First published 2007
James Carroll examines the Pentagon from its creation on September 11, 1941, through the Iraq War. The bestselling author argues that "the Building" has operated beyond governmental control since its founding, weakening the national security it claims to defend. Carroll connects the nuclear arms race of the Cold War to the "shock and awe" campaign in Iraq, showing how Pentagon officials achieved what Eisenhower warned against: the dangerous concentration of military power. The narrative spans from James Forrestal, the first Defense Secretary, to Donald Rumsfeld, demonstrating how America's response to September 11, 2001 fits within a longer pattern of military overreach. Carroll reveals how two wars and Middle Eastern conflicts stem from decades of Pentagon influence that has shaped America's identity around warfare. The book confronts this institutional history to help readers grasp current conflicts and prevent future ones.
Genres: 20th-century, political-science, non-fiction, 21st-century, military-history, american-history
Vibes: suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: historical-narrative, institutional-critique
Setting: Pentagon, Iraq
Period: September 11, 1941, September 11, 2001
688 pages · Paperback · Harper Paperbacks