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American Soldier (平装)
by Tommy R. Franks
| Category:
War on terrorism, Generalship, Memoir |
| Market price: ¥ 178.00
MSL price:
¥ 168.00
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| MSL Pointer Review:
A military memoir with grand scope and important insights. |
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AllReviews |
1 Total 1 pages 10 items |
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Donald Rumsfeld (Former American Secretary of Defense) (MSL quote), USA
<2007-01-21 00:00>
When war comes, you look for certain special qualities in the people you'll be working with. General Tom Franks embodies those qualities: strength, experience, a keen mind, energy, honor, good humor, and a deep loyalty to his troops and to his country. Tom Franks is truly a soldier's soldier. |
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Max Boot (The Washington Post) (MSL quote), USA
<2007-01-21 00:00>
The Romans let victorious generals keep slaves and other spoils of war. The British showered them with noble titles and country estates. In free-market America, we've outsourced the job of rewarding our war heroes to the private sector, where they get cushy corporate board seats, lucrative speaking engagements and fat contracts for their memoirs.
Gen. Tommy Franks, who as head of U.S. Central Command presided over the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, has duly produced the expected autobiography. It is a good read, thanks to the work of veteran ghostwriter Malcolm McConnell; the early sections on Franks's blue-collar upbringing and Vietnam service are particularly affecting. But it has not made as much of a media splash as some other accounts of the administration, because it is not hostile to George W. Bush.
To the contrary, American Soldier rebuts some criticisms directed against the president. Bush has been accused, for instance, of taking his eye off Afghanistan by ordering the plan for a possible war with Iraq in the fall of 2001. Franks writes that, given the threat posed by Saddam Hussein, this was a sensible request, and that "our mission in Afghanistan never suffered" as a result.
Scores of pundits have accused the administration of lying, or at least distorting the evidence, about Iraq's weapons of mass destruction. But Franks reveals that the leaders of Egypt and Jordan told him that Saddam Hussein had chemical and biological weapons. Though no weapon of mass destruction was ever found, he writes, "I do not regret my role in disarming Iraq and removing its Baathist regime."
Another charge made against the administration is that political appointees failed to give the generals enough troops in either Afghanistan or Iraq. In fact, Franks writes, it was his own choice to employ limited forces in order to avoid getting bogged down. Instead of relying on sheer size, he thought surprise and speed were the keys to victory - a judgment largely vindicated by events.
In general (so to speak), Franks is complimentary about his bosses. Vice President Dick Cheney is praised for asking questions that "consistently cut to the core of the issue at hand." Bush comes across as a "confident" and "decisive" leader who refused to let politics intrude into his decision-making. When White House chief of staff Andrew Card brought up the issue of the 2002 elections as a factor in planning for war with Iraq, Bush reportedly snapped, "That is no consideration at all... Timing will have nothing to do with congressional elections or polls." Franks did become exasperated at times with the "genetically impatient" Donald Rumsfeld, but ultimately decided that he and the defense secretary made an effective team.
Not all is sweetness and light in American Soldier. Franks comes off as a bit tetchy. He complains in particular when the Joint Chiefs of Staff get involved in any operational issues that lie outside their jurisdiction. He accuses the chiefs of being focused only on their "parochial" service concerns, of leaking secrets to the press, wasting his time and offering "gratuitous" advice. In one extraordinary episode, he cusses out the Navy and Marine chiefs, Adm. Vern Clark and Gen. James Jones, in language that can't be reprinted here.
A particular target of his ire is Undersecretary of Defense Douglas Feith, whom he denounces as the "dumbest [expletive] guy on the planet" and "a theorist whose ideas were often impractical," without offering any examples. He adds, however, that "Rumsfeld never allowed Feith to interfere in my business." This - along with the fact that Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz barely rates a mention in this book - should help dispel the popular myth that a cabal of neoconservatives led by Wolfowitz and Feith has been running the war on terrorism. Actually Franks was the one in operational control until July 2003, and he offers not a single instance where Rumsfeld, Feith or any other politico forced him to do anything he didn't want to do.
