Supreme Commander

Author: (USA) Cohen / Xu Gang et al
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-10-01
Features: The relationship between military leaders and political leaders has always been very complex, especially during wartime. At critical moments, who should control the situation? The politicians or the generals? The Supreme Commander explores the four great wartime political leaders of democratic nations—Abraham Lincoln, Georges Clemenceau, Winston Churchill, and David Ben-Gurion—to reveal a surprising answer: it is the politicians who control the situation at critical moments. Great political leaders do not simply hand the war over to the generals and stand aside. Great political leaders often make the generals perform even better. They question and drive their military subordinates, and at critical moments, they reject the advice of their military subordinates. Generals may believe they know how to win, but it is the politicians who have the big picture. Military personnel often dismiss politicians as meddlers, appeasers, or naive individuals. However, military personnel can also make mistakes. The art of outstanding leadership lies in pushing subordinates to achieve great accomplishments. The lessons drawn from this book are not only applicable to the counter-terrorism field for President Bush and leaders of other countries in the world but also to leaders of various organizations facing adversity, including leaders and managers in the entire business world. Just as historians can benefit from this book, so too can all managers and leaders. The lessons derived from The Supreme Commander will be particularly evident to all managers and leaders.