Ooooooohhhhh! "Soldier-scholars" ooooohhh! More like pathetic cretins who haven't even the vaguest understanding of tactics and strategy, not that they were ever pursuing a "just" war, etc. The behavior of Petraeus at the CIA obviously sheds light on his true "character" - - - sadly lacking in most respects. I wouldn't trust anything written by Kaplan, ever! (And as far as "the way the Pentagon does business" - - - say, Kaplan, whatever became of that missing $8.7 billion in Iraqi oil funds that went missing somewhere between the Iraqi Trade Bank and the New York Federal Reserve Bank, the contract overseen by JPMorgan Chase? Say, Kaplan, whatever became of that missing $16.7 billion in Afghanistan? Say, Kaplan, whatever became of that unaccounted for $2.3 trillion in DoD funds which the Pentagon's comptroller mentioned during a public news conference the day immediately preceding 9/11/01 (on 9/10/01)?

This engrossing and detailed narrative analyzes while relating the rise of General Petraeus amid various philosophical factions within the military. His power increased during the efforts of a problematic White House to prosecute a war withiut strategic preparations, and his approach offered seeming solutions. Kaplan offers to the lay person fascinating insights to the way the military works and differences from conventional wisdom. Highly recommended.