"Andrew Peek has served his county with distinction as an army officer, diplomat, and senior NSC official in both Trump terms. His book takes you behind the scenes of the most critical negotiations to end the Russia-Ukraine war. It also exposes Putin’s strategy of using proxy forces to reclaim the Russian Empire. This book is a must-read for any student of war and diplomacy." —Robert O’Brien, 27th United States National Security Advisor
"Not as a superpower but rather, in the words of a former French foreign minister at that time, as a hyperpower, the United States has, in the multitude of conflicts in which it has been embroiled or had an interest since 1991, frequently failed to translate its power into victory against ostensibly weaker adversaries. In his study of the use of proxy forces in war, Dr. Andrew Peek begins to unpack the reasons why American power did not translate into American success on the battlefield. In an era of new and unattributable forms of war—cyberattacks, hybrid and shadow attacks, and disinformation—Peek’s analysis reveals how our adversaries are shaping the battlefield to their own advantage. Understanding proxy war, learning from it, and even mastering the same tactics is necessary and urgent for America’s national security leaders." —Stephen E. Biegun, 20th United States Deputy Secretary of State
"Andrew L. Peek has written an extraordinary book that provides non-pariel comparative insights into the different levels of plausible deniability of state sponsors of proxy forces. Well-researched and persuasive, the book advances a unique model and examination of Russia, Iran, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia and their distinct sponsorships. Significantly, Peek has given us a brilliant assessment that will guide policymakers in their operational and strategic positions." —Ambassador Paula J. Dobriansky, former Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs
"In 415 BCE, Athens launched its Sicilian Expedition against Syracuse with support from its Segestan allies, and Sparta soon turned the conflict into a proxy contest by sending aid and advisers to bolster Syracuse’s defense. Major powers have long used conflicts inside smaller states to advance their strategic interests—seen, for example, in Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan under Soviet occupation, and the long war in Angola. In War Without Footprints, Andrew Peek underscores that proxy warfare is being waged today in Ukraine and Gaza, and he also makes clear that understanding the unique challenges the United States confronts in these arenas is essential to navigating a global landscape often more complex than the struggle with the sclerotic Soviet Union and its clients." —Robert L. Wilkie, 8th Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness
