The Melting Point: High Command and War in the 21st Century

Clausewitz’s quote—"War is not a mere act of policy but a true political instrument, a continuation of political activity by other means”—is certainly true in the 21st century, and nowhere truer than the Middle East. Conflict has raged across the region for almost the last quarter century, and no one has had more of an eyewitness view than the author of this new book—part memoir, part history, part strategic analysis with a little leadership thrown in for good measure.

Retired Marine General Frank McKenzie has achieved what few Marines ever do-not only did he attain 4-star rank, but he rose to command the United States Central Command (CENTCOM). This combatant command (COCOM) is charged with overseeing America’s military operations in the Middle East from Egypt to Afghanistan, including some of the most contentious conflicts going on today. During his time in command, from 2019–2022, General McKenzie directed some of the most controversial military operations of the last five years, including American operations during the fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban.

Although he served a long and distinguished military career, serving in both staff and combat billets, he focuses on his time as CENTCOM commander and the unique role the combatant commanders fill in the American national security structure. Although many people are familiar with the Joint Chiefs of Staff, it’s the COCOM that plans, directs, and ultimately is responsible for successful military operations in their theater. The Combatant Commander occupies a unique place in the military’s chain of command, taking orders directly from the President through the Secretary of Defense, not through the Joint Chiefs.

General Mackenzie took command in early 2019 and immediately became involved with the final stages of the defeat of ISIS and the retaking of the last territory it controlled. He transitioned into the detailed intelligence work and mission planning to hunt down Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the head of ISIS. This was a long and arduous process, briefed up to the President when they thought his hiding place was located to authorize a raid to capture or kill him.

All this effort was complicated by the ongoing Syrian Civil War and the presence of Russian troops and aircraft in Syria, which often operated in close proximity to US forces, potentially causing a tense standoff or even hostile incident. The detailed planning and conduct of the raid is described in great detail, and the US was able to eliminate al-Baghdadi, ending the reign of terror of ISIS in Iraq and Syria.

But General McKenzie’s real focus when he took command was Iran, and the growing tension between the US and Iran in the region, with the ongoing conflict between the Houthis in Yemen and the Saudis and the growing hostile incidents via Iranian proxies against US forces still serving in Iraq as part of the anti-ISIS coalition. The very controversial 2020 US drone strike against Iranian General Qasem Soleimani, the leader of the notorious Iranian Quds Force, and one of the leading figures in Iran’s proxy and asymmetrical conflict against the United States is also described in great detail, all the way up to the numerous briefings to President Trump who authorized the strike.

The attack brought immediate retaliation from Iran against US military installations and personnel in Iraq and is an example of the sort of political charged military actions the US faces in this century and the unique challenges military commanders face in carrying these missions out. As the General describes, the action plan for the political ramifications after the strike were nearly as detailed as the military portion of the operation.

CENTCOM has a unique strategic place in the US military since there are so many allies and partners in the region, some with formal alliances, many with only common interests. The challenge of managing all the partners while ensuring the effective implementation of US policy goals is a constant part of the combatant commander’s duties, and General McKenzie does an excellent job of describing the unique staff and command challenges he faced during his time in command.

The book concludes with the disintegration of the Afghan government and the fall of Afghanistan in 2021. The general tries to be very matter of fact in his description of the events that led to the fall of the country, correctly pointing out that both the Trump and Biden Administrations wanted to end the war and remove the last US military presence despite the clear failure of the Taliban to live up to any agreements made.

While the military did as good as job as they could to evacuate Americans and as many Afghans as possible, there are many unanswered questions. The most important question many Americans asked at the time, which was never truly answered even by the numerous Congressional hearings in the fall of 2021 was why did the Afghan government and its military, so lavishly equipped with American equipment and presumably trained by American advisors fold so quickly? The numerous comparisons to the collapse of the South Vietnamese Army and the fall of Saigon in 1975 came from many quarters and to date, the subject seems to have quickly faded away.

The book ends with General McKenzie’s personal reflections on the current state of American civil-military relations and the roles that generals still fulfill in the conduct of battle. The job of command, particularly command at the level he finished his career has been made more challenging by the deluge of information at a general’s disposal, the constant overwatch of the National Command of the President and Secretary of Defense, and the relentless news and information cycle of the internet era that second-guesses and renders often clueless judgement on every action taken. Given all these circumstances, his accomplishments during his time in command of America’s military in this region are remarkable and praiseworthy.