When Presidents Fight the Last War
The Oval Office, Sunk Costs, and Wartime Decision-Making since Vietnam
- 2025 INDIES Finalist
- Finalist, War & Military (Adult Nonfiction)
Many view Vietnam as the defining cautionary tale for presidents making wartime decisions, but that focus obscures the strategic shift after 9/11. "When Presidents Fight the Last War" reveals how leaders since Vietnam—drawing on high‑level interviews and archival sources—have escalated or reduced conflicts to avoid another Vietnam or another 9/11.
