War and defence operations Books

Book SynopsisAineias Tacticus (mid-fourth century BC) is not only the earliest but also one of the most historically interesting of ancient military writers. Important, too, as a social commentator, he sheds valuable light on the nature of life and the psychological and strategic preoccupations of a typical Greek city-state (polis) at a time dominated by two extraordinarily atypical ones, Athens and Sparta. In Aineias' work we see what conditions were like in a polis obliged to play a minor and much more passive role in the history of its age - not laying siege like the big players but suffering it. His practical recommendations derive clearly from accumulated personal experience in the first place; but at the same time he also draws copious illustrative material from both Herodotus and Thucydides. This edition has the Greekless reader firmly in mind, providing a fresh modern translation of "How to Survive Under Siege", a comprehensive introduction to Aineias and his work, and a full historical commentary.

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Book SynopsisThe dramatic untold story of the first US Army unit to cross the Pacific and strike back at the Japanese after Pearl Harbor

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Book SynopsisThis groundbreaking investigation uncovers serious mismatches between David Galula''s counterinsurgency practice in Algeria and his counterinsurgency theorythe foundation of current U.S. counterinsurgency doctrine in Iraq and Afghanistan.Given the centrality of David Galula''s theory to U.S. Counterinsurgency (COIN) doctrine in Iraq and Afghanistan, it is striking that there has been no independent evaluation of Galula''s recollection of his COIN operations in Algeria. Galula in Algeria: Counterinsurgency Practice versus Theory delivers just such an analysis, exploring the colonial French counter-insurrectionary theoretical milieu of which Galula''s COIN theory was a part, the influence of Galula''s theory on U.S. COIN doctrine, and the current views of Galula''s theory in France and other NATO countries. French defense researcher Grégor Mathias compares each of the eight steps of Galula''s theory set out in Counterinsurgency Warfare against his practice ofTable of ContentsForeword by David H. Ucko Preface Acknowledgments Abbreviations 1 David Galula and the Djebel Aïssa Mimoun Subdistrict 2 The Eight Steps of Counterinsurgency at Djebel Aïssa Mimoun 3 David Galula and Media Counterinsurgency 4 Counterinsurgency at Djebel Aïssa Mimoun after Galula: "A Slow Deterioration" 5 David Galula and the Battle of the Airwaves (1958–1962) Conclusion Maps Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisAn understanding of military occupation as a distinct phenomenon first emerged in the 18th century. This book shows how this understanding developed and the problems that the occupiers, the occupied, commentators and the courts encountered.

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Book SynopsisWhat happened next would entail ethno-archaeological investigation, a sensational murder trial with worldwide media coverage – and an astonishing outcome – that led to a profound change in the lives of the Tyua Bush people.

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Book SynopsisOne of the most ambitious amphibious operations to ever take place, Operation Neptune tells the story of D-Day at sea

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Book SynopsisCarshalton in Surrey was deeply affected by the First World War: over 1,900 local men enlisted to fight.

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Book Synopsis“[Philippa] captures the determination of the Weekly Mail newspaper to unmask those fuelling the violence and expose state complicity, reminding us how bloody was this peaceful transition and how precarious the outcome. She evokes - in a deeply personal, honest and moving account - the ordinary people who, away from the media spotlight

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Book SynopsisThe World Crisis is considered by many to be Winston S. Churchill's literary masterpiece. Published across five volumes between 1923 and 1931, Churchill here tells the story of The Great War, from its origins to the long shadow it cast on the following decades. At once a history and a first-hand account of Churchill's own involvement in the war, The World Crisis remains a compelling account of the conflict and its importance.The second volume of Churchill's history covers 1915 the first full year of a conflict that most of the antagonists had expected to be over in a matter of months. Churchill here covers the intractable deadlock on the western front, the use of tanks and gas on the battlefields and the unsuccessful attempts by both sides to break through. In addition, Churchill also considers his own involvement in the Dardanelles campaign (Gallipoli).Table of Contents1. The Deadlock in the West 2. The Search for a Naval Offensive 3. The Beginning of The Year 4. The Origin of Tanks and Smoke 5. The Choice 6. The Action of the Dogger Bank 7. Second Thoughts and Final Decision 8. The Genesis of the Military Attack 9. Fall of the Outer Forts and the Second Greek Offer 10. The New Resolve 11. The 18th of March 12. Admiral De Robeck's Change of Plan 13. The Case for Perseverance and Decision 14. The First Defeat of the U-Boats 15. The Increasing Tension 16. The Battle of the Beaches' 17. After The Landing 18. The Fall of the Government 19. The Effort of the New Administration 20. The Darkening Scene 21. The Battle of Suvla Bay 22. The Ruin of the Balkans 23. The Abandonment of the Dardanelles 24. The Consequences of 1915 Appendix F: Admiralty War Staff Orders for the Attack Upon the Dardanelles Appendix G: Memorandum by Mr Churchill, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, On the State of the Navy, May 1915 Appendix H: First Lord's Minutes Appendix I: Lord Fisher's Resignation

