AMERICA IS IN DANGER

by Gen. Curtis LeMay ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 5, 1968

In this very closely reasoned and highly detailed book General Curtis LeMay challenges some of the basic doctrines of Defense Department strategy under Robert S. McNamara. To begin with he contests the idea of civilian control of the military and he argues against the doctrine of unified command of the armed services. He claims that as a result of the policies of ""flexible response,"" ""graduated deterrence"" and ""limited War,"" the U.S. has lost its military superiority and has put itself in the position of having only a defensive response to a nuclear threat. ""Contrary to the arms controllers who maintain that since nuclear war is so horrible it must be avoided at all costs,"" he holds that ""war is always possible, at whatever level of intensity."" Therefore the U.S. must shift its emphasis to include offensive capabilities. He discusses his own theories of warfare in various contexts throughout the world (though he does not believe the U.S. should be a global policeman) and in Vietnam where he believes the U.S. policy is immorally equivocal. There's nothing equivocal about LeMav's arguments and they will surely find a certain amount of receptivity.

Pub Date: June 5, 1968

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Funk & Wagnalls

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 1968

Categories: NONFICTION