The masks of war : American military styles in strategy and analysis

Bibliographic Information

The masks of war : American military styles in strategy and analysis

Carl H. Builder ; foreword by Sam Nunn

(A Rand Corporation research study)

Johns Hopkins University Press, c1989

  • pbk. : alk. paper

Available at  / 5 libraries

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Note

Bibliography: p. 231-234

Includes index

Description and Table of Contents

Description

Why was the Navy ready to clear the skies over the Persian Gulf, yet surprised by the mines laid under it? Why is it that the Army is always prepared for war in Europe, but was caught off guard in Korea and Vietname? And why is the Air Force indifferent to "Star Wars"? In The Masks of War Carl H. Builder asks what motives lie behind the puzzling and often contradictory behavior of America's militay forces. The answer, he finds, has little to do with what party controls the White House or who writes the budget. Far more powerful-and glacially resistant to change-are the entrenched institutions and distinct "personalities" of the three armed services themselves. The Masks of War explains why things sometimes go wrong for the American military. It also explains why things will always go wrong for the military reformers. Changes in the military's strategic thinking have come only in the wake of full-blown disaster-Pearl Harbor, for instance. Today's nuclear world can't afford such lessons.

Table of Contents

Foreword Preface Part I: Personalities Chapter 1. The Masks of War Chapter 2. Five Faces of the Service Personalities Chapter 3. The Service Identities and Behavior Part II: Strategies Chapter 4. What is Strategy? Chapter 5. Service Strategies Chapter 6. The Air Strategy Chapter 7. The Navy and Strategy Chapter 8. The Army and Strategy Part III: Analysis Chapter 9. What is Analysis? Chapter 10. Service Styles Toward Analysis Chapter 11. Images of Conflict Part IV: Implications Chapter 12. The Service Concepts of War Chapter 13. Military Commitments to Combat Chapter 14. Implications for Military Planning Chapter 15. Implications for Regional Security Part V: Prospects Chapter 16. The Army's Identity Crisis Chapter 17. Implications For the Future Notes Bibliography Index

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