Military history: post-WW2 conflicts Books

Book SynopsisTrade Review"[A] remarkable account of the World Tribunal on Iraq (WTI) . . . For the Love of Humanity, conveys the complexity of both the WTI's endeavor and the universalist ideals that continue to engender humanitarian, cosmopolitan, rights-based, and imperialist moral-political projects around the world." * Political and Legal Anthropology Review *"Part of what makes this book so impressive is that its radical vision is sustained and deepened by sophisticated reference to the ideas of many of the leading European political philosophers of the last 100 years and by a social science methodology that relies on an ethnographic record compiled by a participant observer who doubles as author. This fine, memorable book possesses a theoretical and practical significance that extends well beyond the confines of the World Tribunal on Iraq experience." * London Review of International Law *"What is the legacy of the World Tribunal on Iraq (WTI)? How can "for the love of humanity" be understood when it is used for both imperialist and anti-war arguments? These issues are elegantly interrogated by Ayca Cubukcu," * Middle East Journal *"This remarkable book about the World Tribunal on Iraq (set up shortly after the U.S. invasion by a multinational network of activists and scholars) is at once a valuable ethnography and a timely history of the present. It forces the reader to confront the conflicts between the legal and political perspectives that dominate our understanding of international affairs. For anyone concerned with global justice, For the Love of Humanity is essential-because thought-provoking-reading." * Talal Asad, The Graduate Center, City University of New York *"In this breakthrough ethnography of the World Tribunal on Iraq, Ayça Çubukçu raises new questions about the contemporary politics of human rights. She challenges the ease with which many hew to noble aspirations, as if crimes and mistakes in name of human rights were merely incidental perversions. Anyone concerned with the fate of cosmopolitanism in our era of the love of humanity and perpetual war must read this book." * Samuel Moyn, author of Not Enough: Human Rights in an Unequal World *"Mixing ethnographic material on the conduct of the World Tribunal on Iraq with analysis grounded in political theory and international law, Ayça Çubukçu's outstanding book offers thought-provoking arguments alongside first-hand reflections on the WTI's deliberations." * Stephen Hopgood, University of London *Table of ContentsIntroduction Chapter 1. Constituting Multitude: Founding a World Tribunal Chapter 2. Whose Tribunal? Chapter 3. Constituting Constitutions: The Fact of Iraqi Constitution, the Fatalism of Human Rights Intermezzo. Can the Network Speak? Chapter 4. "Humanity Must Be Defended" Afterword Appendices Notes Index Acknowledgments

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Book SynopsisDespite French President Charles de Gaulle's persistent efforts to constructively share French experience and use his resources to help engineer an American exit from Vietnam, the Kennedy administration responded to de Gaulle's peace initiatives with bitter silence and inaction.

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Book SynopsisWar exposes the divide between who we think we are and how we behave in extreme situations. In this book, the author, who served as a Quaker chaplain with the US Navy, presents an unsettling, and ultimately hopeful personal account of the effects of the Iraq war on soldiers and civilians. It is illustrated with the author's own photographs.Trade ReviewA Quaker Chaplain writing about war? I couldnt imagine it, but I agreed to review the book. What a blessing. The book is beautiful: in design and in content. With eight Marines, Commander Sheri Snively deployed to Iraq to serve in a trauma hospital and morgue between Ramadi and Fallujah. She records the journey in vivid detail. Snively took photographs and kept a journal. She writes of impressions of war as she experienced it. She wrestled with the issue of war. As a Quaker, she believed in peace. Together she and her Marines faced life, death, the carnage of war and the effects of PTSD. Snively shares the good and the bad, the beautiful and the ugly, the questions for which there are no answers. - Jim Greenwald, Lead Reviewer, The Military Writers Society of America

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Book SynopsisFrom the International Booker Prize shortlisted author of The Order of the Day and The War of the Poor comes a searing account of a conflict that dealt a fatal blow to French colonialism.A NEW YORKER BEST BOOK OF 2023'Excoriating and profound . . . A remarkable work' - Scotsman'Absolutely spectacular' - France Info19 October 1950. The war is not going to plan. In Paris, politicians gather to discuss what to do about Indochina. The conflict is unpopular back home in France: too expensive, and too far away for the public to care. Withdrawal is not an option – a global power cannot surrender to an army of peasants – but victory is impossible without more soldiers and more money. The soldiers can be sourced from the colonies, but the money is out of the question. A solution needs to be found.In this gripping and shocking novel, Éric Vuillard exposes the tangled web of politicians, Trade ReviewExcoriating and profound . . . A remarkable work . . . I cannot think of an Anglophone author who writes with such polemical, poetical indignation * Scotsman *Powerful . . . An entracingly nightmarish analysis of the First Indochina War -- Graham Robb * The Spectator *Clever and scathing * Le Temps *Vuillard writes into grey areas of history * New York Times *A work of ferocious reckoning . . . chilling . . . shine[s] a hard light on figures who might otherwise disappear into the jumbled backdrop of the past * Wall Street Journal *Absolutely spectacular * France Info *Pages clenched like fists ready to strike. It is the eternal war of the powerful against the weak that Vuillard stages in each of his books * L'Obs *Sparkling . . . By his pen, historical figures become beings of flesh and blood; we hear them breathe, we see them sweat * L'Histoire *The challenge for Vuillard is to tear the rancid nostalgia for 'the good old days' of the colonies, for the chic, elegant, confident and honourable colonial France, to pieces * La Croix *Brilliant . . . An Honourable Exit not only illuminates the machinations behind the Vietnam debacle for the French, but shows just how damaging an anachronistic hunger for domination can be. * Arts Fuse *

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Book SynopsisIn this compelling evaluation of Cold War popular culture, Pulp Vietnam explores how men''s adventure magazines helped shape the attitudes of young, working-class Americans, the same men who fought and served in the long and bitter war in Vietnam. The ''macho pulps'' - boasting titles like Man''s Conquest, Battle Cry, and Adventure Life - portrayed men courageously defeating their enemies in battle, while women were reduced to sexual objects, either trivialized as erotic trophies or depicted as sexualized villains using their bodies to prey on unsuspecting, innocent men. The result was the crafting and dissemination of a particular version of martial masculinity that helped establish GIs'' expectations and perceptions of war in Vietnam. By examining the role that popular culture can play in normalizing wartime sexual violence and challenging readers to consider how American society should move beyond pulp conceptions of ''normal'' male behavior, Daddis convincingly argues that how we cTrade Review'This brilliantly analyzed history dismantles masculine archetypes portrayed by media during the Vietnam War. Daddis explores the ways fantasy images of war have been perpetuated throughout history and have given young men unrealistic, warped views on masculinity.' Ken Burns and Lynn Novick, Co-Directors of The Vietnam War'Hitherto overlooked among 'the things they carried' in Vietnam were thousands of pulp magazines. Daddis scrupulously dissects the delusions of supremacy - sexual, racial, and martial - comic books fueled, with disastrous results for both American soldiers and Vietnamese civilians. A richly illustrated, coruscating exposé of toxic masculinity at its most lethal.' Susan L. Carruthers, author of The Good Occupation: American Soldiers and the Hazards of Peace'A disturbing yet vital study that renders transparent the connection between pop culture and 'martial masculinity' during the Vietnam War. American GIs were woefully misled by these 'macho pulps' that helped plant toxic ideals of manhood, and the Vietnamese (friend or foe, and particularly women) would pay for this dangerous melding of war and sex.' Lien-Hang T. Nguyen, author of Hanoi's War: An International History of the War for Peace in Vietnam'In Pulp Vietnam, Gregory A. Daddis brilliantly explores the strange, gaudy, and wildly misleading cultural baggage innumerable American soldiers carried through the jungles and rice paddies of the Vietnam War. Steeped in the imagery of pulp magazines during the 1950s and early 1960s, thousands of young men were encouraged to conflate hypermasculine heroism with the prospect of sexual conquest and sexual reward. In clear, measured, meticulously composed sentences, Daddis levers open a new and important window on the American war in Vietnam, a window through which the reader may glimpse the psychological origins of debacle, disappointment, betrayed expectations, cartoonish fantasies, wartime travesties, and postwar nightmares.' Tim O'Brien, author of The Things They Carried'In Cold War men's adventure magazines, all the men were brawny, virile, and victorious, and all the women were beautiful, buxom, and willing. In an insightful blend of military, gender, and cultural history, Pulp Vietnam reveals the dangerous ways these fantasies collided in a war that failed to measure up to GIs' expectations.' Kara Dixon Vuic, author of The Girls Next Door: Bringing the Home Front to the Front Lines'Pulp Vietnam is a wonderful contribution to the literature on Cold War culture, the Vietnam War, and American gender and sexuality. This book is a good model of what scholars can accomplish when they branch out of their comfort zones, bridge fields, and talk to one another.' Amy J. Rutenberg, H-Diplo'... Daddis clearly makes the case for the uncomfortable impact of these peculiar magazines and the need for further study. How did these popular magazines shape the ways in which soldiers of an integrated army understood one another? Did the combination of whiteness and violence enflame the racial tensions soldiers brought with them to Vietnam? Daddis's study opens up a host of possibilities for further inquiry ...' Nicholas Utzig, The Los Angeles Review of Books'… Pulp Vietnam examines an overlooked piece of Cold War culture and explains how it helped create real-world forms of violence.' Kyle Burke, Pacific Historical ReviewTable of ContentsIntroduction. Warrior heroes and sexual conquerors; 1. Macho pulp and the American cold war man; 2. My father's war: the allure of World War II and Korea; 3. The imagined 'savage' woman; 4. The Vietnamese reality; 5. War and sexual violence come to Vietnam; Conclusion. Male veterans remember their war.

