Dana Priest reports on military and intelligence issues for the Washington Post and is the recipient of the 2001 Gerald R. Ford Award for Distinguished Defense Reporting. She lives in Washington, DC.

"Insightful reportage that integrates the small with the large scale." -- Gilbert Taylor "Examines America's increasing reliance on its military to manage-and cure-complex crises in foreign policy and international diplomacy." "The fine texture of [Priest's] reporting of the views of the personalities involved is impressive...well written." -- Maj. Gen. Edward B. Atkeson, USA Ret., Ph.D. "A clear-eyed portrait of American military culture...Rich in instruction for policymakers, soldiers, and politics junkies alike." "Contains colorful anecdotal evidence...[that] the military cannot take the lead role [in nation building]." -- Christian D. Brose "Dana Priest's revealing, close-up look at this dramatic new development is especially timely as we view the challenges of the post-9/11 world." -- Richard Holbrooke "A book that is just in time for the great new debate between the hawks and the doves." -- Benjamin C. Bradlee "Priest documents [how] the...armed forces pursue tasks for which they are ill suited, untrained and sometimes only loosely mandated." -- John T. Finn "[N]ot a dry tome aimed at policy wonks. Written in a journalistic style... [it] conveys its message through colorful stories." -- William Wineke "Priest has done prodigious research, including travel...The result...is an often fascinating kaleidoscope of the US military circa 2003." -- Max Boot "[A] fascinating set of answers to...important questions about America's role in today's world." -- Joseph Nye, Harvard University "Anyone trying to understand the interplay between US military and foreign policy must read The Mission." -- Jody Williams, Nobel Laureate for Peace, 1997 "[S]uperbly written...should be required reading for anyone hoping to understand the goals and objectives of contemporary US foreign policy." -- Lawrence J. Korb, Director of Studies, Council on Foreign Relations "An important, frequently troubling, portrayal...raises questions that urgently need answers." -- Jessica T. Matthews, president, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace