Margin of Victory

Macgregor makes many profound recommendations based on significant historical evidence. This is a must-read for strategic leaders seeking ideas on military reform. In what I have read about future strategy and the defense innovation (including the Third Offset), few to none of Macgregors proposals are being considered. The focus is on technology improvementsmostly in regard to ISR and autonomous systemsand not the fundamental changes Macgregor champions. They deserve serious consideration."Joint Force Quarterly "Douglas Macgregors latest book combines masterful campaign studies and thoughtful analysis of their long-term implications for todays military establishments."The Journal of Military History "This book is most highly recommended to all. With Americas Army (and sister services) engaged in heavy debate and frenzied activity on what we need to face the unknowable future, reflected in the activation of the new Army Futures Command, Multi-Domain Operations, the inception of Space Command, and the impact of the new realm of cyber warfare to name a few, Doug Macgregor has continued to offer us more than food for thought. Indeed, he may well have his fingers firmly on the pulse of what we must do to succeed, coupled with an insight and level of experience shared by few."Public Intelligence Blog "The challenge is for a nations military system to successfully adapt to changes in warfare. Although seemingly disparate, these battles are linked together with a logical theme, which makes for an informative and thought-provoking work."Military Heritage "In Margin of Victory, Macgregor includes the Battle of Mons in 1914, the Battle of Shanghai in 1937, The Red Armys destruction of Germanys Army Group Center in 1944, the Israeli Defense Forces counter-attack across the Suez Canal in 1973, and the Battle of 73 Easting in 1991. The reason for the selection of these battles is that each shows the imbalance between victor and vanquished had roots in the reforms that the victorious side enacted well before the war began. Macgregor wants the U.S. to begin a serious study of what it lacks in dealing with 21st century war in order to avoid finding out too late that its solutions are not adequate to provide victory."U.S. Military History Review "What does it take to win a war? West Pointer, combat leader, and renowned military thinker Douglas Macgregor answers that question in this engaging look at five major battles during the last century of combat: Mons 1914, Shanghai 1937, Belorussia 1944, Suez 1973, and Iraq 1991. You may not yet know much about these great clashes, but when you read this book, you will. More than that, youll know just what it takes to fight and win."Lt. Gen. Daniel P. Bolger, USA (Ret.), author of Why We Lost: A Generals Inside Account of the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars "Douglas Macgregor has a brave tank commander's perspective on modern warfare and a restless refusal to accept the status quo when soldiers must pay for their officers' lack of higher critical thinking or preparation for combat. By revisiting five major battles of the past hundred years he shows in moving detail how a mixture of foresight and failure to plan ahead impacted the fates not only of soldiers' lives, but of whole nations. A salutaryand wonderfully readablelesson for us all today."Nigel Hamilton, author of The Mantle of Command: FDR at War, 1941-1942 "Margin of Victory is a worthy read with several well-considered recommendations that will prompt critical thinking and debate among senior military leaders and others in the defense community about how we fightand what it might take to win the next war."Parameters "All told, however, Macgregor has written another powerful critique of the American way of planning and developing strategy for war. His lesson for policy makers a

Col. Douglas Macgregor USA (Ret.) is a decorated combat veteran with a PhD in international relations from the University of Virginia. He is the author of five books and is the executive vice president of Burke-Macgregor Group LLC, a defense and foreign policy consulting firm in Northern Virginia.