Military Incompetence: Why the American Military Doesn't Win (American Century) [Paperback]

Richard A. Gabriel (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Gabriel begins with a good chapter on why things go wrong in the military and then details what went wrong in five small-scale American military opera tions: the raid on Sontay prison in North Vietnam; the rescue of the crew of the Mayaguez in Cambodia; the Ira nian hostage mission; the involvement in Beirut; and the invasion of Grenada. His thesis, as in his earlier books, is that command channels are so con fused that they invite failure. He dem onstrates how each of these operations was mismanaged from the top. The cul prits were not the soldiers, but the offi cers and civilians who did the planning. Gabriel makes his points with convic tion and an insider's appreciation. The journalistic writing is clear and general ly factual, but a bit too emotional to have much impact in public debate. For comprehensive collections. Edward Gibson, James Madison Univ. Lib., Harrisonburg, Va.
Copyright 1985 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 228 pages
• Publisher: Hill and Wang (August 1, 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0374521379
• ISBN-13: 978-0374521370
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,870,833 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent military history, May 18, 2003

By 

Mark Mills (Glen Rose, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Military Incompetence: Why the American Military Doesn't Win (American Century) (Paperback)

If you love the American military, don't read this review; just get a copy of the book. Used copies are easily found online. It reads like Tom Clancy, i.e., you won't be able to put it down.

I've heard a lot of people complain about bureaucracy, but this book does an excellent job of painting an exacting picture of the problem. Gabriel argues that 3 issues produce American military failures:
1. Size of the officer corps (it is too big).
2. Rapid reassignment of officers (no one learns their job).
3. Self-promotion ( and self-serving bureaucracies).
4. Amateurism of political leadership.

The result is a lack of force preparedness and competent mission design.

Gabriel quotes a lot of numbers, so it is easy to check them. I was surprised to discover the ratio of enlisted to officers had gotten worse since the books publication in 1985. At publication, the ratio of enlisted to officers was about 7 to 1, it is now a little above 5 to 1.

Chapters on post-Viet Nam military operations make up the bulk of the book. Each chapter represents a detailed look at the planning and execution of the operation. Each operation is described as a failure in fact, if not political representation. The operations are:
1. Sontay Prison rescue attempt
2. The Mayaguez rescue attempt
3. The Iran rescue attempt
4. Peace keeping in Beirut
5. Grenada (rescue of students)

I am not comfortable with the concluding recommendations. I find them little more than tilting at wind-mills. Gabriel recommends fewer officers, fewer promotions, fewer reassignments, and end to the Joint Chiefs of Staff bureaucracy.

Enjoy.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Required reading for any military professional., August 23, 1998

By 

CPT Taylor Cox ([e-mail]) (AV, MN ARNG) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Military Incompetence: Why the American Military Doesn't Win (American Century) (Paperback)

Excellent analysis of the repeated failures of US military operations from the end of the Vietnam war through the assault on Grenada. Many of the lessons learned that are examined in detail were directly applied by the commanders in Operation Desert Storm. I was presented with a copy in 1987 at my commissioning ceremony by a Special Forces LTC. After sharing it with several peers in Army Aviation, I passed my highlighted, dog-eared copy to a friend at Pensacola where several Naval Air professionals got a chance to take a peek. I now require that my junior officers and NCOs read this book as part of their professional development.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Prescient Analysis of Military Failures...Req'd Reading!!!, December 24, 2002

By 

Dean and Lisa Reid (Dover, DE United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Military Incompetence: Why the American Military Doesn't Win (American Century) (Paperback)

Don't be fooled by the titled...this is not a tired tale from a dove. Gabriel's analysis of military failures from the Vietnam era through the early 80's is insightful and full of wisdom that all military planners - hawks and doves - should consider.

Yes, Gabriel's work holds value to military planners and scholars, but the text is also vibrant and exciting. The author looks at five different operations. Gives an overview of their objectives and describes what went wrong. Then pulls the layers back and exposes the lessons learned from each encounter. Its part historical narrative and part analysis.

Powerful stuff. Just as relevant today as it was prior to the Gulf War. Read up on our successes in that theater, then read this and see how we applied the lessons Gabriel taught us (and others, to be sure). Your understanding of military planning will grow significantly. As will your appreciation for our men and women in uniform.

Highly recommended.