Certain Victory
The U.S. Army in the Gulf War
By: Robert H. Scales
About This Book
"The official U.S. Army account, Certain Victory provides the clearest picture to date of the Army's performance during the Gulf War. In a colorful, readable style, it begins by chronicling the Army's remarkable regeneration in the two decades after Vietnam - the changes that were the foundation of the Desert Storm victory. Each chapter leads off with a compelling personal combat story that brings you right into battle alongside individual soldiers and puts the conflict into human perspective. Certain Victory is a quick read and free of military jargon, offering a balanced, comprehensive account of the largest armor battle since World War II."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved
AI Overview
"Certain Victory: The U.S. Army in the Gulf War" by Robert H. Scales Jr. is a historical account of the U.S. Army's performance during the Gulf War, specifically focusing on the operations of Desert Storm. Here is a comprehensive overview of the book:
Key Themes
- Army Performance: The book provides a detailed analysis of the U.S. Army's role in the Gulf War, highlighting its strategic and operational achievements.
- Command-and-Control: It delves into the command-and-control structures and the operations of support services, providing insights into how these elements contributed to the success of the military campaign.
- Future Warfare Insights: The book offers a window into the future of warfare, extracting lessons from the Gulf War that can be applied to future conflicts.
- Interdependent Effort: It emphasizes the importance of coalition efforts, highlighting the contributions of various nations, including Saudi Arabia and other coalition forces, in achieving the victory.
Plot Summary
The narrative of "Certain Victory" is structured around three main themes:
- The Soldiers' Story: It tells the story of the young men and women who fought in the Gulf War, focusing on their experiences and the challenges they faced.
- Army Leadership: The book vindicates the tireless work of a generation of Army leaders who transformed the U.S. Army into a more effective fighting force.
- Operational Context: It provides a broader context for the operations, explaining how the speed and breadth of Desert Storm operations often left participants unaware of the larger strategic context.
Critical Reception
- Dry Prose: Some reviewers have noted that the prose is rather dry, which might make the book less engaging for non-military readers.
- Uncritical Approach: The book has been criticized for its uncritical approach, as it does not fully address actual problems faced during the war but rather describes them as "alleged".
- Smooth Writing Style: Despite the dryness, the book is described as smoothly written and interesting overall.
Author Background
Robert H. Scales Jr., the author, is a retired United States Army major general and former commandant of the U.S. Army War College. He is also a military analyst and news commentator, bringing a wealth of experience to the narrative.
Publication Details
"Certain Victory" was originally published in 1993 by the Office of the Chief of Staff, U.S. Army, and has since been recognized as a significant historical account of the U.S. Army's performance in the Gulf War.
Overall, "Certain Victory" offers a comprehensive and detailed analysis of the U.S. Army's role in the Gulf War, providing valuable insights into military operations, leadership, and strategic planning. While it may have some limitations in terms of its writing style and approach, it remains an important historical document for understanding the complexities of modern warfare.