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Book SynopsisIn brisk and engaging prose, this comprehensive introductory textbook traverses the broad sweep of US history since 1945. Winds of Hope, Storms of Discord explores how Americans from all walks of life political leaders, businesspeople, public intellectuals, workers, students, activists, migrants, and others struggled to define the nation''s political, economic, geopolitical, demographic, and social character. It chronicles the nation''s ceaseless ferment, from the rocky conversion to peacetime in the early aftermath of World War II; to the frightening emergence of the Cold War and repeated US military adventures abroad; to the struggles of African Americans and other minorities to claim a share of the American Dream; to the striking transformations in social attitudes catalyzed by the women''s movement and struggles for gay and lesbian liberation; to the dynamic force of political, economic, and social conservatism. Carrying the story to the spring of 2022, Winds of Hope also shows hTrade Review'Salim Yaqub has mastered the most recent scholarship on such diverse topics as social justice movements, modern conservatism, and the impact of technology, and woven it seamlessly into a deeply engaging narrative of the United States from 1945 to the 2020s. It is not just the wide sweep that impresses, but also the sharp eye for compelling, poignant detail. Personal yet authoritative, trenchant but even-handed, humane and witty, this is historical writing at its very best.' Hugh Wilford, California State University, Long Beach'A sweeping synthesis of US history since World War II. Winds of Change, Storms of Discord shows the author's mastery of the most recent scholarship on foreign policy, social change, and domestic conflict, yet it remains accessible and engaging. Highly recommended for students at all levels as well as general readers.' Kathryn Olmsted, University of California, Davis'Yaqub has set the new standard for histories of post-1945 America. Incredibly complete and up to the minute, Winds of Hope, Storms of Discord is wonderfully readable and filled with careful judgments. Yaqub's writing is marvelously clear and his account is lively as well as precise and authoritative. Students and teachers rejoice!' Doug Rossinow, Metropolitan State University'This is the post-1945 US history textbook you have been waiting for. Comprehensive, concise, and highly readable, Salim Yaqub brilliantly distills the diversity of the American experience from the end of World War II to US support of Ukraine in 2022. Winds of Hope, Storms of Discord is the new standard-bearer for how to write multifaceted US history.' Kathryn Statler, University of San Diego'Filled with twists and turns, Winds of Hope, Storms of Discord sends readers racing through its pages to discover how the world they thought they knew is actually far more interesting - and surprising - than they had previously understood. Salim Yaqub writes with the compassion, objectivity, and fresh curiosity of a master scholar who listens to every voice.' Elizabeth Cobbs, Texas A&M University'Winds of Hope, Storms of Discord by Salim Yaqub is a masterful exploration of US history since 1945. Useful for students in a variety of courses as well as beginning researchers, the book chronicles the often rapid and dramatic changes in US society, culture, politics, technology, economics, and foreign relations during the tumultuous years from the end of World War II through the present. The fact that it ends in 2022 is novel and useful. Despite its ambitious scope, the book has a clear narrative and singular point of view that make it compelling and highly readable. The author deftly weaves together multiple themes to tell a story that is a must-read for anyone who wants to know why the United States today is the way it is.' Kelly J. Shannon, Florida Atlantic UniversityTable of ContentsPreface; Introduction; 1. Wake up Willie: from war to postwar, 1945–1948; 2. We may not now relax our guard: hot war abroad and cold war at home, 1949–1954; 3. It's like turning over a rock: America in the fifties; 4. Listen, Yankee: the transformation of America's Cold War, 1956–1963; 5. Is this America?: civil rights and the liberal movement, 1960–1965; 6. Berkeley Cong: fighting abroad and unraveling at home, 1963–1968; 7. Expletive deleted: the presidency of Richard Nixon, 1969–1974; 8. Great blinding lightbulb: women's rights, gay and lesbian rights, and new understandings of gender, sexuality, and family, 1960–1975; 9. Soylent Green is people: America in the seventies; 10. The picture always overrides: America in the Reagan years, 1981–1989; 11. To look over the horizon: from New Cold War to New World Order, 1981–1991; 12. Triangulation: the nineties and Bill Clinton; 13. Freedom fries: George W. Bush, 9/11, and the Iraq war, 2001–2008; 14. Yes we can't: American politics, 2009–2015; 15. Crossfire hurricane: the Trump years, 2015–2021; Epilogue; Index.

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Book SynopsisClearly portrays the development of the Russian air and ballistic missile defence.

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Book SynopsisThe Battalion's experiences are well recorded here and typify those of tens of thousand servicemen whose efforts secured a unique victory.

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Book SynopsisThe Barrett M82A1 and its derivatives are among the most successful sniping rifles ever manufactured. Now entering its fourth decade of service, the short-recoil, semi-automatic system is capable of firing a devastating .50-caliber round with lethal accuracy over distances of more than 2 kilometers. Unconfirmed reports from Afghanistan in 2012 accredit the Barrett with one of history''s longest ever kills at 2,815 meters. This is the technical history of a rifle initially developed as a sporting firearm, but which evolved into a long-range sniping rifle and a formidable military anti-materiel tool, designed to neutralize everything from enemy vehicles to parked aircraft. Adopted by snipers across the world, the Barrett rifles have seen active service in Operation Desert Storm, Iraq, and Afghanistan and have become an important addition to police, armed services, and Special Forces units alike.Table of ContentsIntroduction/ Development /Use /Impact /Conclusion /Bibliography /Index

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Book SynopsisThe F-4 Phantom II is perhaps the most famous postwar fighter. Primarily used as a land-based fighter-bomber and reconnaissance platform, its legend is owed to its naval origins and the immense contribution its original carrier-based versions made to the U.S. war effort in Vietnam. This title examines the unique aspects of the Phantom that made it so crucial to U.S. Navy pilots during the Vietnam War: its massive engine power, long range, speed, the most powerful airborne search and fire-control radar installed in a fighter at the time, and, of course, its versatility as a ground attack and air-to-air platform. Packed with firsthand accounts, unique profile artwork, and rare photographs, this is the history of one of the most important aircraft to be stationed on carriers off Southeast Asia during the war.Table of ContentsThunder Clouds /Into the Cauldron /Adaptations /Tools and Tactics /Refining the Breed /Appendices /Colour Plates Commentary /Index