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Book SynopsisThe World Crisis is considered by many to be Winston S. Churchill's literary masterpiece. Published across five volumes between 1923 and 1931, Churchill here tells the story of The Great War, from its origins to the long shadow it cast on the following decades. At once a history and a first-hand account of Churchill's own involvement in the war, The World Crisis remains a compelling account of the conflict and its importance.The third volume of The World Crisis covers the climax and the end of the war, from 1916-1918. Churchill here explores some of the most important moments of the conflict, including the battles of Verdun, Jutland, Passchendaele and the Somme as well as the American entry into the war that marked the beginning of its end. Churchill here also recounts his time on the front line during his brief exile from political office and his return to governmenTable of Contents1. The High Command 2. The Blood Test 3. Falkenhayn's Choice 4. Verdun 5. Jutland: The Preliminaries 6. Jutland: The Encounter 7. The Battle of the Somme 8. The Roumanian Disaster 9. The Intervention of the United States 10. A Political Interlude 11. General Nivelle's Experiment 12. At the Ministry of Munitions 13. The Munitions Budget 14. The Autumn Struggle 15. Britain Conquers the U-Boats 16. The German Concentration in the West 17. The Twenty-First of March 18. The Climax 19. The Surprise of the Chemin Des Dames 20. The Unfought Campaign 21. The Turn of the Tide 22. The Teutonic Collapse 23. Victory Appendix J: British, French and German Official Casualty Returns Appendix K: Ally and German Dreadnought and Battleship Strength, 1917 Appendix L: The Ministry of Munitions Council, 1917-1918 Appendix M: Munitions Minutes and Letters Appendix N: War Memoranda Appendix O: Tank Minutes

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Book SynopsisThe World Crisis is considered by many to be Winston S. Churchill's literary masterpiece. Published across five volumes between 1923 and 1931, Churchill here tells the story of The Great War, from its origins to the long shadow it cast on the following decades. At once a history and a first-hand account of Churchill's own involvement in the war, The World Crisis remains a compelling account of the conflict and its importance.In the fourth volume of his history of World War I, Churchill covers the aftermath of the conflict, between the years 1918-1922. Churchill here considers the process of demobilization after the many hard years of war, and the long negotiation of the peace and the Treaty of Versailles, as well as President Woodrow Wilson's famed 14 Points, the founding of the League of Nations and the Revolution and Civil War in Russia.Table of ContentsPreface 1. 'The Broken Spell' 2. Demos 3. Demobilisation 4. Russia Forlorn 5. Intervention 6. The Fourteen Points 7. The Peace Conference 8. The League of Nations 9. The Unfinished Task 10. The Triumvirate 11. The Peace Treaties 12. The Russian Civil War 13. The Miracle of the Vistula 14. The Irish Spectre 15. The Irish Settlement 16. The Rise of the Irish Free State 17. Turkey Alive 18. Greek Tragedy 19. Chanak 20. The End of the World Crisis Appendix

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Book SynopsisPrompted by the 25th anniversary of the Soviet collapse, this volume reflects on revolutions and transformations around the collapse of the Soviet Bloc, the political transformations after 9/11, the important changes following the global economic crisis, and the revolutionary transformations of India and China.

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Book SynopsisThrough interviews with key policy practitioners on both sides of the Atlantic, this study reveals the complex picture of counter narcotics strategy in Afghanistan. It highlights the key points of cooperation and contention, and details the often contradictory and competitive objectives of the overall war effort in Afghanistan.Trade Review'Anyone who believes that western democracies should expend treasure and blood to curtail the production of illicit drugs in hostile, distant lands must read Philip Berry's work. It illuminates the confusion of purpose, lack of resources and any semblance of clear leadership among the British and American agencies in Afghanistan who were tasked with reducing that benighted country's opium harvests and rampant corruption.' - Kim Howells, Former Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office; 'A very informative and insightful account of Anglo-American counter-narcotics policies in Afghanistan between 2001 and 2011 that explains how common goals were affected by close cooperation, intense competition, and strong disagreements when devising policies and actions. Berry skillfully demonstrates how flawed analyses and inadequate solutions failed to address opium production in Afghanistan.' - Pierre-Arnaud Chouvy, UMR Prodig; 'Providing the definitive account of Anglo-American counter narcotic policies in Afghanistan between 2001 and 2011, this important work sheds new light on the oscillations, resilience and limitations of the special relationship within a fluid and complex policy environment. Informed by an impressive array of key informant interviews, Berry's work provides not only a fine-grained and nuanced account but also offers lessons learned for policy design in settings where multi-actor cooperation and competition is inherent.' - David R. Bewley-Taylor, Swansea University; 'Philip Berry has provided a rare and invaluable insight into the policy making process of international drug control. Drawing on first hand interviews with many of the main protagonists and extensive documentation from both sides of the Atlantic he exposes the challenges government officials faced in the messy policy process of Afghan nation building and drug control. A must read for all interested in international relations, drugs policy and Afghanistan.' - David Mansfield, London School of Economics.

