The Melting Point: High Command and War in the 21st Century a book by Kenneth F. McKenzie

Buy new or used from an indie through our partner Biblio:

Price	Condition	Seller

Description

As the Commander of U.S. Central Command, General Frank McKenzie oversaw some of the most important - and controversial operations in modern U.S. military history. He had direct operational responsibility for the strikes on Qassem Soleimani and two successive leaders of ISIS, the many months of deterrence operations against Iran and its proxies, and the methodical drawdown in Iraq. He directed the noncombatant evacuation operation in Afghanistan, and our final withdrawal from that tortured country. The Melting Point has three themes. The first one is the importance of the primacy of civilian control of the military. It has become a widely perceived truth that this control has been eroded over the past few years. General McKenzie doesn't believe that to be the case, and he speaks with some authority on the matter arguing that the civ-mil relationship isn't perfect or frictionless, but it doesn't have to be, and probably shouldn't be. It is, however, more durable than many believe, and is supported and embraced by the military to a degree that some critics do not choose to recognize. The second theme is the uniqueness of being a combatant commander. Combatant commanders participate in the development of policy, although as junior partners. They are also responsible for the execution of policy once civilian leaders have formulated their decision, a unique position, and very different than the role of a service chief, or even the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. None of these officers are in the chain of command, and they have no ultimate, mortal responsibility or authority for execution. Only the combatant commander stands astride the boundary of decision-making and execution. Finally, the third theme that McKenzie argues is that leaders matter, and the decisions they make have a profound effect on what happens on the battlefield. McKenzie provides an honest assessment of his time in command-describing decisions that were sound, as well as some outcomes he wishes were different. He offers a vivid portrait of leadership in action in one of the most volatile regions of the world.

Product Details

Price

$34.95 $32.50

Publisher

Naval Institute Press

Publish Date

May 28, 2024

Pages

360

Dimensions

6.4 X 9.0 X 1.3 inches | 1.4 pounds

Language

English

Type

Hardcover

EAN/UPC

9781682474495

About the Author

General Frank McKenzie, USMC, retired as the fourteenth commander of U.S. Central Command in 2022, completing a forty-two-year career as a Marine. Prior to Central Command, he served as the Director of the Joint Staff. He is currently the Executive Director of the Global and National Security Institute and the Florida Center for Cyber Security at the University of South Florida and resides in Tampa Bay.

Reviews

"If we didn't have a leatherneck warrior-scholar like Frank McKenzie, we would have to invent one. Through the lens of his last twenty years of military service Frank brings us to a realization of the complexities of a senior officer's life. ... General McKenzie makes it clear that, notwithstanding the improvements in intelligence and communication, a commander needs today what military leaders have always relied upon-experience, trust in subordinates, and a gut instinct. Thank God General McKenzie was there for us at a most perilous time for this nation and followed his gut."-Ambassador Richard Armitage, former Deputy Secretary of State and Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs

"General Frank McKenzie led U.S. Central Command during one of the most critical, volatile times in recent military history. The Melting Point tells the extraordinary story of his tenure in an utterly compelling, even gripping way. ...This is an important, wonderfully written account by a key actor in recent global history."-Richard Fontaine, Chief Executive Officer, Center for a New American Security

"The Melting Point is neither the first nor the last memoir about the U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, but it is one of the most candid and insightful accounts from a seasoned U.S. military commander. This is a must-read book for anyone who wants to ensure we learn the hard lessons of this chapter in our history."-Michele Flournoy, former Undersecretary of Defense for Policy

"... In The Melting Point, [McKenzie] shares insightful and invaluable lessons about the Central Command Region and command at the strategic level. He writes with candor, clarity, and informed analysis. A must-read for senior military leaders, those interested in the region, and anyone seeking insight into national security decision making."-Gen. Joseph Dunford, USMC (Ret.) former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Commandant of the Marine Corps, and Commander in Afghanistan

"General McKenzie's The Melting Point is a riveting and clear-eyed account of U.S. military engagement in the Middle East and Afghanistan between 2019 and 2022. It is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the dynamics of the Middle East, the contest between the U.S. and Iran; the U.S. and ISIS, Al-Qaeda, and the Taliban; and the general calculations of U.S. power. ..."-Dr. Paul Salem, President and CEO, Middle East Institute

"General Frank McKenzie USMC is the embodiment of the meritocracy that is the U.S. Armed Forces, an institution like no other in the United States. ... There are endless lessons to be gleaned from this superb work, and it is well worth the read and study by policy makers on both sides of the river."-Gen. John Kelly, USMC (Ret.), former Commander U.S. Southern Command, Secretary of Homeland Security, and Chief of Staff to the President

"A superb, exceedingly forthright, and very compelling reflection by an exceptional military leader who strived to accomplish tough missions in hard places against determined enemies..."-Gen. David Petraeus, USA (Ret.), former Commander of the Surge in Iraq, US Central Command, and Coalition Forces in Afghanistan, former Director of the CIA, co-author of Conflict: The Evolution of Warfare from 1945 to Ukraine

The Melting Point: High Command and War in the 21st Century

Earn by promoting books