The Pentagon Wars: Reformers Challenge the Old GuardFrom the late 1960s through the mid-1980s, a small band of military activists waged war against corruption in the Pentagon, challenging a system they believed squandered the public’s money and trust. The book examines the movement and its proponents and describes how the system responded to the criticisms and efforts to change accepted practices and entrenched ways of thinking. The author, an air force colonel and part of the movement, worked in the pentagon for fourteen years. He presents a view of the Department of Defense that only an insider could offer. He exposes serious flaws in the military policy-making process, particularly in weapons development and procurement. The details he gives on the unrelenting push for high-tech weapons, despite their ineffectiveness and extraordinary cost-overruns, provide a strong case for the charge of ethical bankruptcy. The second half of the book deals with the author’s attempts to get frontline equipment tested under combat conditions. For the first time, readers learn the nasty details of his battle with the army over line-fire testing of the Bradley Fighting Vehicle—a battle that he eventually won, leading to the personnel carrier’s redesign and the saving of many lives. Never reluctant to name names and reveal details, James G. Burton presents a forceful case. And his revelations offer insights not found elsewhere into the motivations and actions of the people who wield power from within. Nor does he stop at the walls of the Pentagon. In his epilogue he tells what happened in the field during the final hours of the Gulf War that allowed Hussein’s elite Republican Guard to escape. Now back in print after having inspired a feature HBO film, this explosive account of insider corruption is sure to serve policy-makers for generations to come. |
From inside the book
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... Warfare School at Quantico, Virginia, printed and distributed one thousand copies ofthe Green Book. 3 More importantly,theMarine Corps ingested Boyd'stheories into its own doctrine. Fleet Marine Force Manual Number 1, Prologue.
... Warfare School at Quantico, Virginia, printed and distributed one thousand copies ofthe Green Book. 3 More importantly,theMarine Corps ingested Boyd'stheories into its own doctrine. Fleet Marine Force Manual Number 1, Prologue.
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... copy oftransfer ordersinone hand, an outstanding fitness report inthe other,and the Pentagon in therearview mirror. Many sell theirsouls forthat fitness report. During twentyseven years as an Air Force officer, I was assignedtothe ...
... copy oftransfer ordersinone hand, an outstanding fitness report inthe other,and the Pentagon in therearview mirror. Many sell theirsouls forthat fitness report. During twentyseven years as an Air Force officer, I was assignedtothe ...
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... copy of his worktotwo contractor design teams, one at General Dynamics Corporation and the other at Northrop Corporation, for independent validations. These designers confirmed most ofSprey'scalculations. In March1970, the American ...
... copy of his worktotwo contractor design teams, one at General Dynamics Corporation and the other at Northrop Corporation, for independent validations. These designers confirmed most ofSprey'scalculations. In March1970, the American ...
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... copy. Chuck, Ray,and I knew that this projection could not be true—there was some kind of game going on. Although I have noproof, I believe thatthe generalsdecided inthat meeting to dump the B1 byfinding someone else to do their ...
... copy. Chuck, Ray,and I knew that this projection could not be true—there was some kind of game going on. Although I have noproof, I believe thatthe generalsdecided inthat meeting to dump the B1 byfinding someone else to do their ...
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... copy of Sun Tzu's TheArt ofWarto the home ofevery Marineofficer. Gray'stwo predecessorsas commandant, Generals Robert H. Barrow and P.X. Kelly, also sat throughBoyd's briefingandhad numerous private sessions with him to discuss his ...
... copy of Sun Tzu's TheArt ofWarto the home ofevery Marineofficer. Gray'stwo predecessorsas commandant, Generals Robert H. Barrow and P.X. Kelly, also sat throughBoyd's briefingandhad numerous private sessions with him to discuss his ...
Contents
The Wheel of Conspiracy | |
The Dickey Bird Shuffle | |
HollowVictory 8 Crossing the Rubicon | |
John Boyds Source List | |
Recommendations for Reform | |
Notes | |
Index | |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
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