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Book SynopsisAn understanding of military occupation as a distinct phenomenon first emerged in the 18th century. This book shows how this understanding developed and the problems that the occupiers, the occupied, commentators and the courts encountered.

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Book SynopsisAs World War II raged in North Africa, General Irwin Rommel was guided by an uncanny sense of his enemies' plans and weaknesses. In the summer of 1942, he led his Axis army swiftly and terrifyingly toward Alexandria, with the goal of overrunning the entire Middle East. Each step was informed by detailed updates on British positions. The Nazis, somehow, had a source for the Allies' greatest secrets. Yet the Axis powers were not the only ones with intelligence. Brilliant Allied cryptographers worked relentlessly at Bletchley Park, breaking down the extraordinarily complex Nazi code Enigma. From decoded German messages, they discovered that the enemy had a wealth of inside information. On the brink of disaster, a fevered and high-stakes search for the source began. War of Shadows is the cinematic story of the race for information in the North African theater of World War II, set against intrigues that spanned the Middle East. Years in the making, this book is a feat of historical research and storytelling, and a rethinking of the popular narrative of the war. It portrays the conflict not as an inevitable clash of heroes and villains but a spiraling series of failures, accidents, and desperate triumphs that decided the fate of the Middle East and quite possibly the outcome of the war.

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Book SynopsisThe 9/11 attacks fundamentally transformed how the U.S. approached terrorism, and led to the unprecedented expansion of counterterrorism strategies, policies, and practices. While the analysis of these developments is rich and vast, there remains a significant void. The diverse actors contributing to counterterrorism increasingly consider, engage and impact women as agents, partners, and targets of their work. Yet, flawed assumptions and stereotypes remain prevalent, and it remains undocumented and unclear how and why counterterrorism efforts evolved as they did in relation to women. Drawing on extensive primary source interviews and documents, A Woman's Place traces the evolution of women's place in U.S. counterterrorism efforts through the administrations of Presidents Bush, Obama, and Trump, examining key agencies like the U.S. Department of Defense, the Department of State, and USAID. In their own words, Joana Cook investigates how and why women have developed the roles they have, and interrogates U.S. counterterrorism practices in key countries like Iraq, Afghanistan, and Yemen. Analysing conceptions of and responses to terrorists, she also considers how the roles of women in Al-Qaeda and ISIS have evolved and impacted on U.S. counterterrorism considerations.Trade ReviewA tour de force.' -- CHOICE'[T]his comprehensive volume makes a significant contribution to unlocking an under-researched dimension of the Global War on Terror.' -- War in History‘Cook provides a comprehensive overview of US counterterrorism policy since 9/11. [Her] analysis usefully summarises and incorporates theories of feminist security studies … [and she] astutely observes how the promotion of women’s rights were executed in US national security and foreign policy-making and how they were often conflated with counterterrorism success.’ -- — The Lowy Institute’s The Interpreter'The strengths of this study are its thoroughness and broad scope. For those unfamiliar with security studies, Cook's overview of counterterrorism is comprehensive and clear... Likewise, for those unfamiliar with gender studies, Cook offers a solid summary of gender and counterterrorism-related research.' -- H-Net'An authoritative assessment of the trajectory of the American-led war on terrorism from a thoroughly compelling and highly original perspective. Cook has an impressive command of the subject and her exegesis of its issues and challenges is clear and engaging.' -- Bruce Hoffman, Professor of Security Studies, Georgetown University, and author of 'Inside Terrorism''Cook provides a sweeping and yet detailed account of how the U.S. government has--and hasn't--incorporated women in understanding terrorism and its response. Covering counterterrorism from the Bush administration onward, "A Woman's Place" is a must-read on gender and security in the post-9/11 landscape.' -- Jayne Huckerby, Clinical Professor of Law, Duke University'This book provides a new and important perspective of America's Wars on Terror. Comprehensive and superbly written!' -- Peter R. Neumann, Professor of Security Studies, King's College London' "A Woman's Place" is a comprehensive examination of the multiple, diverse and critical roles played by women in counterterrorism. Joana Cook has produced a cornerstone text that is an extraordinary testament of the value of academic-practitioner engagement. Simply groundbreaking.' -- John Horgan, Professor of Psychology, Georgia State University'Cook has assembled an impressive array of evidence to show the ways in which women "appear" in counterterrorism discourse. Her approach shows how the U.S. government has positioned women as agents, victims, and targets of the Global War on Terrorism. A novel, comprehensive, and illuminating read.' -- Erica Chenoweth, Professor of Public Policy, Harvard Kennedy School