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Book SynopsisHaving learned their trade on the subsonic MiG-17, pilots of the Vietnamese People's Air Force (VPAF) received their first examples of the legendary MiG-21 supersonic fighter in 1966. Soon thrown into combat over North Vietnam, the guided-missile equipped MiG-21 proved a deadly opponent for the US Air Force, US Navy and US Marine Corps crews striking at targets deep in communist territory. Although the communist pilots initially struggled to come to terms with the fighter's air-search radar and weapons systems, the ceaseless cycle of combat operations quickly honed their skills. Indeed, by the time the last US aircraft (a B-52) was claimed by the VPAF on 28 December 1972, no fewer than 13 pilots had become aces flying the MiG-21. Fully illustrated with wartime photographs and detailed colour artwork plates, and including enthralling combat reports, this book examines the many variants of the MiG-21 that fought in the conflict, the schemes they wore and the pilots that flew tTable of ContentsIntroduction /Learning the 'Balalaika' /Early Battles /The Crowded Sky /Facing New Threats /Linebacker /Gathering Momentum /Appendices /Colour Plates Commentary /Bibliography /Index

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Book SynopsisThe Munich Olympics massacre in 1972 was a shock awakening to the public. In the decades since, European countries have faced a wide range of threats from Palestinian and home-grown terrorists, to the more recent worldwide jihadists. The threats they pose are widespread from aircraft hijacking and political assassinations to urban warfare against security forces, and murderous attacks on civilian crowd targets, forcing governments have had to invest ever-greater efforts in countering these threats.This book traces the evolution of police (and associated military) counter-terrorist forces across Europe over the past 45 years. Using specially commissioned artwork and contemporary photographs, it details their organization, missions, specialist equipment, and their growing cross-border cooperation.Table of ContentsIntroduction: Munich 1972, and after/The evolving threats: Palestinian, extreme leftist (e.g. Red Army Faction), home-grown separatist (ETA, IRA), early jihadist, al Qaeda and its franchises, ISIS/The responses: Germany (GSG9, regional SEKs, KSK) – France (GIGN, RAID, BRI and military CT units) – Britain: police (SCO19, CT-SFO, etc); military (SAS, SBS CT elements ) – Spain and Italy (GOE; NOCS, GIS) – Other NATO and European units (Polish BOA-KGP and GROM; Belgian DSU 'Diane'; Irish Garda ERU and Army Ranger Wing; Austrian EKO Cobra; Danish AKSA; Dutch UIM (BBNE); Norwegian ERU)/The ATLAS network – international collaboration/Weapons, equipment and vehicles/Other specialist technologies

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Book SynopsisDuring the later stages of the Vietnam War, the US-made M41 Walker Bulldog light tank fought the Soviet-designed T-54 main battle tank in a series of battles in Laos and Vietnam. Fully illustrated, this engaging study investigates the origins, combat record, and legacy of these two armored fighting vehicles.Illustrated with full-color artwork as well as rare and revealing photographs from both sides, this book studies these two iconic tanks in Vietnamese service, examining how their differing designs and fighting doctrines affected their performance in this unique theater of combat.During the Vietnam War, both the United States and the Soviet Union supplied all manner of weapon systems to the opposing sides, including tanks and armored vehicles. Two tanks in particular took momentary prominence in the later years of the conflict. On the South Vietnamese side, it was the US M41 Walker Bulldog; for the communist North Vietnamese, the Soviet-supplied T-54 main baTable of ContentsIntroduction /Chronology /Design and Development /The Strategic Situation /Technical Specifications /The Combatants /Combat /Statistics and Analysis /Conclusion /Bibliography /Index

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Book Synopsis The Iraqi Triangle of Death, south of Baghdad, was a raging inferno of insurgent activity in August of 2006; by November 2007, attacks had been suppressed to such an extent as to return the area to near obscurity. In the intervening months, the U.S. Army 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry (Polar Bears) employed a counterinsurgency approach that set the conditions for a landmark peace agreement that has held to the present. With a focus on counterinsurgency, this book is the first to look at the breadth of military operations in Yusifiyah, Iraq, and to analyze the methods the Polar Bears employed. It is a story not of those who fought in the Triangle of Death, but of how they fought.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisDespite its pervasive reputation as a place of religious extremes and war, Afghanistan has a complex and varied religious landscape where elements from a broad spectrum of religious belief vie for a place in society. It is also one of the birthplaces of a widely practiced variant of Islam: Sufism. Contemporary analysts suggest that Sufism is on the decline due to war and the ideological hardening that results from societies in conflict. However, in Sufi Civilities, Annika Schmeding argues that this is far from a truthful depiction. Members of Sufi communities have worked as resistance fighters, aid workers, business people, actors, professors, and daily workers in creative and ingenious ways to keep and renew their networks of community support. Based on long-term ethnographic field research among multiple Sufi communities in different urban areas of Afghanistan, the book examines navigational strategies employed by Sufi leaders over the past four decades to weather periods of instability and persecution, showing how they adapted to changing conditions in novel ways that crafted Sufism as a force in the civil sphere. This book offers a rare on-the-ground view into how Sufi leaders react to moments of transition within a highly insecure environment, and how humanity shines through the darkness during times of turmoil.Trade Review"An engaging, compelling, and beautifully-written ethnography that traverses the heterogeneous Sufi sociosphere of contemporary Afghanistan. Schmeding documents, in arresting detail and acute sensitivity, the dexterity of Sufi adepts in creating and maintaining civil communities amidst violence and ruptures. At once profound, riveting, and timely, the book is a vital contribution to the study of religion and civil society."—Ismail Fajrie Alatas, New York University"Sufi Civilities opens the door to a marvelous world of faith that lies hidden in plain sight. Schmeding's path breaking ethnographic account of diverse Sufi communities in contemporary Afghanistan is both new and exciting. Over the past half century they have outlasted every radical political regime that failed to appreciate just how deeply Sufism is embedded in Afghanistan's Islamic culture."—Thomas Barfield, Boston University"Afghan Sufis have been hidden from view by attention to mujahidin, Taliban, and al-Qaida. Through astute anthropological observation, Annika Schmeding shows how Sufis became important players in the contests for religious authority that emerged from the cultural whirligig of a NATO-supported Islamic Republic. This is a major contribution to the study of modern Afghanistan."—Nile Green, University of California, Los Angeles

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Book SynopsisIn his first four volumes on the Korean War, the author traces the war's progress from the North Korean invasion of June 1950, the desperate American defence of the Pusan Perimeter, General Douglas MacArthur's daring and highly successful amphibious offensive at Inch'?n, and his subsequent advance across the 38th Parallel to the Yalu River on the Chinese Manchurian border Communist Chinese forces, that have been secretly infiltrating North Korean territory by slipping across the Yalu from mid-October 1950, ambush a South Korean regiment in the mountains of central North Korea. This is the first of several Chinese victories over unsuspecting and overstretched South Korean and American units in the winter of 1950/1. On 27 November 1950, Chinese leader Mao Zedong, ostensibly fearful of the consequences of hostile American forces on his country's border along the Yalu River, orders 250,000 troops into Korea, with express orders to annihilate the UN forces. In the western half of the theatre, US General Walton H. Walker's Eighth Army front along the Ch'?ngch'?n axis is breached, while to the east, the US X Corps suffers a series of crushing defeats, including at the Chosin Reservoir, precipitating a massive evacuation from the North Korean port of Hungnam.