Perhaps they should have. American Soldier reveals numerous blind spots: Franks never discusses why he didn't send more U.S. soldiers to cut off al Qaeda fighters escaping Tora Bora in December 2003 or Ba'athists fleeing to the Sunni Triangle in April 2004. Nor does he seriously ponder what more he could have done to foster a secure postwar environment in Iraq and Afghanistan. One of the "impractical" suggestions from Feith that he disregarded, we now know, was to rally Iraqis to assist in their country's liberation. More than a year later, the United States continues to pay a heavy price for not having mobilized sufficient Iraqi security forces early on.
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David Nicholas (MSL quote), USA
<2007-01-21 00:00>
Soldiers, especially generals, often find themselves second-guessed. These days, these armchair generals (I'm the first to admit I'm one of them, albeit a (hopefully) objective one) pick apart every decision a particular general makes, in an attempt to prove that, if no one else had been available, "they" could have done a better job. Tommy Franks, commander of CENTCOM during the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, has become the latest version of this phenomenon, which has seemingly snowballed in recent years. No one ever dared dissect George Patton or Douglas MacArthur's maneuvers publicly during World War II. If anyone had, they'd have gone to jail... or better yet, Patton might have shot them with that pistol of his. Franks is from a different generation, though, so every decision he makes is under a microscope the minute it's known publicly.
The adopted son of a poor couple, a father who had many jobs and his wife who sold pies to help pay the bills, Franks grew up in Oklahoma and Texas, and flunked out of college in the latter. Deciding to shape himself up, he joined the army as a private in 1965, graduating from Officer Candidate School two years later. He did a year in Viet Nam, came home and married the girl he'd been dating, and stayed in the army, eventually, because they paid for his return to college. As he rose throug the ranks, he continued to reevaluate his position every year or three, thinking each time that he'd retire and enter the private sector, making his wife happy because they could stop moving. The army thwarted this by continuing to promote him right up through the ranks until he reached four stars.
The heart of the book is the discussions of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Franks has a very frank approach to critics and criticism: he brushes it aside very brusquely. According to him, the main decisions made during the war were made for very pragmatic reasons, and the battles that were fought were generally successful. Issues such as the presence of WMD in Iraq are discussed in detail. Franks' view is that "everyone" thought Saddam Hussein had at least chemical and biological weapons prior to the war, even the French and the Germans. Those countries just didn't think it was worth provoking Saddam over. Having liberated the country, however, it's become rather simple: Saddam isn't on the throne any more, and that's a good thing, regardless.
Both of the wars Franks fought are the subject of much controversy. Afghanistan appears to be a failure, according to critics, until Osama dies. When he does, I'm sure the same critics will say that Osama never mattered, and somehow raise the bar elsewhere, so that the war can be judged a failure. Iraq will continue to be a failure as long as the Iraqi insurgents have the idea that if they kill just a few more American soldiers, the rest will leave.
The one thing I do take issue with, in terms of General Franks' practice of warfare, is a seemingly mundane one: he doesn't sleep very much during much of the crisis portions of the book. It's rather famous that then General Montgomery went to sleep as the Battle of El Alamein started, and later said he slept like a baby. Franks, by contrast, never seems to sleep much at all. I'm not entirely certain that this is a good example: I think that a good night's sleep is important for anyone, including a general who makes decisions that affect thousands of people.
That aside, this is an interesting book, and I enjoyed it a great deal. It's a bit indistinct with regards to military units and maneuvers, and the end is a bit hurried, but other than that it's well-written. |
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D. Thurlow (MSL quote), USA
<2007-01-21 00:00>
American Soldier is a plain-spoken and highly readable account of General Tommy Franks's long career in uniform, from his tour in Vietnam in the late 1960's through the last years of the Cold War and the first Gulf War, through his concluding assignment as Commander, U. S. Central Command, during the opening years of the Global War on Terrorism. Franks and his collaborator, Malcolm McConnell, capture a highly authentic flavor of life in the service over that long span of time.