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Book SynopsisAnne Glyn- Jones opens up the secret world of the interceptors of German Morse Code signals during World War II. Leaving her girls boarding school with romantic ideas about joining the navy as a Wren, Anne had no idea that she would be working for the mysterious ''Station X'', which we now know to be Bletchley Park. Round the clock shifts, bed bugs, rats and poor diet took its toll, as well as the ongoing lack of recognition from the Navy hierarchy. Morse Code Wrens of Station X is a very personal memoir of a young woman's experiences of war time service, as well as providing fascinating insights into the daily realities of the battle for military intelligence superiority.

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Book SynopsisGreat Military Disasters tells the dramatic stories behind the world's most calamitous conflicts. From the French army's failure to understand the impact of new technology at Crécy to Hitler's blatant overconfidence at Stalingrad, military historian Julian Spilsbury provides thrilling accounts of each disaster, covering exactly what went wrong, how and why. Of course, a disastrous outcome for one side meant victory for another, so as well as exploring the reasons the conflict ended in disaster, Great Military Disasters also reveals the key to victory. Eyewitness quotations add another dimension to this intriguing study of human incompetence of the gravest kind.

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Book SynopsisThe arrival of the aerostatic balloon at the end of the nineteenth century ushered in a new perspective on the battlefield, taking over from the mount - the hill at the edge of the field of combat - and the fortified tower positioned within it. Since then there has been no perspective more culpable in war, violence and security than the aerial one. From Above explores the aerial view in new depth and clarity. It draws in vivid detail on studies of the aerial perspective today and on rich empirical investigations of the aerial view from the past. Chapters examine a range of case studies and examples, from Vietnam and the balloon prospect, camouflage, colonial policing, to today's drone wars. The contributors draw on perspectives from history, international relations, political geography and cultural studies in order to provide a truly interdisciplinary perspective on the view from above. They also consider the view from above in relation to its technologies, legalities, practices, doctrines, and visual culture. Among the contributors are renowned international experts such as Derek Gregory, Trevor Paglen, Caren Kaplan, Klaus Dodds and Priya Satia. The aerial view is a perspective that can no longer be ignored, one that is of growing significance for those interested in geopolitics, militarism and conflict.Trade Review'Being above - using aircraft to loiter within the atmosphere or on the edge of space - has long been recognised as a definitive means of gaining military and strategic advantage over those bound by the earth's surface. The last century has witnessed countless episodes of annihilation and killing by states and militaries from up in the sky. But how can we approach the deep connections between verticality, violence and war? From Above - a dazzling and definitive collection - provides the answers. Bringing together the very best thinkers from Geography, Cultural Studies, Art Theory and Political Science, the result is an extraordinary and searing book. Here, for the first time, is a volume which fully excavates how targeting and killing from above was invented, generalised and rendered completely normal in the past century and a half. A must-read for anyone concerned with the nature of contemporary political violence.' -- Stephen Graham, Professor of Cities and Society, School of Architecture, Planning and landscape, Newcastle University'Packed with historical knowledge and theoretical insights, this collection opens our eyes to the metaphors and technologies embedded in the most ordinary expressions such as above, below, depth, flight, earth, and sky. In chapter after chapter, the aerial view presents itself not only as a militaristic space and a geopolitical theatre but also - and above all - as a conceptual event in modernity.' -- Rey Chow, author of Entanglements, or Transmedial Thinking about Capture'From Above Is a remarkable collection of essays on an important and neglected topic. The chapters range across time and space, covering a great deal of terrain and building up a multi-layered account of empirical and historical detail. The collection as a whole develops a new theoretical vocabulary to thinking about the politics and geographies of the vertical.' -- Stuart Elden, Professor of Political Theory and Geography, University of Warwick'Bombings and assassinations meet with surveys and cartography in this collection of critically engaged essays on the combined force of aerial knowledge and aerial power. Offering a much-needed counter to the official line on air power, the volume spells out the extent to which reconnaissance and violence operate in tandem - from above.' -- Mark Neocleous, Professor of the Critique of Political Economy, Politics and History