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Book Synopsis“We’re better off for having these men among us.”—Wall Street JournalBefore 9/11, the rugby team at West Point learned to bond on a sports field. This is what happened when those 15 young men became leaders in war. Filled with drama, tragedy, and personal transformations, this is the story of a unique brotherhood. It is a story of American rugby and a story of the U. S. Army created through intimate portraits of men shaped by West Point’s motto: “Duty, Honor, Country.” Some of the players deployed to Afganistan and Iraq, some to Europe. Some became infantry, others became fliers. Some saw action, some did not. One gave his life on a street in Baghdad when his convoy was hit with an IED. Two died away from the battlefield but no less tragically. Journalist Martin Pengelly, a former rugby player himself, was given extraordinary access to tell this story, a story of a brutal sport and even more brutal warfare.Trade ReviewPraise for Brotherhood“Weaves together multiple in-depth biographies to form a highly readable account of who these men were, where they came from, how they played the game and how they fought the longest war in U.S. military history….We’re better off for having these men among us.”—Wall Street Journal “Brotherhood is a mad, perfect book. Pengelly’s audacious act combining biography, war reportage and sports writing is like nothing I’ve read before. The ’02 West Point ruggers are painted in beautiful relief and their combat episodes are brilliantly rendered. Sports book? War book? I’m not sure, but I’m certain you must read it.”—Anthony Swofford, author of Jarhead: A Marine's Chronicle of the Gulf War and Other Battles “An intimate portrait . . . Drawing on his own love of rugby, personal reminiscences from the [West Point] cadets, and in-depth reportage, Pengelly provides a vivid snapshot of his subjects and their experiences of war, combined with an elegiac meditation on the sport. It’s a poignant account.”—Publishers Weekly “A memorable and moving book, a significant contribution to the literature of the American military after 9/11.”—Thomas E. Ricks, author of Waging a Good War: A Military History of the Civil Rights Movement, 1954–1968“Brotherhood breaks the heart with its dramatic story of a fraternity of teammates broken by war.” —David Abrams, author of Fobbit “In rugby, we often talk of ‘going into battle’ with your team. It's just a game, of course, but in Brotherhood, sport, war, and friendship leap from the pages as players really do become warriors—and heroes.” —Dan Lyle, U.S. Rugby Hall of Famer and NBC Sports analyst“In a time when men struggle to find their place in society—a time of disheartening news on education, relationships, and lifespan itself—Martin Pengelly brings a rare story of encouragement. The young men of Brotherhood remind us of the best in men: courage, sacrifice, even nobility.”—Matthew Teague, co-author of The Steal: The Attempt to Overturn the 2020 Election and the People Who Stopped It “Brotherhood captures men working through shared hardships, the lessons learned, and bonds forged through that journey. Ultimately, the book shares the stories of young men and their families who were willing to give everything for our country—and some who did.”—Matthew Sherman, West Point Men’s Rugby Coach

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Book SynopsisPresident Nixon's announcement on April 30, 1970, that US troops were invading neutral Cambodia as part of the ongoing Vietnam War campaign sparked a complicated series of events with tragic consequences on many fronts.In Cambodia, the invasion renewed calls for a government independent of western power and influence, eventually resulting in a civil war and the rise of the Khmer Rouge. Here at home, Nixon's expansion of the war galvanized the longstanding anti–Vietnam War movement, including at Kent State University, leading to the tragic shooting deaths of four students on May 4, 1970.This short book concisely contextualizes these events, filling a gap in the popular memory of the 1970 shootings and the wider conceptions of the war in Southeast Asia. In three brief chapters, James A. Tyner and Mindy Farmer provide background on the decade of activism around the United States that preceded the events on Kent State's campus, an overview of Cambodia's history and developments following the US incursion, and a closing section on historical memory—poignantly tying together the subject matter of the preceding chapters.As we grapple with the legacy of the Kent State shootings, Tyner and Farmer assert, we should also grapple with the larger context of the protests, of the decision to bomb and invade a neutral country, and the violence and genocide that followed.Trade Review"Cambodia and Kent State poignantly reminds us of the links between the 1970 invasion of Cambodia and the May 4 shootings. The authors provide a concise review of those events, as well as the tragic consequences for Cambodia of the genocidal Khmer Rouge efforts to transform their society, and a thoughtful reflection on the process and purposes of memorializing history."—Mitchell K. Hall, author of The Vietnam War"This timely primer reminds older generations and instructs younger ones of what William Shawcross wrote after the Ohio National Guard killed four students during a protest over the expansion of the Southeast Asian War in 1970: 'Kent and Cambodia were to be forever linked.' Farmer and Tyner skillfully fill a gap in the popular memory of the shootings and the wider Southeast Asian War."—Thomas M. Grace, author of Kent State: Death and Dissent in the Long Sixties

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Book SynopsisElite units carried out many dangerous operations during the Vietnam War, the most secret and hazardous of which were conducted by the Studies and Observations Group, formed in 1964. In the years since the Vietnam War, the elite unit known as SOG has spawned many myths, legends and war stories. Special Forces medic Joe Parnar served with SOG during 1968 in FOB2/CCC near the tri-border area that gave them access to the forbidden areas of Laos and Cambodia. Parnar recounts his time with the recon men of this highly classified unit, as his job involved a unique combination of soldiering and lifesaving. His stories capture the extraordinary commitment made by all the men of SOG and reveal the special dedication of the medics, who put their own lives at risk to save the lives of their teammates. Parnar also discusses his medical training with the Special Forces. During his tour with SOG, Parnar served as a dispensary medic, chase medic, Hatchet Force medic and as a recon team member. This variety of roles gave him experience not only in combat but in dealing with and treating the civilians and indigenous peoples of that area. There is a graphic account of a Laotian operation involving America’s most decorated soldier, Robert Howard, during which Parnar had to treat a man with a blown-off foot alongside nearly fifty other casualties. It is a reminder of the enormous responsibility and burden that a medic carried. This new edition of SOG Medic makes this highly-praised and sought-after book available again once more, with additional photos and maps.Trade ReviewI award this book a generous 4/5. * Army Rumour Service 01/03/2019 *

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Book SynopsisB-1-5 was a unique company in the Korean War. The Baker Bandits fought at Inchon, Naktong, Chosin Reservoir, Guerrilla Hunts and the many numbered hills. Theyinspired one B Company Commander, Gen. Charlie Cooper to the extent that when he became Commanding General of the Marines First Division in 1977, his time with B-1-5 inspired his “Band Of Brothers Leadership Principles” used widely in the Corps for many years. Emmett Shelton was a 19-year-old Marine Reservist in 1950. He was called to duty after graduating Austin High School and, within six months, he was a rifleman in Korea. The Korean winter of 1950 was brutal and Emmett was evacuated shortly after Chosin due to frostbite. After the war, Emmett got on with life, then in the 1980s he attended a Chosin Few Reunion. He was overwhelmed by a need to reconnect with his old Company, his Baker Bandits. Emmett tracked down B Company members one-by-one and started a newsletter, The Guidon, to share stories and reconnect. For 20 years Emmett published The Guidon, monthly. The contributing readership grew to a high of 300, including a number of young B Company Marines fighting in Afghanistan. Chosin Brothers brings together first-hand accounts from The Guidon, written by the men of B-1-5 about their time in Korea: their battles, their fallen commanders, deathin the foxhole, lost platoons, injuries and what happened to them after the war.Trade Review...an invaluable and singularly appreciated addition to community, college, and university library 20th Century American Military History collections in general, and Korean War supplemental curriculum studies lists in particular. * Midwest Book Review *Table of ContentsIntroduction All We Wanted Was To Be Marines Pusan Perimeter Inchon Kimpo Wosan Sept/Oct 1950 Chosin Reservoir Campaign Nov/Dec 1950 Bean Patch Jan 1950 Guerilla Hunts Begin Jan–Feb 1951 Ha-Hoe-Dong Hwachon—Hill 313 April 1951 Hill 907 June 1951 The Road Back Home Reconnecting 40 Years Later B-1-5 Honored Dead in the Korean War Index of Contributors Index

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Book SynopsisThis is an account of the battle of Kham Duc, one of the least known and most misunderstood battles in the American Phase of the Second Indochina War (1959 to 1975). At the time it was painted as a major American defeat, but this new history tells the full story.The authors have a unique ability to reassess this battle – one was present at the battle, the other was briefed on it prior to re-taking the site two years later. The book is based on exhaustive research, revisiting Kham Duc, interviewing battle veterans, and reading interview transcripts and statements of other battle participants, including former North Vietnamese Army (NVA) officers.Based on their research, the authors contend that Kham Duc did not 'fall' and was not 'overrun'. In fact, it was a successful effort to inflict mass attrition on a major NVA force with minimum American losses by voluntarily abandoning an anachronistic little trip-wire border camp serving as passive bait for General Westmoreland's 'lure and destroy' defensive tactics, as at Khe Sanh.

