I am growing weary of books, but I must admit that Robert Gates’ just released book of memoirs is making me think. My interest has little to do with American politics, though. I could not care less about either George Bush Junior or Barack Obama. The Congress leaves me cold, as well. What I am interested in is the American military. In particular, I am interested in the only organization on the planet that might have a chance at global control (“A Small Clique Running the World,” October 18, 2010). But I am quite sure that Gates would not divulge an iota worthy of my interest. An American patriot to boot, he would never even dream of exposing the power of the American military. Besides, he was not alone at editing his book before it went to the publisher’s editors, let alone to press. To wit, I am not very likely to go for Gates’ book. But I am perplexed by my own interest in the American military. How can I explain it? Well, call it duty. An intellectual’s duty, to be a bit more precise. The duty to understand, as well as to make others understand, how the world works. The whole world, too.