Book SummaryHolding the Line, by Guy M. Snodgrass

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of Holding the Line

Mattis's Leadership, Military Background, and DoD Vision

Snodgrass portrays Defense Secretary James Mattis as the quintessential "warrior monk," a battle-tested general with a deep passion for history and strategy. During his military career, Mattis actively sought challenging assignments and postings that would advance his knowledge of people, cultures, tactics, and strategic thought. The author highlights Mattis's commitment to reviving the U.S. military's readiness and his unwavering focus on three key priorities, which he viewed as critical to ensuring our nation's continued security: lethality, readiness, and alliances.

Mattis's 'Warrior Monk' Reputation: A Battle-Tested General With a Passion For History and Strategy

Author Snodgrass describes Mattis as a leader who devoted all his adult years to the military. Mattis's interest in history, strategy, and military tactics is rooted in a lifelong commitment to reading. He sought to both inspire others to "heed their finer nature" and to ensure that the values and ideas espoused by our Founding Fathers continued to be reflected in those in military service.

Mattis's Command During the Iraq and Afghanistan Conflicts

Snodgrass recounts how Secretary Mattis commanded troops in some of the most challenging combat zones of the 1990's and 2000's: The First Gulf War, Afghanistan, and the Second Gulf War (which centered around the overthrow of Saddam Hussein). Mattis's readiness to relieve a regimental commander during the Second Gulf War serves as an example of his demanding leadership style and his uncompromising commitment to achieving results. Snodgrass also details several examples of Mattis's quiet thoughtfulness for the people under his command—visiting wounded troops at Bethesda Naval Hospital, consoling personnel struggling with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and personally visiting the families of service members who had died in his charge.

Context

• Also known as the Iraq War, this conflict began with the U.S.-led invasion to overthrow Saddam Hussein, based on claims of weapons of mass destruction and links to terrorism. The war led to prolonged military involvement and significant political changes in Iraq.
• A mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing traumatic events, common among military personnel due to combat exposure. It can lead to severe anxiety, flashbacks, and emotional distress.

Other Perspectives

• The decision to relieve a commander could be interpreted as a failure in mentorship or support from higher command, suggesting that the relieved individual may not have been adequately prepared for their role.

Mattis's Disciplined Leadership: Focus on Lethal Capacity, Readiness, Alliances

For Snodgrass, Mattis's disciplined approach centered around three core priorities for the defense department: restoring the lethality and readiness of America's military, strengthening alliances and building new partnerships, and reforming the department to deliver better performance and affordability. Mattis...

Holding the Line Summary Mattis's Efforts to Navigate Trump Administration and Preserve Military Reputation

The author describes the difficult, and ultimately unsustainable, position Mattis found himself operating in as the "last adult standing" in the Trump presidency. Snodgrass details how Mattis, Rex Tillerson, who was the Secretary of State, and H.R. McMaster, who was National Security Adviser, acted as a moderating and consistent influence for an administration beset by chaos, leaks, firings, and policy missteps.

Mattis: A Stabilizing Influence—Controlling Trump's Impulsive Decisions

Snodgrass details how Mattis, Tillerson, McMaster—and to a lesser extent, John Kelly, who was chief of staff for the White House—worked to temper Trump's impulses when it came to dealing with allies and managing the defense department. Snodgrass was privy to Mattis's frustration as Trump repeatedly challenged the need for allies and the value the US derives from a forward deployed military presence. He describes Mattis's relief when Trump installed John Kelly to help bring control to a chaotic White House environment.

Mattis: Balancing Support for Presidential Goals and the Armed Forces' Reputation

Snodgrass details how Mattis aimed to balance his conflicting requirements—supporting the...

Holding the Line Summary Mattis Discusses Geopolitical and Security Challenges: China, Russia, ISIS

Throughout his tenure, Snodgrass details how Mattis consistently highlighted "great power competition" with both China and Russia as the preeminent national security threats facing America—a distinct change in focus after a seventeen-year-long battle against terrorism. Mattis sought to temper the short-term focus of Trump's "America First" agenda by reminding him of the necessity to build a sustainable, strategic approach to global order.

Mattis Prioritizes "Great Power Competition" With Russian and Chinese Threats to National Security

Snodgrass highlights Mattis's belief that the U.S. armed forces had become too focused on winning today's fight at the expense of tomorrow's challenges. Mattis noted that a mentality of "winning no matter what" had dictated the military's priorities for far too long, a situation Snodgrass also bemoaned in a whitepaper he wrote in 2014. The author shares Mattis's view that the U.S. military should focus on deterring, rather than fighting, adversaries—a strategy that could only be successfully enacted with a restored flow of funding for military modernization and readiness.

Mattis Feared Chinese Hostility and Countermeasures

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Holding the Line Summary The Struggles Mattis Faced to Secure Military Funding

Snodgrass details Mattis's persistent work to secure long-term, stable funding for the military to enact the changes needed for the 2018 defense strategy, which he viewed as one of the most significant accomplishments of his tenure as defense secretary. The author describes how the congressional penchant for budget cuts, sequestration, and "continuing resolutions" during President Obama's tenure left the US military with unsustainable shortfalls in personnel, training, and equipment.

Mattis's Efforts to Secure Stable Long-Term Defense Funding

For Snodgrass, Mattis recognized the need for a unified, whole-of-government message to lawmakers as crucial to securing a much-needed budget deal to repair the military. Snodgrass shares how Mattis lobbied both the presidential administration and lawmakers, employing data-driven slides and a direct, matter-of-fact, reasoned argument to support the military's needs. The author highlights Mattis's work to "play the long game," building trust with senior congressional leaders on both sides of the aisle to achieve a sustainable budget deal, a feat that had proven impossible during his predecessor's six years in office.

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Holding the Line Summary Mattis Resignation Fallout and Department of Defense Challenges

The author describes the tumultuous uncertainty following Mattis's resignation and the challenges that continued to erode the DoD's attempts to maintain a nonpartisan reputation. For Snodgrass, Mattis intended to resign because his capacity to positively influence Trump and the administration's actions had eroded. Moreover, events like the directive from the White House that the Navy should conceal the USS John McCain during the president's May 2019 visit to Japan indicate a worrying trend where traditionally apolitical military organizations are being pulled into the vortex of political maneuvering.

Mattis's Waning Influence and Growing Instability in the President

Snodgrass underscores how vital it is to have leaders who serve for extended periods—especially in large, sprawling institutions such as the DoD. The author watched, disheartened, as a series of acting officials, vacancies, and firings created uncertainty and frustration throughout the military. Compounding that problem: Mattis's diminishing sway with the Trump administration led to his being increasingly bypassed by Trump himself and fellow cabinet members.

Leadership Vacancies and Acting Officials Risks...