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Dereliction of Duty
- Narrated by: H. R. McMaster
- Length: 3 hrs and 9 mins
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Publisher's summary
"The war in Vietnam was not lost in the field, nor was it lost on the front pages of the New York Times or the college campuses. It was lost in Washington, DC." (H. R. McMaster, from the conclusion)
Dereliction of Duty is a stunning analysis of how and why the United States became involved in an all-out and disastrous war in Southeast Asia. Fully and convincingly researched, based on transcripts and personal accounts of crucial meetings, confrontations and decisions, it is the only book that fully re-creates what happened and why. McMaster pinpoints the policies and decisions that got the United States into the morass and reveals who made these decisions and the motives behind them, disproving the published theories of other historians and excuses of the participants.
A gripping narrative, Dereliction of Duty focuses on a fascinating cast of characters: President Lyndon Johnson, Robert McNamara, General Maxwell Taylor, McGeorge Bundy, and other top aides who deliberately deceived the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the US Congress, and the American public.
McMaster's only book, Dereliction of Duty is an explosive and authoritative new look at the controversy concerning the United States involvement in Vietnam.
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Hanoi’s War
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- By: Lien-Hang T. Nguyen
- Narrated by: Hillary Huber
- Length: 15 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
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While most historians of the Vietnam War focus on the origins of US involvement and the Americanization of the conflict, Lien-Hang T. Nguyen examines the international context in which North Vietnamese leaders pursued the war and American intervention ended. This riveting narrative takes the listener from the marshy Mekong Delta swamps to the bomb-saturated Red River Delta, from the corridors of power in Hanoi and Saigon to the Nixon White House, and from the peace negotiations in Paris to high-level meetings in Beijing and Moscow.
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Understanding politics in SE Asia.
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Thirteen Days
- A Memoir of the Cuban Missile Crisis
- By: Robert F. Kennedy
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- Unabridged
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In October 1962, when the United States confronted the Soviet Union over its installation of missiles in Cuba, few people shared the behind-the-scenes story as it is told here by the late Senator Robert F. Kennedy. In this unique account, he describes the hour-by-hour negotiations, with particular attention to the actions and views of his brother, President John F. Kennedy. In a foreword to this edition, the distinguished historian and Kennedy adviser Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., discusses the book's enduring importance and the significance of new information about the crisis that has come to light from the former Soviet Union.
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IF YOU LOVE HISTORY"""
- By Max & Lucy on 02-24-19
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How Wars End
- Why We Always Fight the Last Battle
- By: Gideon Rose
- Narrated by: Gideon Rose
- Length: 12 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
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In 1991, the United States Army trounced the Iraqi army in battle only to stumble blindly into postwar turmoil. Then in 2003 the United States did it again. How could this happen? How could the strongest power in modern history fight two wars against the same opponent in just over a decade, win lightning victories both times, and yet still be woefully unprepared for the aftermath? Because Americans always forget the political aspects of war.
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Excellent book
- By Luis on 11-04-10
By: Gideon Rose
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My Journey at the Nuclear Brink
- By: William Perry
- Narrated by: Kevin F Spalding
- Length: 9 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
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My Journey at the Nuclear Brink is a continuation of William J. Perry's efforts to keep the world safe from a nuclear catastrophe. It tells the story of his coming of age in the nuclear era, his role in trying to shape and contain it, and how his thinking has changed about the threat these weapons pose. In a remarkable career, Perry has dealt firsthand with the changing nuclear threat.
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His journey has just begun
- By Amazon Customer on 04-18-17
By: William Perry
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Before the First Shots Are Fired
- How America Can Win or Lose Off the Battlefield
- By: Tony Koltz, Tony Zinni
- Narrated by: Johnny Heller
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For the better part of the last half century, the United States has been the world's police, claiming to defend ideologies, allies, and our national security through brute force. But is military action always the most appropriate response? Drawing on his vast experience, retired four-star general Tony Zinni argues that we have a lot of work to do to make the process of going to war-or not-more clear-eyed and ultimately successful.
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A must read for leaders
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Gambling with Armageddon
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In this groundbreaking look at the Cuban Missile Crisis, Martin Sherwin not only gives us a riveting sometimes hour-by-hour explanation of the crisis itself, but also explores the origins, scope, and consequences of the evolving place of nuclear weapons in the post-World War II world. Mining new sources and materials, and going far beyond the scope of earlier works on this critical face-off between the United States and the Soviet Union — triggered when Khrushchev began installing missiles in Cuba at Castro's behest....
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Important History
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Not One Inch
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Based on over a hundred interviews and on secret records of White House-Kremlin contacts, Not One Inch shows how the United States successfully overcame Russian resistance in the 1990s to expand NATO to more than 900 million people. But it also reveals how Washington's hardball tactics transformed the era between the Cold War and the present day, undermining what could have become a lasting partnership.
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America's NATO problem
- By Jeffrey D on 03-24-22
By: M.E. Sarotte
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America's War for the Greater Middle East
- A Military History
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From the end of World War II until 1980, virtually no American soldiers were killed in action while serving in the Greater Middle East. Since 1990, virtually no American soldiers have been killed in action anywhere else. What caused this shift? Andrew J. Bacevich, one of the country's most respected voices on foreign affairs, offers an incisive critical history of this ongoing military enterprise - now more than 30 years old and with no end in sight.
