James Carroll is very open about his personal mission to overcome the years of alienation with his father. Even though his An American Requiem dealt explicitly with his relationship with his father, a relatively famous Air Force General, it was not enough. Working for ten years, James Carroll authored a detailed history (512 pages with an additional 91 pages of notes) of the Pentagon.
Walking through the history of the Pentagon has similarities with the development of a novel. The difference is that the main character is an institution!! While his references lend support to its credibility, only those who actually lived within the environment could vouch for its authenticity.
However, one major point that is consistent with many books written about Iraq is the overwhelming weight of the Pentagon’s influence on US policy. The principle that the Department of Defense is under civilian leadership is somewhat suspect. It seems that civilian authority can be exercised only when aligned with military concurrence. In addition, the reader wonders whether military leaders are themselves absorbed by the Pentagon’s thrust towards domination passed on from one generation to the next. It seems that only after retirement do the leaders fault the Pentagon, referred to as the “retirement syndrome”. Vision becomes clear only in hindsight.
The book serves as a review of the US involvement in the various wars and conflicts since 1941 when, on 9/11, ground was opened for the Pentagon. Hard to believe that on the same day, 60 years later, 9/11 would forever be etched in our memories.
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