Tries to answer the question of whether the U.S. military emerged from two generations of Cold War policy with enough understanding of the basic nature of offensive warfare to enable a clear victory in the Middle East.

America's neo-Clausewitzians -- A framework for understanding America's wars -- America's military legacy through World War II: case studies in successful offensive war -- American conflicts during the Cold War era: the unraveling of the American way of offensive war -- Wars not directly involving the United States -- The Balkan wars: learning the wrong lessons -- Iraq: a case study in postmodern military failure -- America's war in Afghanistan -- The military's vacuous new doctrine -- Organizing for military governance -- Declaring offensive war: implications for civil-military coordination -- The frontiers of strategic offense -- An alternative grand strategy: strategic defense and limited wars -- The Roman dilemma: why we must choose between republic and empire -- Offensive war, governance, and empire.