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Overview
How will war change now that the world is no longer in two camps? Is the ethnic conflict in Eastern and Central Europe the wave of the future? What changes will technological advances dictate? General Odom considers how the structure and strategy of the U.S. armed forces must change in the post-Cold War world. He looks at intelligence, logistics, research and development, and space, and he pinpoints the regions and potential conflicts that might justify U.S. intervention.
Editorials
The Economist
This book is an attempt to explain to the governments of the West why the post-cold-war world is not a peaceful place, and what they will have to do if they are to avoid paying the costs of unreadiness.— Robert A. Fangmeier, ENCOUNTER
Publishers Weekly -
Odom, the former director of the National Security Agency, warns that the U.S. is in the process of dismantling its military capability before developing a post-Cold War strategy. In this concise analysis, he urges reversing the drift toward isolationism in favor of a strategy that would see a U.S. policy of carefully selected global engagement, decreased dependence on unilateral initiatives and greater emphasis on international cooperation to keep the general peace and contain local conflicts. Addressing the issue of how we can afford adequate military forces in a time of austerity, Odom suggests cost-efficient ways to increase strategic lift, improve close-air support capability and develop further expertise in coalition management. He calls for radical reconstruction of the Defense Department, including abolishing the Joint Chiefs of Staff and creating a defense council. This is crucial reading for those seriously concerned with America's security and defense. (June)Booknews
Lt. General Odom served as director of the National Security Agency and currently teaches and writes on national security matters. He offers his analysis of the new strategic environment and American needs and capabilities, proposing new strategies and suggesting directions, including restructuring of the Pentagon. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)Roland Green
In one of the better discussions of the optimum American military strategy for the post-Cold War world, Odom emphasizes that U.S. leadership is virtually the only option and that peace is unlikely to break out at all, let alone without that leadership. He discusses the implications of his contentions and the conventional, strategic, and space forces the U.S. ought to maintain to meet various crises. Odom definitely has an agenda, but he's a well-informed man writing to help the intelligent layperson organize thought on a serious public issue.Book Details
Published
August 28, 1993
Publisher
Washington, D.C.: American University Press ; c1993.
Pages
150
Format
Hardcover
ISBN
9781879383159