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Book SynopsisRobert Foley had only been in Vietnam for six months when he was promoted to captain and given command of a rifle company. In November 1966, Foley led his men on a mission to rescue another company that had been pinned down by Viet Cong forces. His leadership that day inspired his men and led to a successful operation face=Calibri>– and the Medal of Honor. His actions in Vietnam were only a small portion of a long and varied career of service in the US Army, but Foley did not always seem marked for success. Coming from a blue-collar suburb of Boston, his years in West Point were marked by poor grades, injuries, and sickness. With a determination to lead by example and inspire trust among others, Foley served across the globe and rose through the ranks. He even returned to West Point as Commandant of Cadets, later retiring as a 3-star general and commander of Fifth Army."Standing Tall is a terrific book following a true American hero's journey during a stellar career in the U.S. Army. Lieutenant General (Retired) Bob Foley has written a must read for anyone interested in learning leadership lessons during the toughest situations imaginable."General Robert B. Brown, US Army Retired, former Commanding General, US Army Pacific, President & Chief Executive Officer, Association of the US ArmyTrade ReviewWhat distinguishes Standing Tall from the genre of military memoirs is how Foley deftly intersperses lessons learned from his military experience … [It] is an extraordinary memoir that captures a remarkable soldier’s personal journey. Combining easy prose and splendid writing, Foley’s leadership odyssey deserves a wide audience. A primer on leadership that ought to be on every [soldier’s] mandatory reading list. * ARMY Magazine *Table of ContentsChapter 1 – Early Years Chapter 2 – New Cadet Barracks Chapter 3 – Plebe Year Chapter 4 – Keeping the Faith Chapter 5 – Wolfhounds Chapter 6 – The War in Vietnam Chapter 7 – Rifle Company Commander Chapter 8 – Operation Attleboro Chapter 9 – Two Decisions Chapter 10 – About Face Chapter 11 – Battalion Operations Officer Chapter 12 – Moscow and Leningrad Chapter 13 – Battalion Commander Chapter 14 – Naval War College Chapter 15 – Brigade Commander Chapter 16 – Crisis Management Chapter 17 – Assistant Division Commander Chapter 18 – Commandant of Cadets Chapter 19 – Company Tactical Officers and Non-Commissioned Officers Chapter 20 – Mission Essential Task Enhancement Chapter 21 – Honor and Respect Chapter 22 – Deputy Commanding General, Second Army Chapter 23 – Commanding General, US Army Military District of Washington Chapter 24 – Commanding General, Fifth Army Chapter 25 – Epilogue Acknowledgements Endnotes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisThe year 1968 was arguably the most significant year of the Vietnam war. It was the height of the American involvement, and because officer casualties had been so great after the Tet Offensive of May 1968, all prior officer assignments were cancelled.First Lieutenant Robin Bartlett, originally on orders to the 101st Airborne Division, suddenly found himself at the “repo-depo” in Bien Hoa reassigned to the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). The unit had more helicopter support than any other unit in Vietnam. The soldiers carried lighter packs, more ammo and water because of the availability of rapid helicopter resupply. Immediate support from artillery, helicopter gunships and ARA (aerial rocket artillery) was only minutes away to support a firefight. Wounded troops could be medevacked even in dense jungle using “jungle penetrators.” It also meant that Bartlett’s platoon could deploy into hot landing zones at a moment’s notice if an enemy force had been spotted. And they did.It was with extreme anxiety that Bartlett made his way to join his battalion and company—it was the worst of times to be a platoon leader in Vietnam, let alone a grunt serving in a combat unit. Bartlett also had to cope with personal issues of commitment to a war that was rapidly losing support not only back home but among the soldiers he was leading through the jungles of I Corps on “search and destroy" missions. Fifty years later, Bartlett’s vivid combat experiences are brought to light in a fast-moving, well-written, first-person narrative expressing the horror, fear, anguish and sometimes illogical humor of that war.Trade ReviewRobin Bartlett exhibited courage, performed his jobs well, cared for those who served under him, and developed leadership and organizational skills. * The VVA Veteran *Vietnam veteran Bartlett debuts with a cathartic account of his 1968 tour of duty...Poignant and personal, this is an intimate account of one man’s war. * Publishers Weekly 21/12/2022 *Table of ContentsThe Trail Preface Introduction My First Worst Day in Vietnam – dealing with my first KIA Training for War – Airborne and Officer Basic Training Ranger School: learning to Lead; preparing to kill Back To the 82d – gaining experience at the 82d Airborne Division First Days in Country – Assignment to the 1st Cav Division (Airmobile) Ambushing Gazelles – creative ambush gone wrong The Jungle Penetrator – evacuation in dense jungle FNGs in the Field and Base Camp – new replacement story Face-to-Face – meeting the enemy Pay Officer – paying troops in the field Blown Ambush – failed ambush Saturation Ambushing – ambush technique in hot, dense jungle Recon by Fire – enemy base camp – calling for artillery Beyond Artillery Coverage – danger of being out from under artillery cover LZ is Green – landing in a suspected hot LZ Autorotate – falling from the sky Stream Crossing – danger from stream crossing Letting It All Hang Out – failure to get the right size pants Tracer Rounds – starting a fire with tracers Surviving Leg Cramps – becoming dehydrated Ambush in the Rain – the challenge of an ambush in the rain Escort to Laos – escorting CIA into Laos Tear Gas Attack – use of tear gas on enemy Night Firefight – how squad leader saved the day Hard Luck Simons – soldier drafted illegally Walking Point – I did it one time only You Fight It We Write It – staff assignment The Battle of the Parrot’s Beak – battle interview and report Assistant Defense Council – defending soldiers in trial Buying Art Supplies – trip to Saigon Welcome Home – returning to The World Butterfly Coincidences – unusual coincidences Attributions – recognition of combat photographers and artists A Boots on the Ground Point of View – final summary Glossary and Abbreviations of Military Terms US and Enemy Weapons Military Awards, Decorations and Assignments Timeline Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisRichard Edward Carey came from a broken home. Enlisting in the Corps in 1945 he later earned a commission, fighting at Inchon and Chosin in Korea before becoming a pilot – flying every aircraft in the Marine arsenal. During his 38-year military career, he witnessed and participated in major historical events, though a high school wrestling injury would eliminate him from the Mercury-7 space program.As a second lieutenant, he tackled General Douglas MacArthur on the way to Seoul in 1950. Carey would provide critical intelligence decisions enabling the successful defense of the Chinese attack on Hagaru-ri at the Chosin Reservoir. In 189 days of combat, he escaped death seven times, and was awarded the Silver Star and Bronze Star Medals. In Vietnam he flew 204 combat sorties, earning the Distinguished Flying Cross and 16 Air Medals. In 1975, from Saigon, Carey led history’s largest helicopter evacuation of refugees.Subordinates praised his leadership and courage. Never afraid to stand up for his principles, Carey faced down an Air Force general in Vietnam, and organized air defense for supply helicopters at Khe Sahn; he countermanded a senior Naval officer’s order during the 1975 Saigon evacuation, refusing to cease air operations and forcing a reluctant ambassador onto a flight.In retirement, Carey served as a cabinet member for the governor of Ohio and ran the airport in his native home of Columbus. When the Careys moved to Texas, Carey continued supporting veterans, advocating for veterans’ health care, aiding the drive to build accommodation for families of hospitalised veterans, and was a leader in the effort to build a veterans’ cemetery in Dallas. He would lead the drive to build two Chosin Few memorials even as he cared for his ailing wife.This biography is based upon hours of interviews with the general, capturing an exceptional and inspiring life.Trade ReviewThis well written and researched book is replete with personal recollections and anecdotes faithfully recalled and recorded. * The Journal of the Air Force Historical Foundation *The chapters dealing with the evacuation of Saigon are especially enlightening. Carey and Mesches offer arguments for readers to reach personal conclusions about the rights and wrongs of the withdrawal procedures. * The VVA Veteran *Table of Contentshapter 1 The Early Years Chapter 2 On to Korea Chapter 3 A New Role—Chosin Reservoir Campaign Chapter 4 Reflections on Chosin Reservoir Chapter 5 After Chosin Reservoir Chapter 6 Aviation Career Begins Chapter 7 Mid 1950s to 1960s Chapter 8 Fighter Pilot in Vietnam Chapter 9 Vietnam Media Coverage Chapter 10 Post-Vietnam War Chapter 11 Evacuation from Vietnam Chapter 12 General Carey’s Supplement to the Command Chronology on Frequent Wind Chapter 13 Mayaguez Rescue Chapter 14 Back to Headquarters Marine Corps (HMC) Chapter 15 Atlantic Command Chapter 16 Final Assignment Quantico Chapter 17 A Brief Entry into Politics Chapter 18 Aiding the Dallas District Courts Chapter 19 General Carey Continues to Serve in Retirement Chapter 20 The Chosin Few Monument Project Chapter 21 Family Epilogue Glossary Endnotes Index