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Book SynopsisThe arrival of the aerostatic balloon at the end of the nineteenth century ushered in a new perspective on the battlefield, taking over from the mount - the hill at the edge of the field of combat - and the fortified tower positioned within it. Since then there has been no perspective more culpable in war, violence and security than the aerial one. From Above explores the aerial view in new depth and clarity. It draws in vivid detail on studies of the aerial perspective today and on rich empirical investigations of the aerial view from the past. Chapters examine a range of case studies and examples, from Vietnam and the balloon prospect, camouflage, colonial policing, to today's drone wars. The contributors draw on perspectives from history, international relations, political geography and cultural studies in order to provide a truly interdisciplinary perspective on the view from above. They also consider the view from above in relation to its technologies, legalities, practices, doctrines, and visual culture. Among the contributors are renowned international experts such as Derek Gregory, Trevor Paglen, Caren Kaplan, Klaus Dodds and Priya Satia. The aerial view is a perspective that can no longer be ignored, one that is of growing significance for those interested in geopolitics, militarism and conflict.Trade Review'Being above - using aircraft to loiter within the atmosphere or on the edge of space - has long been recognised as a definitive means of gaining military and strategic advantage over those bound by the earth's surface. The last century has witnessed countless episodes of annihilation and killing by states and militaries from up in the sky. But how can we approach the deep connections between verticality, violence and war? From Above - a dazzling and definitive collection - provides the answers. Bringing together the very best thinkers from Geography, Cultural Studies, Art Theory and Political Science, the result is an extraordinary and searing book. Here, for the first time, is a volume which fully excavates how targeting and killing from above was invented, generalised and rendered completely normal in the past century and a half. A must-read for anyone concerned with the nature of contemporary political violence.' -- Stephen Graham, Professor of Cities and Society, School of Architecture, Planning and landscape, Newcastle University'Packed with historical knowledge and theoretical insights, this collection opens our eyes to the metaphors and technologies embedded in the most ordinary expressions such as above, below, depth, flight, earth, and sky. In chapter after chapter, the aerial view presents itself not only as a militaristic space and a geopolitical theatre but also - and above all - as a conceptual event in modernity.' -- Rey Chow, author of Entanglements, or Transmedial Thinking about Capture'From Above Is a remarkable collection of essays on an important and neglected topic. The chapters range across time and space, covering a great deal of terrain and building up a multi-layered account of empirical and historical detail. The collection as a whole develops a new theoretical vocabulary to thinking about the politics and geographies of the vertical.' -- Stuart Elden, Professor of Political Theory and Geography, University of Warwick'Bombings and assassinations meet with surveys and cartography in this collection of critically engaged essays on the combined force of aerial knowledge and aerial power. Offering a much-needed counter to the official line on air power, the volume spells out the extent to which reconnaissance and violence operate in tandem - from above.' -- Mark Neocleous, Professor of the Critique of Political Economy, Politics and History

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Book SynopsisWhen the first Balkan War broke out in October 1912, few Ottomans anticipated that it would prove to be a watershed moment for the Empire, ending in ignominy, national catastrophe, and the loss of its remaining provinces in the Balkans. Defeat at the hands of an alliance of Balkan powers comprising Bulgaria, Greece, Serbia and Montenegro set the stage for the Balkan Crisis of 1914 and would serve as a prelude to WWI. It was also a moment of deep national trauma and led to bitter soul-searching, giving rise to a so-called 'Culture of Defeat' in which condemnation and criticism flourished in a way seemingly at odds with the reformist debate which followed the Young Turk Revolution of 1908.Eyal Ginio's clear-eyed and rigorously researched book uncovers the different visual and written products of the defeat, published in Ottoman Turkish, Arabic and Ladino, with the aim of understanding the experience of defeat - how it was perceived, analysed and commemorated by different sectors in Ottoman society - to show that it is key to understanding the actions of the Ottoman political elite during the subsequent World War and the early decades of the Turkish Republic.Trade Review'A major achievement.''This is the best work I have seen on the Balkan Wars. Eyal Ginio's deep understanding of the causes and sociopolitical consequences of the conflicts make the reading this book an undiluted pleasure. The book is empirically well-crafted and theoretically-guided work of the highest level.' * M. Hakan Yavuz, Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, University of Utah *'Eyal Ginio has masterfully composed a social history of one multi-ethnic society s reactions to an empire s collapsing place in the world. His investigations into hitherto ignored Arabic, Ottoman and Ladino sources are especially insightful, promising to influence how future historians write about the Balkan Wars.' * Isa Blumi, Stockholm University, author of Reinstating the Balkans: Alternative Balkan Modernities, 1800-1912 *'Eyal Ginio deftly moves between sources penned in Ottoman Turkish, Arabic, Hebrew, Ladino, and French to expose the wide-ranging impact of the Balkan Wars on Ottoman society. Covering topics as diverse as military and philanthropic mobilisation, children s literature, war refugees, and attempts to shape a 'national economy', Ginio convincingly argues that the Balkan Wars represented the Ottomans first experience with 'total war.'' * Julia Phillips Cohen, author of Becoming Ottomans: Sephardi Jews and Imperial Citizenship in the Modern Era *Table of ContentsIntroduction: Ottoman Society, the Balkan Wars and the Defeat1. The Balkan Wars and Ottoman Societies: The Devastating Shift from Celebration to Defeat2. The Balkan Wars and the Shaping of the Ottoman Culture of Defeat3. Regeneration, Revenge and Regaining Honour4. Children in the Ottoman Literature of Defeat: From War's Victims to the Citizens-Soldiers of the Future5. The Project of National Economy: Excluding the Enemy "Within"6. Commemorating the Victorious Second Balkan War and the Reinstatement of Edirne - Celebrating the Rebirth of the Nation7. The Retracing of Communal Borders in Eastern Thrace: Cisr-i Mustafa Pasa and Dimetoka as Case-Studies8. Conclusion: The Defeat in the Balkan Wars and Its Legacy