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A Key to Understanding the US Need for Perp. War
- By Darwin8u on 05-01-16
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George Marshall: A Biography
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- Narrated by: Johnny Heller
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A major historical biography of George C. Marshall - the general who ran the U.S. campaign during the Second World War, the Secretary of State who oversaw the successful rebuilding of post-war Europe, and the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize - and the first to offer a complete picture of his life.
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Disappointing
- By Jean on 11-12-14
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Ike's Gamble
- America's Rise to Dominance in the Middle East
- By: Michael Doran
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In 1956 President Nasser of Egypt moved to take possession of the Suez Canal, thereby bringing the Middle East to the brink of war. The British and the French, who operated the canal, joined with Israel in a plan to retake it by force. Despite the special relationship between England and America, Dwight Eisenhower intervened to stop the invasion.
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Tightly Argued
- By Jean on 01-10-17
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Surge
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Surge is an insider's view of the most decisive phase of the Iraq War. Using newly declassified documents, unpublished manuscripts, interviews, author notes, and published sources, Surge explains how President George W. Bush, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, Ambassador Crocker, General Petraeus, and other U.S. and Iraqi political and military leaders shaped the surge from the center of the maelstrom in Baghdad and Washington.
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Helpful for the Army War College
- By BBP on 02-24-18
By: Peter R. Mansoor, and others
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What listeners say about Dereliction of Duty
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Jose
- 04-26-18
Incredibly thorough.
McMasters does not parse words. He speaks frankly about the errors made before Vietnam in such a way that would make hard lefties like Noam Chomsky swoon.
If anything, it shows that the people in the military are not always looking for military solutions. If you want a great and concise review of what lead to the war in Vietnam, this is a must read.
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- T. F. W.
- 08-08-18
Great book
I've always deeply respected General McMaster, and this is a defining work of his. Excellent book. Only critique is his rather annoying mispronounciation of the word "American" - - - spoken as "Ahmuricun"
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Overall
- Andrew
- 04-02-18
Good re-cap
if you have studied this at all then you will realize he doesn't necessarily add new info but does reinforce it. well researched.
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- O. U. Ihenacho
- 06-03-17
Must Read for military leaders.
Great insight from Gen McMaster. This book paints a clear picture of goings on leading to Vietnam.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Curtis D. Lee
- 04-13-18
Outstanding
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
Accurate and interesting analysis of an important matter.
Who was your favorite character and why?
Pres. Johnson as he was so devious
What about H. R. McMaster’s performance did you like?
Detailed knowledge
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
I can never listen to any book in one setting at my age!
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- Mildred B. Gowen
- 04-18-18
A book for all ages interested in how the country operates
Being one who live through the Vietnam era, listen to the “stories“ that our government was telling us even then many of us question what was the truth. This book reveals and confirm so many of the believes that a lot of us had about our involvement in Vietnam both good and bad. All of us want to help people who are under the thumb of any form of dictatorship
But sometimes we fail to look at the birth of our own country. During our birth of this country we could’ve been looked at the Vietcong your looked at. We wanted our freedom to make her own choices. I asked myself then many times do we have the right to form a government.
The Western world does not understand the thinking of the Asian population no more now do you understand the thinking of people of Iraq Afghanistan. So as a powerful country we must very carefully choose how we use our power but, if you’re going to use the military politicians should give them a goal and step back and let them do their job.
It was said the Johnson said “they don’t bomb an out house without my permission” Many of our military leaders today knew we could have won that war if the politicians would’ve kept your thumb off of the soldier and the fighting man. And example would’ve been desert shield/Desert Storm.
That particular war in the desert was fought by a man who served in Vietnam with all the frustrations of limitations he was given a command and told get the job done. When the politicians team that the job was done they then order the end of fighting but he did not tell them how to run it the way Johnson did but this book gives you the inside track of how Johnson and his cronies disturb the working of the military and restricted them from doing the job they know How to do best
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- Lizzylazy
- 05-25-17
The Power we give them
Gives you an insight into our governments mentality and reason or lack thereof! EYE OPENER
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- Karen B. Gabriel
- 07-01-17
Didn't know what I didn't know!
I grew up during this period with a father that was an NCO in the Marines. This book explains much of what I heard and put the pieces in place, finally. We lost cousins, friends to a war that arrogant intellectuals failed to prosecute and win. After 8 years of a similar presidency, the stakes are even higher for the world. Thank God for McMasters and Trump. Win this one guys--make the world safe for my children!
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall
- Robert J Stametz
- 12-24-17
Outstanding
Makes a long book to a short great book. Truly a great way to listen to a book.
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- William H Schmidt
- 09-05-17
A Profile in Courage
This is based on a thesis Lt Gen McMaster wrote for his Masters degree while serving in the Army. He takes Johnson et al. to task for their lies and deception that involved us in the Vietnam war. Informative. Riveting. Now I'll read the full 480 page edition. I want to know more. Glad McMaster is advising Pres Trump and still caries his 3 stars as a Lt Gen. I'm reassured that he has the courage to keep this kind of thing from happening again. As a Vietnam vet, I appreciate the depth of this story. Bravo Zulu Lt Gen McMaster.
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