This book offers a detailed analysis of the transformations in the US, British, and French armies post-Cold War, focusing on their adaptation to new strategic and technological landscapes. Through extensive research and interviews, it explores how organizational dynamics and innovation shape military change and evolution over time.
The Politics of Weapons Acquisition in the United State
Exploring the complexities of weapons acquisition in the United States, the book examines four major weapon programs through strategic, institutional, and budgetary lenses. It reveals how military services often prioritize their interests over national security, manipulating the acquisition process. Additionally, it highlights Congress's increasing influence on program outcomes, driven by cost concerns, once weapons enter production. The analysis is grounded in extensive primary source research, providing critical insights into the dynamics of military procurement.
Drawing on unprecedented access to military reports and government documents, as well as hundreds of interviews, Farrell demonstrates conclusively that the West's failure to understand the dynamics of local conflict in the country, and to tackle Afghan government corruption, meant that the war was unwinnable.