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Book Synopsis** Includes a New Postcript 'The Chilcot Report—Early Thoughts on Military Matters'** From 2001 Britain supported the United States in wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. 'Victory' in such conflicts is always hard to gauge and domestic political backing for them was never robust. For this, the governments of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown were held responsible, and paid the price, but the role played by the High Command in the Ministry of Defence also bears examination. Critics have noted that the armed services were riven by internal rivalry and their leadership was dysfunctional, but the truth is more complicated. In his book Elliott explores the circumstances that led to these wars and how the Ministry of Defence coped with the challenges presented. He reveals how the Service Chiefs were set at odds by the system, almost as rivals in the making, with responsibility diffuse and authority ambiguous. The MoD concentrated on making things work, rather than questioning whether what they were being asked to do was practicable.Trade ReviewLong overdue, 'High Command' is a study of what's wrong at the MoD, and an excellent primer for the Chilcot report. . . . Elliott sets out an agenda for reform as well as a narrative. He does so in terms that Evelyn Waugh could not have bettered. * The Spectator *Britain will lose more wars unless military chiefs stop agreeing to impossible missions after a decade of errors in Iraq and Afghanistan, a new book warns... High Command, based on interviews with many of those at the helm of the military and the Ministry of Defence from the turn of the century, also identifies fundamental flaws inside the ministry that set the conditions for failure... Offering a rare insight into the turmoil within the armed forces during one of the most critical decisions of the two wars -- the deployment of British forces to Helmand in 2006 when they were still fighting in southern Iraq. -- Deborah Haynes, Defence Editor, The TimesEnthralling, gripping and brutally honest . . . With a gentle, skilful hand Elliott guides the reader through the complex world of 'High Command' to explain why a valiant and well-trained military force was not afforded the proper conditions to succeed -- neither in resources nor in leadership at a political level. -- General Jack Keane, former Vice Chief of Staff, United States ArmyIt is the responsibility of the chiefs of staff to speak truth to power when Britain goes to war. However, until now they have been accorded little attention in the controversies generated by the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Christopher Elliott has put that right, combining an insider's perspective with shrewdness, wit and strategic insight. If we are to learn lessons from the last decade, this is where to begin. -- Sir Hew Strachan, Chichele Professor of the History of War, University of OxfordThis is a diplomatically couched bombshell of criticism of UK decision-making and the conduct of war. A must-read for any journalist and student of IR, strategy, decision-making processes, and organisational psychology, it should be on every reading list right up there with Graham Allison's Essence of Decision. The UK MoD, and Defence Ministries the world over, should reflect on General Elliott's trenchant analysis and wise advice, lest lives and treasure continue to be wasted in ineffective or even counter-productive campaigns. -- Professor Beatrice Heuser, University of Reading'High Command' is a clear and balanced account of the strategic direction - and lack of it - in British operations over the past fifteen years. Christopher Elliott brings depressing evidence of gross institutional failure and indicates what should be done to make 'the machinery of government at war' fit for purpose. A well written book and extremely relevant to our times as yet another generation is busy involving us once again in the Middle East. -- General Sir Rupert Smith KCB DSO OBE QGM former Deputy Supreme Allied Commander EuropeElliott has provided the ideal primer for the Chilcot report, whenever it arrives. One of his best suggestions is the need for better education for senior offices, to the level of their American peers, particularly in human and political geography. -- Robert Fox, The World TodayAn outstanding book on British military leadership in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. * Changing Character of War, Oxford University *Elliott is particularly well qualified to shine a light on the performance of the 'High Command' and does so with highly rigorous analysis, shrewd observations and perceptive insights. A compelling and disquieting account. -- Lieutenant General (retired) Sir John Kiszely KCB MC, former Director of the Defence Academy of the United KingdomAn impressively original work. Elliott authoritatively describes the blindness and blunders committed by Britain's politicians, civil servants and the military before and after the invasion of Iraq and exposes how the lessons of failure in Iraq were ignored during the venture into Helmand -- Tom Bower, writer and journalistA very welcome present this Christmas was a copy of Major General (Retd) Christopher Elliott's book, 'High Command', about British Military Leadership in the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars. . . . An extremely well written and thoughtful book it examines the causes of these wars and how the Ministry of Defence coped with the challenges that they presented. * Salisbury Journal *[Elliott] is meticulous in setting out . . . who was who in key military positions during this period, the structures within which they were working and, based on interviews, their opinions on how 'the system' worked . . . Also, commendably, he concludes with some practical suggestions as to how the system might be changed for the better. * Asian Affairs *