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Book SynopsisAs the American government began a disastrous mass evacuation of its Afghan allies, a group of American veterans saw the writing on the wall—the people who had supported them on the ground over the past two decades were going to be left behind. Instead of watching on the sideline, they sprang into action. The effort became known nationally as #DigitalDunkirk, in reference to the civilian aspect of the evacuation of soldiers from the beaches of Dunkirk in 1940. As America's last days in Afghanistan came to a chaotic end, an ad-hoc group of veterans, intelligence assets and legislative aides undertook an extraordinary mission to honor the U.S. battlefield creed to leave no comrade behind.Relying on cell phones and satellites as their weapons, they worked feverishly around the clock to help evacuate as many Afghans who had supported U.S. troops over the past twenty years as possible. As the desperate mass of Afghans tried to flee brutal Taliban rule, Marines of the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, worked at Hamid Karzai International Airport's Abbey Gate in conditions that brought combat-hardened veterans to tears. After an ISIS suicide bomber detonated his S-vest, killing 13 U.S. service members, operations came to a halt.Told through the eyes of Mikael, his Afghan friend Abdul and the 2/1 Marines on the ground, including a Marine squad leader who personally led the Afghans through the airport, Life and Death at Abbey Gate tells the story behind the story of the mass evacuation of over 124,000 Americans and Afghan allies during a two-week period in the summer of 2021.This is an important story that should be read by all Americans. A story of leadership, empty government promises and the convictions of our military to stand by our allies in their time of need.Table of ContentsPrologue–Abbey Gate, HKIA Preface—Who Was #DigitalDunkirk 1 At Home in Michigan 2 An Ann Arbor Childhood 3 Basic Training 4 Deployment 5 A Kabul Childhood 6 Early Summer 2021 7 2/1 Marines Make Their Way to HKIA 8 Set Sail—Pre Evac 9 Abbey Gate 10 Team Wins–Getting Them Out 11 The Blast 12 The Mission Continues—The Paiman Rescue 13 The Aftermath

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Book SynopsisAfter decades in the Royal Marines, Andrew Canning spent four years working for coalition forces in Afghanistan as a civilian. During his time there, he met extraordinarily committed and brave civilians, not only on the program he was delivering but involved in supporting military forces in many other areas of the conflict. Coming to Afghanistan from across the globe, these civilians were making varied, crucial contributions to the conflict, much of it unseen to external observers.Canning brings his unique perspective to examine the part of civilians in supporting modern military operations, especially in campaigns of long duration. He was particularly impressed by the fortitude and resilience of those ensconced in some of the most remote forward operating bases in Taliban bandit-country and under repeated attack isolated and utterly reliant on ISAF protection. He also explains some of the trials and tribulations of daily life for those living in a war zone, especially for civilians t

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Book SynopsisDuring the Vietnam war 3500 officers and men served in the Swift Boat program in a fleet of 130 boats with no armor plating. The boats patrolled the coast and rivers of South Vietnam, with the average age of the crew being twenty-four. Their days consisted of deadly combat, intense lightning firefights, storms and many hidden dangers.This action-packed story of combat written by Dan Daly, a Vietnam combat veteran who was the Officer in Charge of PCF 76 makes you part of the Swift Boat crew. The six man crew of PCF 76 were volunteers from all over the United States, eager to serve their country in a unique type of duty not seen since the PT boats of WWII. This inexperienced and disparate group of men would meld into a combat team - a team that formed an unbreakable, lifelong bond.After training they were plunged into a 12-month tour of duty. Combat took place in the closest confines imaginable, where the enemy were hidden behind a passing sand dune or a single sniper could be concealed

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Book SynopsisDuring the Iraq War, the U.S. Army found itself in a very similar situation to the 1st Air Mobile Cavalry Division during the Vietnam Conflictfacing an enemy who knew the terrain and was determined to fight for their cause. The difference between the two conflicts is that American forces could not take full advantage of armor superiority in Vietnam. For the infantry to truly be effective and dominant, they need to have the backing of tanks, enabling them to continue dismounted operations overwatched by tanks.The history and battle techniques of the army's armored core have been discussed in other military conflicts in depth, but this will be the first full discussion of the role and usefulness of the tanks in Iraq, analyzing battles that were completely shaped or significantly aided due to the presence and efficiency of armor units. These units were well-trained and well-equipped and provided armored support and devastating firepower that the enemy could not easily counter. They were such a powerful force that the insurgents in Iraq had to completely change their tactics to account for the Abrams that they were facing. This work will attempt to illuminate the importance of the tanks themselves as well as the tankers who fought inside of them and show how valuable they were to the army and Operation Iraqi Freedom, 20032009.

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Book SynopsisPatrick Naughton's father barely spoke of his time in Vietnam to his family, yet his service was the sole reason Patrick joined the U.S. Army as a teenager. Patrick Naughton Sr served in Vietnam with the 82nd Airborne and advising the South Vietnamese Army, while Patrick himself would serve in Iraq. Three decades of history and politics divided their service yet the similarities between their experiences are undeniably striking. Patrick's attempts to understand his father led to a search for those who served with him in Vietnam, an examination of the personal relationship of a father and son whose few connections have been war, and a quest to understand war and its undeniable generational influence. The result is an engaging and eye-opening weaving together of the combat experiences of two generations of a military family.From the failure of grand stratagem, through personal combat stories, and the memories of those lostAmerica's wars against communism and terror are laid raw through the experiences of one family.

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Book SynopsisA thin, balding, and reclusive middle-aged Russian by the name of Rudolf Ivanovich Abel was one of the Soviet Union’s most renowned spies during the Cold War of the 1950s…until his cover was blown by an incompetent colleague who wanted to defect to the United States. This is the full account of Abel’s espionage work, his dramatic apprehension, his eventual conviction and its affirmation by the United States Supreme Court, and finally, his surprising release back to Russia.Rudolf Ivanovich Abel ran KGB operations in the United States for nine years during the Cold War of the 1950s, until one day his true identity was revealed by a lazy, hard-drinking, womanizing colleague who decided to defect to the United States before he was sent back to Russia—and presumably his death—for incompetence in the field. As the authorities hunted down Abel, the FBI had in hand his tools of trade—hollowed-out bolts and coins used to send tiny coded messages and photographs back and forth to the Soviet Union—but little else in the way of hard leads. After Abel was located, his modest hotel in Manhattan was staked out by the FBI for over a month before he was eventually arrested and tried for espionage. After his conviction, Abel appealed his case to the Second Court of Appeals, where he argued that the search and seizure of his hotel room was unconstitutional because they were made without a warrant. His conviction was affirmed, and the case proceeded to the Supreme Court, which was sharply divided. The cliffhanger facing Abel for the next several years was whether he would face the electric chair, remain in prison for the rest of his life, or be exchanged for an American spy held by the Russians. His fate remained in the balance.

