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Duty: Memoirs Of A Secretary At War (2014)

by Robert M. Gates(Favorite Author)

3.79 of 5 Votes: 1

ISBN

0307959473 (ISBN13: 9780307959478)

languge

English

genre

History & Biography

publisher

Knopf

review 1: I got this book from the library because I read an online review and it looked interesting and timely. I got about 15% of the way through and stopped. It felt like information that I already knew and read before. I thought I wanted to read it but I had other stuff to do so I returned it early for the next person on the hold list. I can't accurately rate it because I didn't read enough but maybe sometime in the future I will try to read it.
review 2: The first impression I have after reading this book is that no one could criticize Mr Gates for not providing enough detail. The second takeaway is that accomplishing anything is a small miracle. He details again and again the myriad details attendant to getting anything done. I don't believe that we can "win" in... more either Iraq or Afghanistan, and Gates seems to agree. He chides those who would sanction nation building, saying that, ultimately, leaving those countries with a degree of stability, and, hopefully, reducing any threat to the homeland are as much as can be hoped for. Of course, those two accomplishments cannot be won without providing the conditions necessary, which does entail the near impossible, changing the status quo. Call it what you will, but effecting change is nation building. He bemoans the loss of life, and details his highly emotional reactions to seeing wounded service members at Walter Reed and other facilities. All in all, I can't say this book is essential reading for all but those most interested in the intricate details of the functioning - or should I say misfunctioning - of our federal government during these most crucial times. Next on my list is Leon Pannetta's book. I have the feeling that there won't be a great difference in the essentials of his story. less

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