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Book SynopsisThe earliest battle in history which can be reconstructed in detail, Qadesh pitted the two great warriors of the age against each other, Muwatallish of Hatti and the great warrior-Pharaoh Rameses II. With the Hittites gaining the initial advantage, all seemed lost until Rameses himself led his personal followers into the fray. However, in spite of the appearance of Egyptian reinforcements, the bravery of the pharaoh and the tactically superior showing of the Egyptian chariotry, the dislocation of his army frustrated the Pharaoh's wider strategic aspirations. Mark Healy recounts the course of this key battle, which could so easily have gone either way.Table of ContentsIntroduction/Rameses II and Muwatallish/The Opposing Armies/The Battle of Qadesh/Aftermath/Chronology/A Guide to Further Reading/Wargaming Qadesh

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Book SynopsisThis account of the Yorktown campaign of the American Revolution presents six full-colour battle scenes detailing the critical points in the battle. By 1781 Britain's struggle to contain rebels in her American colonies had reached an inglorious stalemate. Her strategy had been to isolate General Washington's army in the middle states between Canada and the South, which she hoped to secure with aid of the Royal Navy. However, after defeat at Saratoga and with the northern army holed up in New York, King George's forces now saw this plan backfire. Yorktown would be a model example to the British Crown of the impossible odds she now faced in holding onto her colonies.Table of ContentsThe Road to Yorktown/The Seat of War/The Opposing Commanders/The Opposing Armies/The Campaign in Virginia 1781/Naval Operations March-October 1781/The Siege of Yorktown/Aftermath/The Battlefields Today/Chronology/A Guide to Further Reading/Wargaming the Yorktown Campaign

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Book SynopsisRose, Castle and Crown is a unique history of the part-time soldier of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, from the time of the militia, yeomanry and volunteer, through to the Territorial Army and today's Army Reserve. This is all placed in the wider context of the British Army's history. For centuries, the country has defended its shores with a mixture of regular and auxiliary soldiers, but little has been written about the latter, particularly in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. All military volunteers, throughout history, have had to balance the requirement of their service with family demands and their main civilian employment. This book tells their story.

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Book SynopsisThe CW-21 was designed during the late 1930s. It combined light weight construction with a powerful engine, which resulted in an excellent rate of climb and manoeuvrability, allowing the fighter to quickly reach the height of attacking enemy aircraft, and attack them. The prototype was sent to China as a demonstration copy and an order for three aircraft, plus a further 32 as kits, followed. These would be assembled locally. Only the three production machines arrived in the chaos of war and would never see actual combat. A second modified variant was ordered by the Dutch government and 24 were delivered to the Netherlands Indies. The CW-21s were outnumbered and outgunned when the Japanese launched their attack on the Netherlands Indies. Despite the poor outlook, the pilots flying them put up a good fight...

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Book SynopsisWhen the United States goes to war, the nation's attention focuses on the president. This title reveals that even in politically sensitive wartime environments, individual members of Congress frequently propose legislation, hold investigative hearings, and engage in national policy debates in the public sphere.Trade Review"Douglas Kriner closely scrutinizes how and when Congress influences foreign policy in this very fine book. This is the best statement, quantitative or qualitative, I've seen on the role of Congress in American foreign policy making." - David Clark, Binghamton University"

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Book SynopsisWhen the United States goes to war, the nation's attention focuses on the president. This title reveals that even in politically sensitive wartime environments, individual members of Congress frequently propose legislation, hold investigative hearings, and engage in national policy debates in the public sphere.Trade Review"Douglas Kriner closely scrutinizes how and when Congress influences foreign policy in this very fine book. This is the best statement, quantitative or qualitative, I've seen on the role of Congress in American foreign policy making." - David Clark, Binghamton University"

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Book SynopsisA study of the first attempts to understand how radiation affected the survivors of the atomic bomb and subsequent generations of Japanese, this book argues that Cold War politics and cultural values shaped this research. Using varied sources, it examines how US science was socially constructed.