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Book SynopsisMy tour in Vietnam was 1969-1970. I was with the CoB, 1/7 Marine. 1st Marine Division. I was in the bush for the majority of that tour. Private when I got to Vietnam and a Sgt E-5 when I left Vietnam. All the years since 1970 I've been mentally living in Vietnam. I am learning to live with PTSD.I have spent 49 years living with these memories. They have followed me, not only in waking hours, but also in sleep. The time has come for me to do a little emptying of my mind and memories of a place that seems more like a bad dream than reality. My Tour of Viet Nam. The hardest part of the whole ordeal was being sent home without my fellow Marines, and not knowing who lived or who died. I have a sense of guilt for leaving them behind.I end each story with the Words “Another day closer to the world and Wake-up” because Nam was so foreign and backward and violent compared to what we had left behind, and it seemed like another place other than the real world, like a bad dream. The fact that we might go home outside a body bag to the World was a constant topic of conversation throughout my tour. When we weren’t talking about the last firefight or ambush, we were talking about the possibility of waking up from this bad dream and being back in the world again and home.

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Book SynopsisWhen Ukrainian journalist Iuliia Mendel got the call she had been hired to work for President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, she had no idea what was to come.In this frank and moving inside account, Zelenskyy’s former press secretary tells the story of his improbable rise from popular comedian to the president of Ukraine. Mendel had a front row seat to many of the key events preceding the 2022 Russian invasion. From attending meetings between Zelenskyy and Putin and other European leaders, visiting the front lines in Donbas, to fielding press inquiries after the infamous phone calls between Donald Trump and Zelenskyy that led to Trump’s first impeachment. Mendel saw firsthand Zelenskyy’s efforts to transform his country from a poor, backward Soviet state into a vibrant, prosperous European democracy. Mendel sheds light on the massive economic problems facing Ukraine and the entrenched corrupt oligarchs in league with Russia. She witnessed the Kremlin’s repeated attacks to discredit Zelenskyy through disinformation and an army of bots and trolls. Woven into her account are details about her own life as a member of Zelenskyy’s new Ukraine. Written with the sound of Russian bombs and exploding shells in the background, Mendel details life lived under Russian siege in 2022. She says goodbye to her fiancé who joins the front lines, like so many other Ukrainian men. Throughout this story of Zelenskyy, Ukraine, and its extraordinary people, Iuliia Mendel reminds us of the paramount importance of truth and human values, especially in these darkest of times.Trade Review"Moving.... [Mendel] helps demystify the dictator [Vladimir Putin] whom the Western media has long portrayed as having the cunning and wit of a fearless Bond villain... Her reflections on her relationship with the Ukrainian language at a time when Ukraine’s cultural ties to Russia have been all but severed are also extremely important to the cultural discourse." —The Washington Post“By sharing her own story, Iuliia Mendel offers a powerful window into the soul of modern Ukraine. The Fight of Our Lives brings you inside a generation raised in transformation and provides vital context around Putin’s war on Ukraine. Her journey and her nation’s will move you and push you to learn more.” —Gayle Tzemach Lemmon, New York Times bestselling author of The Daughters of Kobani“Iuliia Mendel’s book reminds us that war is not only about machines and destruction—it is also about people and ideas. The Fight of Our Lives shows us how Ukraine’s fight for freedom is our fight—humanity’s fight against tyranny.” —Kurt Volker, former United States ambassador to NATO“In earnest and perceptive prose, Mendel’s The Fight of Our Lives tells the gripping story of Ukraine’s determined coming-of-age amid the most ghastly of circumstances.” —Marci Shore, associate professor of history at Yale University and author of The Ukrainian Night: An Intimate History of Revolution“Who is Mr. Zelenskyy? Few people who write about the Ukrainian president and his surprising meteoric rise, first to the top of Ukrainian politics and then to the status of America’s most popular foreign leader, know him as well as Iuliia Mendel. In this book she shares with the world her personal story as the first press secretary of Mr. Zelenskyy and the story of the president and the country he leads. This is an essential read for anyone who wants to understand Ukraine of today and the values it fights for.” —Serhii Plokhy, Mykhailo S. Hrushevs'kyi Professor of Ukrainian History, Harvard University, and author of The Gates of Europe: A History of Ukraine and Atoms and Ashes: A Global History of Nuclear Disasters"Iuliia Mendel's extraordinary story shows us her Ukraine, a young country that chose progress with President Zelenskyy’s transformative election but now finds itself under attack in Vladimir Putin's war on democracy." —Ivan Mikloš, Slovakian economist and politician, former minister of finance of Slovakia"A spirited account of history in the making" —Publishers Weekly“A closely observed [and] nuanced portrait of a leader in a time of crisis who has definitely risen to the occasion.” —Kirkus

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Book SynopsisIn this intriguing new book, Onianwa Oluchukwu Ignatus investigates Britain’s decision to engage the Royal Air Force (RAF) in the relief operations during the Nigerian Civil War. The main area badly ravaged by the conflict being the Republic of Biafra was declared “a frontier of need.” Humanitarian concerns and mounting public pressures, both in Britain and other Western countries, prompted the relief condition in Biafra to be declared an emergency. International voluntary relief workers found themselves for the first time at the center stage of a relief crisis that involved numerous governments and public opinion across the globe. Despite the existing research on humanitarianism of the Nigerian Civil War, until now no scholar has explored the British move to deploy the RAF for relief flights to Biafra. The need to overcome the difficulties of the Nigerian Civil War, and the heavy pressure of British parliamentarians, the press, and the public served as major factors leading to engaging the RAF to supply relief materials. The RAF episode indicated that external actors in any conflict can produce good initiatives geared toward resolving conflicts.

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Book SynopsisOn July 31, the U.S. Navy destroyer USS Maddox (DD-731) began a reconnaissance cruise off the coast of North Vietnam. On August 2, three North Vietnamese torpedo boats attacked the ship. On the night of August 4, the Maddox and another destroyer, the USS Turner Joy (DD-951), expecting to be attacked, saw what they interpreted as hostile torpedo boats on their radars and reported themselves under attack. The following day, the United States bombed North Vietnam in retaliation. Congress promptly passed, almost unanimously and with little debate, a resolution granting President Lyndon Johnson authority to take "all necessary measures" to deal with aggression in Vietnam.The incident of August 4, 1964, is at the heart of this book. The author interviewed numerous Americans who were present. Most believed in the moment that an attack was occurring. By the time they were interviewed, there were more doubters than believers, but the ones who still believed were more confident in their opinions. Factoring in degree of assurance, one could say that the witnesses were split right down the middle on this fundamental question. A careful and rigorous examination of the other forms of evidence, including intercepted North Vietnamese naval communications, interrogations of North Vietnamese torpedo boat personnel captured later in the war, and the destroyers' detailed records of the location and duration of radar contacts, lead the author to conclude that no attack occurred that night.

