. what are we to adjust ourselves, but if nationbuilding failed some libya, our military operation will have been a failure as well because if he knew gadhafi arises, we wasted our time and wasted process. if we contribute to a more participatory and peaceful society, that will be our benefit as well as in a fit of the people in the region. had we not nationbuilding. >> decides their unwillingness to build to the other staff to ask ari willing population and international allies. when has the three of those besides germany and japan -- what are the th

. >> professor jeremi suri, what is nation-building? >> nation-building is the effort to ask you get involved in and of the society and help the society improve itself as you improve your self as well. >> who does the nation-building? >> a variety of factors but one of the points i make in my book is that a part of nation-building is actually being part of a process that involves bringing americans to another society, not dictating to another society but working with people and another society. so it's americans, working together. >> "liberty's surest guardian" is your most recent book, and i want to read just a portion here. nothing could be more american than to pursue global peace than the spread of american-style institution. nothing could be more un-american than to expect ready support from this process from a mix of local populations, international allies and, of course, the united states government. >> yes. one of the things that is so quintessential american is deeply people can come together to make the world a better place an