In the United States government, contends Yarger (national security policy, US Army War College), thinking about strategy is so muddled and misinformed that it leads to confusion among policy, strategy, and planning. This confusion confines strategic possibilities to near-term political aspirations, planning processes, and inappropriate and confining details while also limiting flexibility of strategic thought and setting inappropriately detailed expectations of outcomes. He provides a framework for understanding strategic theory, strategic thinking, and strategy formulation as they relate to grand strategy, national security strategy, national military strategy, other national-level strategies, and regional or theater strategy. He also addresses the proper place of planning in relation to policy and strategy. His focus is on those aspects of strategic theory that appear to have universal application. Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)