Awards

• Commended for Lambda Literary Awards (Nonfiction) 2009

Overview

Drawing on more than a decade of research and hundreds of interviews, Nathaniel Frank exposes the military's policy toward gays and lesbians as the damaging one that it is and demonstrates that don't ask, don't tell must be replaced with an outright reversal of the gay ban. One of the nation's leading experts on gays in the military, Frank's even-handed and always scrupulously documented chronicle shows how the ban on open gays and lesbians in the U.S. military has greatly increased discharges, hampered recruitment, and--contrary to the rationale offered by proponents of the ban--led to lower morale and cohesion within military ranks. The author presents indisputable evidence showing that gays already serve openly in the U.S. military without causing problems, and that the policy itself is weakening the military it was supposed to protect. Part history, part expose, and fully revealing, Unfriendly Fire is sure to make the blood boil of any American who cares about national security, the right to speak the truth, or just plain common sense and fairness.

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9780312603533

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Reviews

<p>&#8220; Unfriendly Fire offers a sharp, vigorously framed analysis.&#8221;&#8212; The New York Times <p>&#8220; Unfriendly Fire reads like a crisp, confident, tightly focused legal brief appealing an unconscionable decision; pity the opposing advocate who must answer it point by point. With this book, President Obama, who pledged to scrap don&#8217;t ask, don&#8217;t tell, has an instruction manual, as well as a blooper reel for avoiding Clinton&#8217;s mistakes.&#8221;&#8212; Washington Monthly <p>&#8220;Why does his book, Unfriendly Fire, need nearly three hundred pages of text to make the same relatively simple points? Because he makes them so discerningly, so substantively, and so well. Unfriendly Fire offers a sharp, vigorously framed analysis of this state of affairs. The main attraction in Unfriendly Fire is the agility and tough-mindedness with which Mr. Frank presents his arguments.&#8221;&#8212;Janet Maslin, The New York Times <p>&#8220;This new book from t

Advance Praise for Unfriendly Fire<br> <br> In 1993, when I was Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, I felt that the policy was right for the times. Frank makes a compelling case not only that there has been a shift within our society, but that the time has come to look beyond our preconceptions and focus on capabilities. This book should be mandatory reading for anyone with an interest in the state of our society or the readiness of our military. --General John Shalikashvili, former Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, U.S. Armed Forces <br> <br> This book lays out clearly, fairly, dispassionately, and accurately the terrible cost to our national security of this insane policy. --Andrew Sullivan, author of The Daily Dish blog and of The Conservative Soul: How We Lost It, How to Get It Back <br> <br> Frank's lucid and timely book should put to rest any lingering doubt about whether 'don't ask, don't tell' is working--it's been a failure from day one and should finally be put behind us. --Congressman Patrick J. Murphy, member of the House Armed Services Committee and Select Committee on Intelligence, and former captain in the U.S. Army's 82nd Airborne Division <br> Here is a book from a leading scholar that cuts through the ignorance, the denial, and the prejudice to explain how we got stuck with a policy that was doomed to fail. Our military and our nation owe Frank a debt of gratitude. --Dr. Lawrence J. Korb, former Assistant Secretary of Defense under Ronald Reagan <br> Frank puts a human face on the flaws in this policy. --Marty Meehan, Chancellor of University of Massachusetts Lowell, and former congressman <br> This is a valuable contribution and worthwhile reading for all whocare about justice and equality. On behalf of the clients we serve and all service members who wear the uniform and must serve in silence, I salute Dr. Frank and his distinguished colleagues at the Palm Center. --Aubrey Sarvis, Esq., Executive Director of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network

Author Information

Nathaniel Frank is senior research fellow at the Palm Center at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and teaches history on the adjunct faculty at New York University's Gallatin School. His publications on gays in the military and other topics have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The New Republic, Slate, Los Angeles Times, Huffington Post, Newsday , Philadelphia Inquirer, Lingua Franca, and others, and his research and opinions have been cited on the congressional floor, in syndicated columns, in the blogosphere, the New York Post , The Advocate, National Review Online , the AP, and other venues, including university syllabi and media roundups. Frank earned his Ph.D. and M.A. in history at Brown University. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.

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