Inevitably, the planning and execution of Operations Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Iraqi Freedom in Iraq dominate the narrative. Within the limits of unclassified information, Franks provides a remarkably honest account of the challenging task to put together these operations, something the average reader has probably forgetten. The operations as finally executed represented a radical departure from the conventional military operations of the Cold War and serve as a template for the Department of Defense's ongoing transformation. These operations have fairly been called the first wars of the Information Age, and the leveraging of information and other new technologies is spelled out in Franks' narrative. The forces under Franks' control achieved remarkable results with far fewer troops than anyone had previously imagined was possible.
American Soldier draws to a close before the full dimensions of the challenge of stabilizing Iraq had become apparent, so the storyline is somewhat incomplete. Franks is unapologetic about his accomplishments and about the full contact interaction with the Bush Administration through which strategic planning was and is properly done. Implicit in Franks narrative is a reminder of how inherently messy military operations always are, and how plans rarely if ever survive intact their first contact with the enemy.
This book is highly recommended to the student of the military art, as well as to those curious about Tommy Franks himself. |
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Jerold Wiley (MSL quote), USA
<2007-01-21 00:00>
Having served my country and retiring as an Air Force major, I understand the need for us to understand history in order for us to grow and be able to handle the events of today. "American Soldier" is an appropriate book for our time and is a must book to read for anyone interested in history.
As I read the book I took out my red pen and made notes in the columns (something I do with really good books). Tommy Franks comments after visiting a prison and becoming acquainted with an electric chair that he learned a very important lesson that day. Life is about choices and consequences. You will live with the choice you make. He never forgot that lesson.
Indeed, several years later he remembered that lesson when he was confronted with a situation in which he took some money to buy a BB rifle and shot out light bulbs at the grandstand of the rodeo grounds.
College was a rude awakening to Tommy and he ended up flunking out. As he said after this part of his life, "I had a lot of growing up to do." Following this defeat began a great victory with his introduction into the Army. He learned a lot early on, lessons that he never forgot and referred to later on in the book. His Vietnam tour was another key learning experience, another that would influence him as he rose in rank.
One the important lessons he learned came from Lt Col Eric Antila. After a particularly bad beating from the VC, Antila suffered with his troops, but could not afford to show. As Franks said, "In war, it is necessary that commanders be able to delay their emotions until they can afford them."
During one particularly harrowing experience, Franks came to understand "During my months in combat, I'd come to understand that a soldier owes loyalty to his unit and to his boss." However, "I realized that loyalty not only flows up the chain of command: It flows down as well."
This one incident, I believe, reflects very much on Franks understanding of warfare and the people who fight. I have no doubt that the things we learn in war are much different that those we learn in peace. Throughout my 20-year peacetime career in the Air Force, I only had 2 senior officers who understood this concept of loyalty. Most of the others were only interested in getting promoted and would step on those who might not help them get there.
From Vietnam on the book reflects Franks' learning experiences as a soldier. He learned the details of artillery and command. Some of the earlier lessons he learned from Lt Col Antila seemed to forever impress upon him what it takes to command. He learned the benefits of positive reinforcement.
Upon being promoted to brigadier general he began to see more of the desert arena. As he rose in rank he met and became, in some cases friends with many of the key leaders in the Mideast. This would serve him greatly as he led forces into war in Afghanistan and Iraq.
The story goes back to Lt Col Eric Antila again in 2001 when Franks was a 4-star general in charge of CENTCOM. Shortly before he died, Antila and Franks met and Antila said, "I'm proud of you, General. You were the best lieutenant I ever knew. You cared about the troops, and I've always remembered that."
This to me is the key to Franks success as a soldier and exactly why he would not even think of becoming the Army Chief of Staff. He was not a political soldier. He was a soldier's soldier.
