The words "dogs of war" was first used by Shakespeare in his play "Julius Caesar" in which Mark Anthony said "Cry havoc! and let slip the dogs of war". In current slang, it is a somewhat derogatory term used for mercenaries, or soldiers for hire. It is also a way to describe the destruction and chaos caused by war.

In 1876, the English Punch magazine printed a political cartoon showing Russia as a dog handler about to let slip or release his dogs (the Balkan states) to attack the Ottoman Empire.

Ironically, it appears the USA is today the dog handler about to let slip his dogs of war on the world to defend its under-threat hegemony.

Indeed, the threats of war today are exceedingly serious as the world enters a very dangerous time of vicious superpower rivalry.

It is important that we ask: Who are the new dogs of war? Are the dogs of war about to be let slip again.

These are the questions addressed by this book.