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From A to B: How Logistics Fuels American Power and Prosperity
Logistics includes the planning and practice of moving “stuff”—raw materials, tools, finished products, and even people—from one place to another. It carried American settlers over the sparsely populated Great Plains to connect the East Coast to the West Coast and has underpinned our domestic prosperity ever since. Logistics also solidified the global power and influence of the United States by guaranteeing our ability to rapidly reinforce Europe in the world wars, by helping us win the Cold War, and by enabling the current U.S. military to fight two wars at once. Further, logistics undergirds the world economy as swelling populations vie for shrinking resources, including energy, water, arable land, food, and cheap labor. Natural disasters urgently increase such demand. From A to B is the story of modern American logistics, which will continue to shape the nation’s role in this century. The book begins with a U.S. Army transportation company in Iraq during the height of insurgent attacks on American supply networks. Then it tours the shipyards, railways, highways, airports, classrooms, corporate boardrooms, and laboratories that make up our complex and colorful transportation culture. With competition stiffening and our national transportation infrastructure crumbling, we must find ways to move resources and products even more efficiently if we are to thrive. From A to B presents this challenge.
- GenresNonfiction
257 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 30, 2011
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February 3, 2012
“Une armée marche à son estomac.” (An army marches on its stomach.) - Napoleon Bonaparte
“Amateurs talk about strategy. Professionals talk about logistics.” Omar N. Bradley
“Logistics has become the key to American power and prosperity.” – David Axe
After following reporter David Axe’s reports on war and technology for years, I had no doubt “From A to B” would accurately depict logistics from an “on the ground” perspective and incorporate the latest in technological advances. He did not disappoint.
“From A to B” is a great survey of the importance of logistics to our military, and to our globalized economy as a whole. He deftly moves between all possible modes to transport men and materiel around the globe – from cars and trucks to ships and airplanes to zeppelins and space planes. His use of tangible examples from his years of reporting on these issues makes the book engaging and easily digested.
Axe begins the book by establishing the importance of logistics to our military operations and as “dirty, dangerous work” that is “probably the most complex aspect of military planning.” He provides as an example the “logistical surge” of MRAPS into Iraq and Afghanistan to protect American troops. From there Axe discusses an alternate solution to the expensive MRAPs – robotically-controlled logistical transport. Think the merging of today’s commercial trucks with the technological power of Unmanned Arial Vehicles. These vehicles could decrease the need for manned vehicles on dangerous roads and provide more time and attention to manned security vehicles.
As I am primarily focused on American land power, Axe’s section on our “most capacious and underappreciated logistical system: her naval ships” was amazing. The depiction of how difficult, yet crucial, at-sea refueling is to power projection throughout the world provided me a much greater appreciation of how the US is unlike any other Navy in the history of the world.
When Axe moved on to airlift, it was obvious his example would be Afghanistan. He has covered this aspect extensively in his reporting and anyone paying attention to the war understand the sheer magnitude of logistically supplying the country, as well as supplying troops throughout this diverse and hazardous geographic area. He does a great job of describing the criticality of robust logistical lift capabilities like the CH-47 Chinook.
Finally, Axe delves into two interesting future capabilities for logistics – airships and space planes. The fact that modern airship technology could transport and entire battalion intact 4,000 miles, at 100 MPH, at 60% the cost of an airplane was astounding. While he does discuss the difficulty airships have in adverse weather, he did not extend that thought to address how airships could overcome the inevitable adverse conditions war always brings (such as anti-air defenses). Additionally, discussion of a space plane that could carry materiel, and possibly personnel, anywhere in the world in two hours was intriguing.
Overall “From A to B” was an enjoyable and engaging look at the diverse possibilities and drawbacks future technologies will have on our ability to move and supply our troops and our economy. David Axe continues to entertain and inform – and his closing comment is a clarion call for deeper reflection – “World-beating logistics requires investment on a national scale. That kind of investment requires political will.” Unfortunately, that is one thing our nation truly has in short supply.
“Amateurs talk about strategy. Professionals talk about logistics.” Omar N. Bradley
“Logistics has become the key to American power and prosperity.” – David Axe
After following reporter David Axe’s reports on war and technology for years, I had no doubt “From A to B” would accurately depict logistics from an “on the ground” perspective and incorporate the latest in technological advances. He did not disappoint.
“From A to B” is a great survey of the importance of logistics to our military, and to our globalized economy as a whole. He deftly moves between all possible modes to transport men and materiel around the globe – from cars and trucks to ships and airplanes to zeppelins and space planes. His use of tangible examples from his years of reporting on these issues makes the book engaging and easily digested.
Axe begins the book by establishing the importance of logistics to our military operations and as “dirty, dangerous work” that is “probably the most complex aspect of military planning.” He provides as an example the “logistical surge” of MRAPS into Iraq and Afghanistan to protect American troops. From there Axe discusses an alternate solution to the expensive MRAPs – robotically-controlled logistical transport. Think the merging of today’s commercial trucks with the technological power of Unmanned Arial Vehicles. These vehicles could decrease the need for manned vehicles on dangerous roads and provide more time and attention to manned security vehicles.
As I am primarily focused on American land power, Axe’s section on our “most capacious and underappreciated logistical system: her naval ships” was amazing. The depiction of how difficult, yet crucial, at-sea refueling is to power projection throughout the world provided me a much greater appreciation of how the US is unlike any other Navy in the history of the world.
When Axe moved on to airlift, it was obvious his example would be Afghanistan. He has covered this aspect extensively in his reporting and anyone paying attention to the war understand the sheer magnitude of logistically supplying the country, as well as supplying troops throughout this diverse and hazardous geographic area. He does a great job of describing the criticality of robust logistical lift capabilities like the CH-47 Chinook.
Finally, Axe delves into two interesting future capabilities for logistics – airships and space planes. The fact that modern airship technology could transport and entire battalion intact 4,000 miles, at 100 MPH, at 60% the cost of an airplane was astounding. While he does discuss the difficulty airships have in adverse weather, he did not extend that thought to address how airships could overcome the inevitable adverse conditions war always brings (such as anti-air defenses). Additionally, discussion of a space plane that could carry materiel, and possibly personnel, anywhere in the world in two hours was intriguing.
Overall “From A to B” was an enjoyable and engaging look at the diverse possibilities and drawbacks future technologies will have on our ability to move and supply our troops and our economy. David Axe continues to entertain and inform – and his closing comment is a clarion call for deeper reflection – “World-beating logistics requires investment on a national scale. That kind of investment requires political will.” Unfortunately, that is one thing our nation truly has in short supply.
September 1, 2014
A wide ranging appetizer introducing and illustrating the challenges of logistics especially emphasizing US military logistics. It is not an introduction to the planning and calculations associated with logistics. Well-written in inspires the reader to seek other sources for more deep understanding.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews