Part 3, Chapter 6 Summary

On April 24, 2000 Franks takes over as commander in chief, U.S. Central Command. CENTCOM is responsible for maintaining stability in a twenty-five-nation region that includes the most dangerous part of the world - the Middle East. This region has more than five million people, mostly less than twenty-five years old and underemployed. The region has more than 65% of the world's oil reserves.

Franks' predecessor in the job, Tony Zinni, tells him that the real problem is between Israel and Palestine, but there is trouble with Iraq's refusal to comply with the United Nations inspections. Zinni said Hussein is smuggling oil and probably producing chemical weapons. Afghanistan is a training ground for terrorists. Another problem is that American intelligence gathering is of poor quality.

Franks goes through a series of planning meetings in the United States before he first arrives to the...