my name is thomas mahnken, senior research professor and ceo of the center for repeated and it's my pleasure to welcome you here for a discussion of this book. the big stick, "the big stick: the limits of soft power and the neccessity of military force". what we're going to do is let the authors always should have the last word even if he doesn't, we will give him the last word. what i'm going todo his first turn to my colleague , ambassador eric edelman, a practitioner here at skype and counselor to the center for strategic and budgetary assessment for comments. i'll turn to my other friend and colleague, how branch, henry a kissinger distinguished professor of global affairs for his comments. and we will turn to the office, to elliott and then opened the floor to you for your questions, and go from there.so with no further do, eric. >> thank you, great to be here. >> i think it's important that every book event remember the important part of a book event is to sell books for the authors so i think all of you need to get a copy of the big stick, particularly our television audience, you nee