For anyone interested in learning about the wars following 11 September 2001, this is a great book to read. And, for those interested in reading more about leadership, I recommend this book. |
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Matt Tucker (MSL quote), USA
<2007-01-21 00:00>
This is a book that should be read by all Americans for a variety of reasons. First and foremost, it is a great story of a great man's life. It is hard to find a man today who is deserving of more admiration and respect than Tommy Franks. He is the ideal of patriotism and loyalty, a strong and compassionate leader, a dedicated family man, and he has changed forever the way wars and battles will be fought. This book covers his entire life from childhood to the war in Iraq and the reader is able to understand how this man was formed by so many inspiring people. In addition to the great story of his life, people need to read this book because it offers a realistic insight into Iraq and Afghanistan. You are given vivid accounts of how harsh some fighting was when the media made it look "quick and easy", and you also get facts and figures on how far Iraq has progressed. Franks has tough words for the media and their protrayal of the situation, stating that they report on Iraw as being in distress when, in fact, employment, oil production, education, medical care, and infrastructure effeciency are already at 30 years highs. He offers a bottom-line analysis of the "insurgents" and their motives, while offering his view on how to prevent these problems in the future. Tommy Franks does not portray everything through rose colored glasses....he admits decisions he would like to change, he expresses shame and disappointment over certain events, and when he does not have an answer he is quite sincere in explaining his feelings. For example, he recalls his conversation with Rumsfeld when he suggested that President Bush land on the aircraft carrier with a "Mission Accomplished" banner. He knew the war was far from over, but wanted the President to publicly acknowledge the success they had in toppling Hussein's regime. He admits that if he could have seen the criticism Bush would take for his suggestion, he would have come up with a different idea. That is a small example of the candid view he gives you into his life. his thinking, and his career. Despite his few regrets and disappointments, however, he relates many more stories of good will, kindness, and hard work. He has a true love for his country and the military he served, he sincerely cares for the well being of every soldier in the field, and he has produced a book that offers a deep and realistic view into his life and the conflicts we face today. Do yourself a favor and read this book |
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Michael (MSL quote), USA
<2007-01-21 00:00>
This book is undoubtedly an excellent reference for future researchers on the Iraq War. Tommy Franks biography is excellent reading. However, my interest in reading this book was not fully addressed.
I see the U.S. armed forced once again being put in the same role they had in Vietnam. There are no front lines, and this is a war of ambush for political goals. Franks left Iraq before the qaugmire set in. My hope is for the people with the most credibility to speak out for the sake of the military they love. We have a volunteer army running out of volunteers. The reserve system is at a breaking point. Many military professionals are alienated in being involved in a new Vietnam type situation after decades of protesting this exact scenario.
Franks victory was attributed to a strategy of a smaller and quicker military. The same strategy does not work after the war. Troops are now involved in a non conventional war of ambush with no front lines. If they meet suspicious Iraqis and don't pull the trigger, they get killed. If they pull the trigger and "friendlies" are killed, we are the invading infidels. Recruitment for terrorists gets a boost. We need to have enough troops in Iraq to crush insurgency. Our current numbers are enough to be on the defensive and pick up the pieces after ambushes.
Franks should know how it feels to be a soldier when the bullets and bombs fly. I respect that. However, our soldiers need a strong advocate to get us out of the Iraqi quagmire. Watching your buddies get ambushed and killed with no option for real payback is the source of primal frustration as much in Iraq as it was in Vietnam. Then troops are involved in atrocities against Iraqis. The next step in this downward spiral is the world press doing a feeding frenzy with the atrocity stories. This type of presence in Iraq reinforces the terrorist's appeal to Iraqis. Franks needs to go far enough to save lives of our soldiers in the current situation, even if it means criticizing the policies putting them at so much risk.
Osama Bin Laden is still out there and we are off target. Will it take another 9/11 for the Bush-Cheney administration to disengage our resources from Iraq and actually defend American soil from attack. Franks eludes to this threat but does not go far enough to address this at the administration.
