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Dereliction of Duty

Johnson, McNamara, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Lies That Led to Vietnam

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Dereliction of Duty

By: H. R. McMaster
Narrated by: H. R. McMaster
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About this listen

"The war in Vietnam was not lost in the field, nor was it lost on the front pages of the New York Times or the college campuses. It was lost in Washington, D.C." (H. R. McMaster, from the conclusion)

Dereliction of Duty is a stunning analysis of how and why the United States became involved in an all-out and disastrous war in Southeast Asia. Fully and convincingly researched, based on transcripts and personal accounts of crucial meetings, confrontations, and decisions, it is the only book that fully re-creates what happened and why. McMaster pinpoints the policies and decisions that got the United States into the morass and reveals who made these decisions and the motives behind them, disproving the published theories of other historians and excuses of the participants.

A riveting narrative, Dereliction of Duty focuses on a fascinating cast of characters: President Lyndon Johnson, Robert McNamara, General Maxwell Taylor, McGeorge Bundy, and other top aides who deliberately deceived the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the US Congress, and the American public.

McMaster’s only book, Dereliction of Duty is an explosive and authoritative new look at the controversy concerning the United States involvement in Vietnam.

©1997 H. R. McMaster (P)2018 HarperCollins Publishers Americas Asia Military Political Science Politics & Government Southeast Asia United States War Vietnam War Imperial Japan China US Army
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This book is compulsory reading for anyone wanting to understand the Vietnam war and how it became an American and allies war. Unfortunately a number of the mistakes outlined in this book where repeated in both Afghanistan and Iraq.
Highly recommended book.

Brilliant background on the Vietnam War

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This book is deeply interesting and makes an important contribution to our understanding of how political considerations hampered decision-making during the Vietnam War. Unfortunately the narrator's stop-go delivery, with too many pauses and in the wrong places, makes the performance stilted and unnatural. I found it deeply distracting and irritating, and it lessened my enjoyment of the listening experience.

A great book let down by poor narration

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A cogent rational book.

A little biased about the role of the military leadership but as Pres Truman said “ the buck stops here” so the ultimate blame for the outcome for the US in Vietnam must rest on the civilians in charge.

Worth the time to listen.

Well written and passionately read.

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