Last Line of Defense

Book excerpt: "Last Line of Defense" is about the military-industrial complex. The twentieth century has witnessed the uncertain link between business need, political will and personal greed exploding into acrimony and corruption. This book examines the tenuous links from the Yom Kippur war in 1973 through the mid-1990´s. It follows the exploits of one corporation, Global Corp, and its management as they drive on to make their company dominant. The book also analyses the buyers and the sellers, the intermediaries and the promoters of exports. The military-industrial complex has been with us for centuries. With weaponry now of a global dimension, it has never been more important that we understand the drivers behind the people, the companies and the Governments of buying and selling nations. Right and wrong often blur as tides of opinion change overnight, but there is no consensus for those involved to rely on. Every democracy has to continuously seek to ensure that it keeps its international interests secure while maintaining jobs within the country or state. Corruption is continuous, though, and the sale of military equipment to many nations means always drawing a fine line between what is right and what is expedient. "Last Line of Defense" shows the strains that always affect this business. It draws down deep into the minds of the people that work this marketplace and those around them. It follows the career of one man, Lionel Curtis, taken from obscurity to the top of one of the most powerful businesses in the nation. His rise is propelled upon the actions and misfortunes of others. As he "goes with the flow" of history, will he be ready when the river´s flow alters course? Behind him lurks the seedier side of the business, one he knows is there but would rather not. These are the deal-makers that make sure business is successful. They are always there as companies come and go. Whether acting on their own, within large corporations or even within the Government, they are oil that greases the wheel of the military-industrial complex.