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Strategic Decisions Competing Agendas The ConsequencesThe patterns of history repeat when we fail to learn from them. Admiral William J. Fallon's memoir offers critical lessons from America's post-9/11 wars that remain urgently relevant today.As CENTCOM commander from 2007-2008, Fallon oversaw U.S. military operations during the Iraq surge and Afghanistan war, witnessing firsthand how competing institutional agendas undermined strategic thinking. Drawing from four decades of naval service, records, experiences, and extensive personal notes, he reveals the decision-making processes that shaped America's longest conflicts.Fallon chronicles his journey from Cold War operations through serving as Vice Chief of Naval Operations during 9/11, commanding U.S. PACIFIC COMMAND, and finally leading CENTCOM. His account details interactions with key figures, including President George W. Bush, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, General David Petraeus, and regional leaders such as Egypt's President Mubarak, Afghanistan's President Karzai, and Pakistan's President Musharraf, while examining the bureaucratic challenges of managing simultaneous wars.One incident involves the Esquire magazine article that ended Fallon's career by portraying him as opposing the Bush administration's Iran policy. It exemplifies the complex intersection of military leadership, political oversight, and media influence that continues to shape national security decisions.Fallon demonstrates how American leaders repeatedly chose tactical responses over comprehensive strategic planning, which contributed to prolonged conflicts and uncertain outcomes. His analysis of what he terms the ""tyranny of agendas""-competing institutional interests that distort decision-making-provides essential insights for understanding how strategic failures occur and how they might be prevented.

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9781962729093

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On September 11, 2001, Admiral William J. Fallon was meeting with Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Clark and Captain Bob Erskine in the Pentagon when American Airlines Flight 77 struck the building. As Vice Chief of Naval Operations, he immediately directed the evacuation and recovery of Navy personnel from the burning wreckage, then pivoted to orchestrating the Navy's role in the retaliatory strikes against Al Qaeda and Taliban forces. This defining moment, transforming from rescue commander to war planner in a single morning, exemplified the decisive leadership that would characterize his subsequent commands during America's most challenging military period in a generation.Over his 40-year naval career, Fallon commanded at every level of warfare, from flying combat missions off aircraft carriers during Vietnam to directing all U.S. military operations across three continents. As Commander of U.S. Central Command (2007-2008), he oversaw 230,000 troops engaged in two simultaneous wars, managing operations from Egypt to Kazakhstan during the Iraq surge and the resurgence of Taliban forces in Afghanistan. His tenure marked a critical shift in counterinsurgency strategy and regional diplomatic engagement.Before CENTCOM, Fallon spent two years leading U.S. Pacific Command, where he managed military relationships with 36 Asia-Pacific nations while containing North Korean nuclear ambitions and navigating China's military modernization. His diplomatic acumen proved invaluable when, as Presidential Envoy to Japan, he restored bilateral relations following the USS Greeneville collision with the Ehime Maru fishing vessel-a crisis that threatened the U.S.-Japan security alliance.Fallon's combat leadership began in earnest during the 1991 Gulf War, where he commanded Carrier Air Wing Eight in the opening strikes against Iraqi forces. He later led NATO naval forces during the Bosnia intervention and commanded the U.S. Atlantic Fleet, responsible for training and certifying every East Coast naval unit for global deployment.A Villanova University graduate with a master's degree in International Studies from Old Dominion University, Fallon also completed studies at both the U.S. Naval War College and National War College. He served as a Robert E. Wilhelm Fellow at MIT's Center for International Studies, bringing operational experience to academic strategic discussions.Currently Chairman of GoSecure Inc., a cybersecurity firm, Fallon serves on the Global Affairs Advisory Board of Occidental College, Georgetown University's Institute for the Study of Diplomacy, and the American Security Project. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, where he contributes insights on the intersection of military strategy, diplomacy, and emerging security challenges.

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