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Carmen Mathews (MSL quote), USA
<2007-01-21 00:00>
I was drawn to this book as I watched General Tommy Franks' willingness to sing off key during his "Good Morning America" interview with Diane Sawyer.
As an army veteran who has left the military in the 80's, I also wanted to read this book to understand something about the post-cold war army.
This is a good book on many fronts. It begins with many details about General Tommy Franks' upbringing, more details than you might expect from someone in his position to reveal; but, certainly not too much.
He was adopted and raised in both Oklahoma and Texas. He describes his parents as "ignorant," "not evil," when they generalized about Negroes.
As I read that, I could almost feel this experience from a slightly different perspective.
His father also worked one job after another. And there was a great deal of financial hardship in his upbringing.
When he did get into college, he focused more on girls, beer, and shooting the breeze, than studying - until he was on scholastic probation, and suspended for six months.
After being kicked out of college, Franks enlisted in the army. But it when someone mistaken him for being an officer, after just nine months as an enlisted man, that Franks realized that he was destined to become an officer.
And during his interview for Officer's Candidate School, Franks was told that he is not officer material. He stayed mad for three months, then he got fed up with this, and found his way into Officer's Candidate School.
It's interesting to note that he finally arrived at a point that the person who tried to make him give up on his dreams was really paying him a disguised compliment. This drove him to prove himself, over and over again.
Franks' officer's training started off in artillery, which the army calls the "King of Battle." He actually graduated as a "distinguished military graduate," demonstrating that it's not what someone else thinks of you. It's how you project yourself along your path of self-mastery.
And because of his dedication and success, the army, as it often does, paid for Franks to complete his college, in exchange for his giving the army more of his time.
Later in this memoir, it's interesting to note that by the time General Franks become the head of CENTCOM, which is responsible for 25 countries (from Kenya and Horn of Africa, north through the deserts of Sudan, Egypt and Jordan, across the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf, through Iraq, Iran, and Afghanistan and the former Soviet Stans). This area is what Franks' CENTCOM predecessor described as a "dangerous neighborhood."
What I was concerned about was that General Franks seemed to put a strong light on the idea that he was supportive of African-Americans. One example was when Franks and his enlisted buddy lost their money, and as Franks describes "The black elevator operator" gave them a five-dollar bill.
Other points that piqued my interest about this book were how he made learning about the military maneuvers in Vietnam interesting, by having maps in the right places, and by using just enough of the believable colloquialism that you are there, and safe, at the same time.
Reading this memoir, it was great to learn of how technology had changed military priorities. It was also great to read more about what Franks believes that various leaders think about other countries.
And when he offered this information he did so in a conversational, down home manner that makes it believable.
I wondered though why Franks needed to tell his readers that he was helped by a "black elevator operator." Is he trying to make amends for past wrong doing? Wouldn't it have been enough to just say that someone believed in him enough to give him that five-dollar bill, after he and his buddy lost their money?
Franks also seemed to have been trying to impress men when he told about how he met Rachel Welch, when he was injured and how he met her in more recent years.
I also wondered and didn't learn from this memoir what his relationship was with Colin Powell, other than their disagreement about troop force size and support of that force. Actually, in this memoir, Franks seems to believe that "He earned his right to an opinion, but had relinquished responsibility as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in 1993," he was basically saying, "Thanks, but you're not qualified to make this decision."
With this information, General Tommy Franks gives us another slice of history, an explanation of why the military has changed a great deal, and how Tommy Franks converted a troubled past into a love of commanding respect.
This book could be used by those who study military strategies, global history and military socialization.
It's worth reading, and honing in on the mindset of today's military - regardless of whether or not you believe we should be at war. |
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A reader (MSL quote), USA
<2007-01-21 00:00>
I am extremely pleased with my purchase of American Soldier. The book serves as an account of the life of General Tommy Franks: his childhood in small-town Oklahoma, his not-so-successful college years, his enlistment as a Private in the Army, his tour of duty in Vietnam, and his progression up the ranks to ultimately become the Commander in Chief of the United States Central Command for the last three years of his active service.
