A man of extraordinary inner strength and patriotic devotion; General Harold K. Johnson was a soldier's officer; loved by his men and admired by his peers for his leadership; courage; and moral convictions. Lewis Sorley's biography provides a fitting testament to this remarkable man and his dramatic rise from obscurity to become LBJ's Army Chief of Staff during the Vietnam War.A native of North Dakota; Johnson survived more than three grueling years as a POW under the Japanese during World War II before serving brilliantly as a field commander in the Korean War; for which he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for "extraordinary heroism." The latter experiences led to a series of high-level positions that culminated in his appointment as Army chief in 1964 and a cover story in Time magazine.What followed should have been the most rewarding period of Johnson's military career. Instead; it proved to be a nightmare; as he quickly became mired in the politics and ordeal of a very misguided war.Johnson fundamentally disagreed with the three men—LBJ; Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara; and General William Westmoreland—running our war in Vietnam. He was sharply critical of LBJ's piecemeal policy of gradual escalation and his failure to mobilize the national will or call up the reserves. He was equally despondent over Westmoreland's now infamous search-and-destroy tactics and reliance on body counts to measure success in Vietnam.By contrast; he advocated greater emphasis on cutting the North's supply lines; helping the South Vietnamese provide for their own internal defenses; and sustaining a truly legitimate government in the South. Unheeded; he nevertheless continued to work behind the scenes to correct the nation's flawed approach to the war.Sorley's study adds immeasurably to our understanding of the Vietnam War. It also provides an inspiring account of principled leadership at a time when the American military is seeking to recover the very kinds of moral values exemplified by Harold K. Johnson. As such; it presents a profound morality tale for our own era.
#720272 in Books Richman Sheldon 2016-04-06Original language:English 9.00 x .35 x 6.00l; .47 #File Name: 0692687912154 pagesAmerica s Counter Revolution The Constitution Revisited
Review
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful. The Constitution as a Counter-RevolutionBy James C. WilsonThe American abolitionist; and pioneering individualist anarchist Lysander Spooner once wrote of the US Constitution “…this much is certain – that it has either authorized such a government as we have had; or has been powerless to prevent it. In either case it is unfit to exist.†This short quote in itself is often sufficient to make any self-professed “constitutionalist†libertarians examine their position. Yet; reverence for the US Constitution is still common in libertarian circles; in part due the Ron Paul movement’s idealization of said document. Sheldon Richman; on the contrary argues that it was in fact set up precisely to create a strong centralized government which could freely intervene in foreign affairs and economic activity.As the title suggests; Richman sees the adoption of the Constitution as a counter-revolution; a sort of backlash against the push for freedom that led to the Declaration of Independence and fight for independence from Britain. Specifically the new document created a national government with an unlimited powers to tax; maintain permanent debt through a central bank; regulate a trade and maintain a standing army. In other words; the Constitution gave the federal government the power to engage in the types of state-craft that major powers like Britain were engaged in.Richman frames the debate of that era as being between conservative elites like James Madison; Alexander Hamilton as who wanted a strong; aristocratic; central government with the potential to form a commercial empire; and decentralists who generally opposed aristocracy and elite rule. He also observes that the Federalists were able to use their wealth and influence to prevent the major publication at the time from publishing anti-federalist writing. Furthermore a great deal of attention in this book is given to the intentional ambiguity of constitutional language; and with it the creation of implied powers.Despite the relatively short length of 155 pages; including notes; this book is highly informative. It manages to keep its delivery accessible; making the book a quick; easy read. As such it is a great introduction to the topic; especially for readers with libertarian leanings.13 of 14 people found the following review helpful. ExcellentBy SBAn excellent primer challenging the sacred cow of the Constitution. The solution to our problems may not be in "obeying the Constitution"; whatever that means. Interpretation mileage may vary as it did from the very beginning. There was no ONE "founding fathers" construction.For the first time; the Constitution gave the general government the power to tax; regulate trade and raise armies. Is this the solution?As a primer; the essays are short and eminently readable. He provides an abundance of sources for those so inclined whose appetite has been whet to pursue the topic deeper.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Misplaced FaithBy Beth in IowaLike everyone else; I too have always seen the Constitution as the document that restrains the federal government from becoming a totalitarian state. Reading Sheldon Richman's book has made it clear to me that this is not the case after all. As someone who has never known much about American History or the Anti-Federalists; reading this book has given me a much better idea about what went on during the writing of the Constitution; and how vital the Anti-Federalists' Bill of Rights has been. The book is short and easy to read; and explains Richman's ideas in clear language written for laymen; not the academic market (although it is meticulously footnoted and attributed).Yes; his own anarcho-capitalist leanings are explicit; particularly in the last few chapters; but he makes it clear that any incremental improvements in liberty are to be welcomed by everyone from traditional Republican conservatives to minarchist libertarians to the most anarcho-capitalist advocates; and welcomes everyone to our common struggle. His book is a good addition to understanding how our common goal will ultimately be won -- hint: it's not through putting our faith in the Constitution.
