So well-documented and persuasive that it is certain to be quoted extensively by the defense industry lobby for years to come. But the truth it presents is a simple one. A more complex truth would want to examine the doctrines that require the US to outspend the next 6 largest armed forces in the world COMBINED.
The Two Theater War Doctrine that was established during Cheney and Powell's last tenure (back when they were SecDef and C-JCS, rather than the VP and SecState) is the benchmark that all of these defense "requirements" are based on. Scrap that doctrine and the perception of a train wreck diminishes drastically. A less partisan examination of American defense spending would start by asking why the US is still spending at Cold War levels, why US non-military aid is a joke (in Pentagon terms, the amount of development aid given by the US is a rounding error, no more than that), and why weapons are seen as the be-all and end-all of security. The fact that Goure did not answer the hard questions puts this book on the same level as propaganda.
Dr. Defenestrator's Prescription: Don't read it; there's a good chance that US policymakers have already read it, and you'll no doubt hear it repeated verbatim repeatedly. Cindy Williams' "Holding the Line" offers an alternative view on the issue, and you should at least read the two books together if you must read Goure.
Add Prime
to get Fast, Free delivery
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.