One of the many insightful offerings in this book is a look at the valuable lessons the General learned throughout his life, lessons regarding qualities such as honesty, loyalty (both up the chain of command and down) and hard work (or in Oklahoma roughneck vernacular, making "em a hand.) It is easy to see that the General was fortunate to have the ability to recognize these qualities and incorporate them into his daily life.
As the book progresses through the years, the situational matter becomes more and more current and relevant. As a key member of the Army leadership during Operation Desert Storm, the reader gets the story behind the planning and execution that allowed the Coalition forces to effectively cut off and decimate the Iraqi regulars and Republican Guard. The latter sections of the book dealing with the war in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom are no less riveting.
Since Amazon reader reviews are intended to help a prospective purchaser make a decision about buying a product (in this case, a book) I felt it would be appropriate to address the general tone of the customer reviews this book has garnered to date. All in all, the reviews have been quite positive. In the case of reviews that were not so positive, I noted a few recurring themes. Generally, those themes centered on the fact that the book was not critical of (or downright complementary of) President Bush and the current administration. Also, some reviewers seem "put off" by the fact that the General feels that we have actually made great strides in Afghanistan and Iraq. It never ceases to amaze me that civilians who have trouble making an eight o'clock reservation at Spago on time feel that they are qualified to evaluate the relative success or failure of a military operation. Whenever I hear this type of criticism of our Armed Forces, I'm reminded of Jack Nicholson's monologue in the movie A Few Good Men. In part, Nicholson's character says "I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom I provide, then questions the manner in which I provide it! I'd rather you just said thank you and went on your way."
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Tom Savery (MSL quote), USA
<2007-01-21 00:00>
This is the autobiography of Tommy Franks, the general who devised the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, and his battles with the establishment to accomplish these invasions with far fewer troops than was done in the old days.
He enlisted as a private in the Army in 1867, and rose to become the leading general of the Army. He fought in Vietnam and was wounded several times, requiring hospitalization twice. Franks met some men who became friends for life, and showed him how a great leader leads. Col Antila, Lee Alley, Col Hudachek, Wayne Downing, Gen Zinni.
He never intended to make the Army a career. He joined because he was about to flunk out of college. At critical points, the Army offered him what he wanted, so he stayed, such as the opportunity to finish college when his first enlistment was up.
His challenges in the early 1970's when he was trying to get rid of druggies in his unit, and the druggies were slashing the roof of his car as a warning are gone into in detail.
He slammed a soldier who threatened him against a wall, and turned himself in to his commanding officer, Col Hudachek, who made Franks stand in the corner for his transgression.
Later, Franks served with the Inspector General of the Army, and helped get rid of corrupt and drunk generals.
While serving with Wayne Downing, he became convinced of the need of utilization of Special Forces in the future.
Massing of men and firepower became his creed, which he used in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Franks was also part of the invasion force in Gulf War I.
Franks and Rumsfeld worked together, though a couple of times, Franks and Rumsfeld went toe to toe over whether Franks was in charge of putting together the organization to fight the Taliban and the Iraqis.
Franks had fights with the service chiefs, and enlisted Rumsfeld's support in that fight. Franks got what he wanted for the battles, interservice cooperation for all missions. He did however, refuse to allow the service chiefs at the secure briefings, as Franks found that the service chiefs would leak information to the press that would enhance the service chiefs power.
The challenges of fighting in Afghanistan are gone into in detail, as it was a landlocked country, and we had no allies as neighbors. Colin Powell had to get overfly and basing rights before we could retaliate for 9/11. The pressure on Franks to get troops on the ground was enormous. In less than 6 months, with a little over 300 men, Afghanistan was taken.
Franks has no use for Paul Wolfowitz, Rich Armitage, Doug Feith, and Richard Clarke. They were divisive and disruptive to the effort.
The book moves along fast, and is a great read, in spite of the almost 500 page length. |
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