The book deals with the three years in which the US 'sleep-walked’ into a massive commitment to Vietnam without a clear set of strategic goals. McMaster builds a compelling story of deliberate deceit, concealment, self-censorship and compromise amongst the President, his national security staff and the Joint Chiefs. Dereliction of Duty is not so much a history book, but a moral story.Īt its heart, Dereliction of Duty is an exploration of how military strategy, when pursued as a consensus-building exercise to walk a middle course, can result in failure and the disastrous loss of lives and treasure. It is a book that deserves to be read by military professionals, civil servants and political leaders. His research brings to life the day-to-day machinations of national strategy, and his analysis and conclusions are a damning indictment of the hubris and deception within the political and military echelons. McMaster's dissection of the decision-making and political dynamics of the Kennedy and Johnson administrations is impressive in its detail and lucidity. It is an adaptation of McMaster's PhD thesis and has earnt a reputation as a dense and incisive study of this important period in modern US history. President Trump's appointment of McMaster prompted me to pull Dereliction of Duty: Lyndon Johnson, Robert McNamara, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Lies That Led to Vietnam off my bookshelf. Those who have followed McMaster's career are familiar with his intellect, direct nature and operational experience (he commanded the US 3 rd Armoured Cavalry Regiment in Ninewah Province, Iraq, in 2005). McMaster as the US National Security Advisor in the Trump Administration. In the same way, those who study military strategy and civil-military relationships relished the appointment of LTGEN H.R.
International development experts watch with semi-morbid fascination as Ashraf Ghani, who co-authored the book Fixing Failed States with Clare Lockhart, struggles to bring institutional renewal and stamp out corruption after his election as President of Afghanistan. It is indeed an uncommon occasion in history when a theorist is able to apply their teachings directly to the field of expertise.
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