Of Men and Material ─ The Crisis in Military Resources

According to the editors (both of the American Enterprise Institute) and their contributors, not withstanding the rise in Pentagon spending of recent years, the US military has been experiencing a "hollow buildup" that is leaving it ill-prepared to "carry out confidently its role in support of the national security strategy." Rather than suggest that the solution might lie in fewer wars and fewer occupations, the five essays instead advocate for even greater acquisitions of men and material in order to fight future protracted wars and maintain "long-term postconflict deployments." One essay is included for each service department (Army, Air Force, Navy) and one for the Marines, each of which aims to identify the particular weapons and material and means of personnel recruitment needed for the individual service roles in their future war-fighting scenarios. Annotation c2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Thomas Donnelly is a resident fellow in defense and security policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute and a contributing editor to Armed Forces Journal. Gary J. Schmitt is a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute and director of AEI's Program on Advanced Strategic Studies.