Fortress America1998

Everyone thought that the end of the Cold War meant a new era for the American military. But everyone was wrong, as acclaimed journalist William Greider reveals in Fortress America. Our military hasn't adapted, and as a result the United States finds itself on the verge of a silent, looming crisis - a crisis that threatens us all. Greider shows how our military has come to resemble a starving man whose body has begun to feed upon itself. Among his findings: We have so many tanks that the Army has taken to dumping them in the ocean to form coral reefs - and then asking to buy even more. The Air Force has so many long-range bombers it can't even afford to keep them in the air - and still it wants to build more. Strategic planning and training of our forces still focuses on fighting a Soviet-style superpower - even though none exists. Our military continues to concentrate on conventional infantry and tank tactics - but the future of war is digital, biological and unconventional.