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Book SynopsisAirpower in the War against ISIS chronicles the planning and conduct of Operation Inherent Resolve by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) from August 2014 to mid-2018, with a principal focus on the contributions of U.S. Air Forces Central Command (AFCENT). Benjamin S. Lambeth contends that the war's costly and excessive duration resulted from CENTCOM's inaccurate assessment of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), determining it was simply a resurrected Iraqi insurgency rather than recognizing it as the emerging proto-state that it actually was. This erroneous decision, Lambeth argues, saw the application of an inappropriate counterinsurgency strategy and use of rules of engagement that imposed needless restrictions on the most effective use of the precision air assets at CENTCOM's disposal. The author, through expert analysis of recent history, forcefully argues that CENTCOM erred badly by not using its ample air assets at the outset not merely for supporting Iraq's initially noncombat-ready ground troops but also in an independent and uncompromising strategic interdiction campaign against ISIS's most vital center-of-gravity targets in Syria from the effort's first moments onward.Trade ReviewNo one is better qualified than Dr. Ben Lambeth to illuminate the vital role of combat airpower in the fight against the so-called Islamic State. He brings a lifetime of vibrant and incisive analysis to the challenges of using airpower effectively and efficiently on the battlefield, and his work here is superb."—Adm. James Stavridis, USN (Ret.), Supreme Allied Commander at NATO, 2009-2013 and author of Sailing True North: Ten Admirals and the Voyage of Character "Benjamin Lambeth offers a passionate and play-by-play review of the constraints that hindered the air war against ISIS during its initial phase. He also highlights the benefits that would have accrued from airpower's having been used from the start in ways that later figured prominently in finally tipping the balance. The United States may henceforth have to rely ever more on airpower as a substitute for its unpopular past overuse of ground forces in two long wars--wars that Lambeth persuasively argues might have been shorter had airpower been used more decisively. In all, a really nice, solid analysis."—Anthony H. Cordesman, Arleigh A. Burke Chair in Strategy, Center for Strategic and International Studies"Ben Lambeth's assessment of Operation Inherent Resolve offers a well-documented history of the coalition's four-year air war to defeat the Islamic State. Its main value, however, lies in its clinical unmasking of the initial misuse of airpower that occasioned a needlessly prolonged and costly endeavour. That initial misuse, in turn, stemmed from an inappropriate land-centric focus on the part of the campaign's most senior military overseers. Political leaders, defense professionals, and especially airmen at all levels should duly ponder this eminently avoidable failure as we look to the Department of Defense to chart a successful way ahead for embracing tomorrow's challenges."—Gen. Ronald R. Fogleman, USAF (Ret.), Chief of Staff, United States Air Force, 1994-1997"Ben Lambeth is the foremost authority on air warfare throughout the past three decades. His latest work highlights the decisive role played by airpower in defeating the Islamic State. He also shows how the Obama administration imposed needless constraints on its initial response and how U.S. Central Command's most senior leaders wrongly assessed and initially countered ISIS. Once CENTCOM adopted a wiser approach that made the most of coalition airpower's asymmetric edge, the results were immediate, dramatic and overwhelming. In due course, the would-be ISIS caliphate was decisively crushed."—Phillip S. Meilinger, Dean Emeritus, USAF School of Advanced Airpower Studies and author of Limiting Risk in America's Wars: Airpower, Asymmetrics, and a New Strategic Paradigm "Airpower in the War against ISIS, written by one of the most acute observers of military affairs today, chronicles the shift away from the initial restrictive rules of engagement that ultimately made possible the fall of ISIS, as well as the doctrinal and interservice battles that have taken place behind the scenes over the past three decades. Highly recommended for any student of military history."—Francis Fukuyama, Senior Fellow, Stanford University and author of The End of History and the Last Man"In his latest book Airpower in the War against ISIS, Ben Lambeth, America's leading authority on modern air warfare, provides us an insightful, sobering and, at times, devastating assessment of U.S. and coalition air operations during the four-year war to defeat the Islamic State. Combining the detailed research, rigorous analysis and engaging writing style that are his trademarks, Lambeth takes the reader on a fascinating journey from the air war's initial halting phase to its ultimately successful conclusion. Along the way, he reveals in searing detail the Obama administration's lack of adequate planning and strategic focus. Ignoring hard-won lessons from earlier air campaigns, the White House imposed heavy restrictions on air operations, precluding their effectiveness. Nor does Lambeth spare CENTCOM's military leaders who, having waged counterinsurgency warfare for a decade, failed to see that ISIS had acquired many targetable characteristics and vulnerabilities of an emerging state. He also shows how an effective air strategy was eventually devised and successfully pursued, and--just as important--why. Our country's civilian and military leaders can read this book, or they can keep on learning the hard way."—Andrew F. Krepinevich, Jr., Senior Fellow, Hudson Institute and co-author of The Last Warrior: Andrew Marshall and the Shaping of Modern American Defense Strategy

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Book SynopsisThe Iraq War is a visual record of the American-led Operation Iraqi Freedom of 2003, which resulted in the dramatic overthrow of dictator Saddam Hussein. In a striking sequence of photographs Anthony Tucker-Jones shows how this was achieved by the American and British armed forces in a lightning campaign of just two weeks. But the photographs also show the disastrous aftermath when the swift victory was undermined by the outbreak of the Iraqi insurgency - in the Shia south, in Baghdad and the Sunni Triangle, and in Fallujah where two ferocious battles were fought. The author, who is an expert on the Iraqi armed forces and has written extensively on the Iran-Iraq War and the Gulf War, gives a fascinating insight into the Iraqi army and air force and into the multitude of weapons systems Saddam purchased from around the world. He also looks at the failures on the American and British side - the flaws in the tactics that were used, the poor performance of some of the armoured fighting vehicles - and at the reformed Iraqi armed forces who have now taken responsibility for security in the country. The Iraq War is a vivid photographic introduction to a conflict that has only just passed into history.

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Book SynopsisBradley Manning was arrested, imprisoned in solitary confinement for nine months, and court-martialed for leaking nearly half a million classified government documents, including the infamous "Collateral Murder" gunsight video. He was an intelligence analyst in the US Army's 10th Mountain Division, is twenty-four, and comes from Crescent, Oklahoma.But who is Private First Class Bradley Manning? Why did he commit the largest security breach in American history-and why was it so easy? In this book, the astonishing leaks attributed to Bradley Manning are viewed from many angles, from Tunisia to Guantánamo Bay, from Foggy Bottom to Baghdad to small-town Oklahoma. Around the world, the eloquent act of one young man obliges citizens to ask themselves if they have the right to know what their government is doing.Trade ReviewAs this fine and important study reports, Bradley Manning holds to the principle that 'it's important the public should know what its government is doing.' Release of the Wikileaks documents has been a courageous and important service to this cause. -- Noam ChomskyTime after time, patriotic whistleblowers like Bradley Manning are fired, shunned, or prosecuted, despite their heroic efforts to protect the public from a secretive government's illegal activities. It's time to do what we can to protect these brave souls, and reading Chase Madar's fine book is an excellent start. -- Former US Senator James AbourezkChase Madar has written a powerful, compelling and moving defense of Bradley Manning. Bravo! -- Peter Tatchell, human rights campaignerThe mistreatment, trial, and fate of Private Bradley Manning will undoubtedly read like an obituary on the Obama years. His case is a crucial one, and Chase Madar turned his sharp eye on it early. This is the single must-read book on the case. -- Tom Engelhardt, TomDispatch.comThe Passion of Bradley Manning reminds us that it was James Madison himself who wrote that a popular government without popular information is but a prelude to tragedy or farce. Author and lawyer Chase Madar tells a great story that raises critical questions about the appropriate balance of government secrecy and national security in a modern democracy. -- Anthony D. Romero, Executive Director, American Civil Liberties UnionThe Passion of Bradley Manning ... tells the story of Manning both biographically and regarding Wikileaks and his imprisonment. * Z Magazine *

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Book SynopsisIn the wake of its 'Caliphate' declaration in 2014, the self-described Islamic State has been the focus of countless academic papers, government studies, media commentaries and documentaries. Despite all this attention, persistent myths continue to shape--and misdirect--public understanding and strategic policy decisions. A significant factor in this trend has been a strong disinclination to engage critically with Islamic State's speeches and writings--as if doing so reflects empathy with the movement's goals or, even more absurdly, may itself lead to radicalisation. Going beyond the descriptive and the sensationalist, this volume presents and analyses a series of milestone Islamic State primary source materials. Scholar-practitioners with field experience in confronting the movement explore and contextualise its approach to warfare, propaganda and governance, examining the factors behind its dramatic evolution from failed proto-state in 2010 to standard-bearer of global jihadism in 2014, to besieged insurgency in 2019. 'The ISIS Reader' will help anyone--students and journalists, military personnel, civil servants and inquisitive observers--to better understand not only the evolution of Islamic State and the dynamics of asymmetric warfare, but the importance of primary sources in doing so.Trade Review'The ISIS Reader is exceptional and not merely another title to consider for one’s personal or academic library. It presents exacting and collaborative scholarship which is, at many points, groundbreaking. A number of audiences will welcome this book, from teachers in under-graduate classrooms, to faculty holding graduate seminars on jihadism and violent non-state actors, to policy planners.' -- Special Operations Journal

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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