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"America's Defense Meltdown" is a new military reform anthology, edited by Straus Military Reform Project Director Winslow Wheeler. Certain to generate discussion on how the U.S. military should be reformed, "America's Defense Meltdown" is a compilation of insight from former military officers, Pentagon insiders and defense analysts. Initial reviews from bloggers and nationally renowned writers who received an advance copy of the book are presented in the following.
Initial Reviews of "America's Defense Meltdown"
"America's Defense Meltdown" is a new anthology that is sure to generate real controversy and debate over how America's deteriorated but costly defenses should be reformed. Find below some initial reviews and comments from bloggers and nationally recognized writers who received the anthology prior to its release.
Individuals interested to receive an electronic version of this new anthology should send a message requesting it to winslowwheeler@msn.com. Hard copies will also be available shortly from the Center for Defense Information by submitting a request also to winslowwheeler@msn.com.
Blog Reviews:
Robert Paterson's Weblog says, "Just in time for the new president, this group, who represent every field of the military, has come together and written what I think may be one of the most important books of our time. "America's Defense Meltdown ... is a comprehensive explanation for a situation not well known by most Americans." And later, "Well, the authors of the book have not only told us what is wrong; they have offered up a new vision." (http://smartpei.typepad.com/robert_patersons_weblog/2008/11/we-are-in-the-financial-crisis---the-defense-crisis-is-on-its-way---they-are-connected-too.html)
Minstrel Boy describes "America's Defense Meltdown" as "well worth a read in full" and offers a quick-read (and excellent) summary of many, but not all, of the anthology's key points. (http://minstrelboy.blogspot.com/2008/11/americas-defense-meltdown.html)
Zenpundit.com cites "the impressive stable of authors," repeats James Fallows' assessment of the anthology as "phenomenal," and comments that "There's going to be a titanic struggle over defense priorities in the [Obama] administration." He implies that "America's Defense Meltdown" is hardly a repetition of the same old "process dysfunctionalities" that Congress and the military-industrial complex are likely to advocate to pretend to reform the mess in the Pentagon. (http://zenpundit.com/?p=2920)
Fabius Maximus describes "America's Defense Meltdown" as "a major anthology by the A-list of the shadow defense establishment." He also shows a snap description of the anthology's authors, which was originally written by anthology author Chet Richards. (http://fabiusmaximus.wordpress.com/2008/10/31/dni/)
The following blurbs can be found on the back cover of the book, written by writers James Fallows, George Wilson, Chalmers Johnson and Thomas X. Hammes:
· The talent, judgment, and insight collected in this book are phenomenal. Over the last generation, the authors have been more right, more often, about more issues of crucial importance to American security than any other group I can think of. It is a tremendous benefit to have their views collected in one place and concentrated on the next big choices facing a new Administration. This really is a book that every serious-minded citizen should read. – James Fallows, National Correspondent, The Atlantic Monthly
· Mr. President, you know the national economy is in a shambles. But you probably don't know the national defense is, too, according to a must read book, "America's Defense Meltdown" just published by the Center for Defense Information. – George C. Wilson, former chief military correspondent, The Washington Post
· The next big American implosion, comparable to the meltdown of our financial system, is likely to occur in the Pentagon and the military-industrial complex. For decades we have been going deeply into debt buying weapons that we don't need and don't work. Winslow Wheeler and his uniformed and civilian defense experts are the best informed analysts of military preparedness and procurement we have. They paint a picture of totally broken and dysfunctional military institutions that are simply waiting for the slightest push to send them over the edge. This book should be indispensable reading for the next president and his defense advisers. – Chalmers Johnson, author of the Blowback Trilogy -- Blowback (2000), The Sorrows of Empire (2004), and Nemesis: The Last Days of the American Republic (2006)
· These authors have been forcing defense analysts to rethink their positions for years. While you may not agree with all they say, I can guarantee they will force you to reconsider how America will insure its future." – Col. Thomas X. Hammes (U.S. Marine Corps, ret.), author of The Sling and The Stone
Additional Comments:
At his "Sidebar" at AntiWar.com, Charles Pena, who is also an adviser to the Straus Military Reform Project, recommends the book as "a good read" at http://www.antiwar.com/pena/?articleid=13625, and two of the anthology's authors offer brief comments and selections from late pre-publication drafts of the book:
Further inquiries and comments are welcome. Please send them to winslowwheeler@msn.com.
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