The Antagonists

"Richard A. Gabriel ... brings a fresh perspective to [the analysis of the relative merits of the US and Soviet Armed forces]. In his new book, The Antagonists, he focuses upon small-group cohesion as the primary determinant of combat performance. Contrasting recent statistical surveys of the US Army with attitudinal polls of former soldiers among Soviet emigres, Gabriel assesses each army's ability to sustain combat. Coincidentally, he also launches a critique of the managerial philosophy now followed by the US Army officer corps. ... The Antagonists takes a significant step forward in the comparison of US and Soviet armed forces. By extending the analysis of small-group cohesion to the Soviets, Gabriel brings us closer to a real world assessment of their capabilities."-Military Review