Rating: 
Summary: Detailed Research with an Axe to Grind
Review: This book represents an indictment of the Johnson administration and the ramifications of prioritizing personal political fortunes (i.e. presidential legacies) before the national interest. McMaster�s describes Kennedy coming to power and bringing in the likes of McNamara and other �New Frontiersman� to attempt to reform defense policy. He also describes the Kennedy administration dismantling Eisenhower�s National Security Council structure, which effectively reduced the Joint Chiefs of Staff�s (JCS) voice and influence. Kennedy, having an uneasy relationship with the military, brought in General (Retired) Maxwell Taylor as his �military representative.� This effectively allowed him to distance the JCS, traditionally sanctioned to provide military advice to the president, from policy making.For example, McMaster�s describes how McNamara and Taylor misrepresented the JCS concerns over the strategy of graduated response. They also deliberately distorted the Khanh�s opinion that South Vietnam required a strong response. Johnson, Taylor and McNamara also gave the impression that no decision had been made on a Vietnam strategy to stall any public criticism. McNamara and Taylor were able to co-opt and suppress JCS criticism by encouraging parochialism between the services and providing favors to them in return for no public condemnation. Most who have led soldiers will probably consider the facts described within this book as criminal. My one criticism of the book rests in its clearly biased thesis. Beginning with the title, McMaster�s shows his one sided opinion, yet rigorously substantiates it through detailed research. Had he simply presented the facts, without characterizing them as lies and deliberate machinations of the system, he would have presented a more powerful case. The reader could base his or her own conclusions upon an individual interpretation. Instead, McMaster�s shows his predisposition from the beginning, immediately creating suspicion within the reader. Other than this one criticism, the book clearly merits attention by anyone interested in Vietnam, the military, or presidential politics. Highly recommended for the military and political professionals.
Rating:
Summary: Detailed Research with an Axe to Grind
Review: This book represents an indictment of the Johnson administration and the ramifications of prioritizing personal political fortunes (i.e. presidential legacies) before the national interest. McMaster's describes Kennedy coming to power and bringing in the likes of McNamara and other 'New Frontiersman' to attempt to reform defense policy. He also describes the Kennedy administration dismantling Eisenhower's National Security Council structure, which effectively reduced the Joint Chiefs of Staff's (JCS) voice and influence. Kennedy, having an uneasy relationship with the military, brought in General (Retired) Maxwell Taylor as his 'military representative.' This effectively allowed him to distance the JCS, traditionally sanctioned to provide military advice to the president, from policy making. For example, McMaster's describes how McNamara and Taylor misrepresented the JCS concerns over the strategy of graduated response. They also deliberately distorted the Khanh's opinion that South Vietnam required a strong response. Johnson, Taylor and McNamara also gave the impression that no decision had been made on a Vietnam strategy to stall any public criticism. McNamara and Taylor were able to co-opt and suppress JCS criticism by encouraging parochialism between the services and providing favors to them in return for no public condemnation. Most who have led soldiers will probably consider the facts described within this book as criminal. My one criticism of the book rests in its clearly biased thesis. Beginning with the title, McMaster's shows his one sided opinion, yet rigorously substantiates it through detailed research. Had he simply presented the facts, without characterizing them as lies and deliberate machinations of the system, he would have presented a more powerful case. The reader could base his or her own conclusions upon an individual interpretation. Instead, McMaster's shows his predisposition from the beginning, immediately creating suspicion within the reader. Other than this one criticism, the book clearly merits attention by anyone interested in Vietnam, the military, or presidential politics. Highly recommended for the military and political professionals.
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