Introduction: A meeting like no other -- First days, early warnings -- An army renaissance -- War with Iran begins in Iraq -- Civilian control and reform of the Pentagon -- Tehran escalates -- America strikes -- The politics of building a better navy -- The Afghanistan dilemma -- COVID: a tragic, epic fight -- Operation Warp Speed -- Desperate measures -- The republic wobbles -- A walk in the park -- Hard days and long nights -- Making lemonade -- A salute to America? -- Pride, promotions, and politics -- Lost causes and important ones -- China, China, China -- America's strategic advantage -- Unrest in the northwest -- October surprises -- Endgame -- Epilogue -- Appendix A: The army vision -- Appendix B: June 24, 2019, initial message to the department -- Appendix C: June 2, 2020, message to the department, support to civil authorities -- Appendix D: June 3, 2020, press conference in the Pentagon briefing room -- Appendix E: November 9, 2020, final message to the department -- Appendix F: November 9, 2020, letter to the president -- Appendix G: January 6, 2021, tweets regarding the assault on Capitol Hill -- Appendix H: January 3, 2021, Washington Post opinion piece authored by the ten living former Secretaries of Defense.
|