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Book SynopsisThis volume considers the various groups that make up total defence forces: the military, reservists, civil defence servants, and contractors working for private military and security companies. It offers an essential analysis of civilian-military personnel integration and collaboration toward defence goals in the twenty-first century.Trade Review“This volume tackles a highly topical theme: analyzing change dynamics in the organization of defence establishments. Recent international events underscore the need to understand how warfare has changed and to unpack the implications for the operations of military forces and the organization of national defence.” Jozef Bátora, co-author of Fringe Players and the Diplomatic Order: The 'New' Heteronomy“Total Defence Forces in the Twenty-First Century provides a very rich analysis of the changed landscape of the wider defence sector and will prove a gold mine for much future research.” Andrea Ellner, co-editor of When Soldiers Say No: Selective Conscientious Objection in the Modern Military

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Book SynopsisThis volume considers the various groups that make up total defence forces: the military, reservists, civil defence servants, and contractors working for private military and security companies. It offers an essential analysis of civilian-military personnel integration and collaboration toward defence goals in the twenty-first century.Trade Review“This volume tackles a highly topical theme: analyzing change dynamics in the organization of defence establishments. Recent international events underscore the need to understand how warfare has changed and to unpack the implications for the operations of military forces and the organization of national defence.” Jozef Bátora, co-author of Fringe Players and the Diplomatic Order: The 'New' Heteronomy“Total Defence Forces in the Twenty-First Century provides a very rich analysis of the changed landscape of the wider defence sector and will prove a gold mine for much future research.” Andrea Ellner, co-editor of When Soldiers Say No: Selective Conscientious Objection in the Modern Military

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Book SynopsisTells the story of the courageous men who agreed to put their lives in danger to perform a critical mission in which they could not be officially acknowledged. This book chronicles the communist air attack on Site 85, the only such aerial bombing of the entire Vietnam War.Trade ReviewCastle's suspenseful writing style and dogged tenacity penetrate the decades-long US government efforts to hide this shameful event. This authoritative account is also a refreshing departure from the all-too-common practice of describing dubious adventures without documenting sources. -- Colonel Michael E. Haas Military Review Informative, exciting, and sympathetic. -- Chris Pastilelis Houston Chronicle An excellent work that will surely provoke discussion and debate. Many historians will welcome the research into this previously little known area of the Vietnam War. Others will appreciate the author's exposure of what he claims to be government cover-up. Finally, no one will be able to resist the compelling description of a widow who takes on the callous bureaucracy to discover the truth behind her husband's disappearance in Laos The Journal of Military History Part of the fascination of Castle's book comes from the odyssey he and the families [of the missing men] took inside the ludicrous world of top-secret military information. -- Steve Weinberg The Seattle Times A combination of history, analysis, investigative journalism, and personal crusade focusing on the fate of nine U.S. Air Force personnel missing in action in Laos. The VVA Veteran An almost perfect example of investigative history not falling over into 'gotcha' journalism. -- Roland Green A. L. A. Booklist An invaluable book about one important incident in the secret war in Laos in 1968 that appears at a most opportune time. -- Anthony Day Los Angeles TimesTable of Contents1. Sustained Reprisal 2. "I Wonder If It Is Worth It" 3. Heavy Green 4. "Commando Club" 5. Sowing the Wind, Reaping the Whirlwind 6. Folly at Nam Bac 7. The Heights of Abraham 8. Imminent Threat 9. "Everything to Defeat the U.S. Aggressors." 10. "One Day Too Long" 11. Deniability 12. Oath of Secrecy 13. An End and a Beginning 14. "The Highest National Priority" 15. Return to the Mountain 16. Hanoi 17. Conclusions

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Book SynopsisHow do military organizations assess strategic policy in war? This work develops a theory to explain how military and government leaders evaluate wartime performance, how much they change strategies in response to this evaluation, and why they are often at odds when discussing success or failure.

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Book SynopsisA new perspective on the calamitous fall of France in 1940 and why blame has been misplaced ever sinceTrade Review"A well thought-out and well-presented book on a thorny problem of European history: why was France defeated in 1940?"—Robert Gildea, author of Marianne in Chains -- Robert Gildea

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Book SynopsisExplores the legal, technological, and ethical influence of drones on military policyTrade ReviewDrones and Support for the Use of Force is an interesting and important contribution to work on the factors that encourage U.S. citizens to support overseas military operations and emerging research on the roboticization of warfare."" - Aaron Hoffman, Purdue University""The use of drones represents one of the most critical developments in the use of military force in the 21st century. This timely book systematically assesses how the U.S. public evaluates drone strikes. With implications for when and how force is used, as well as civil military relations and democratic accountability, this book makes an important and valuable contribution that will shape how scholars and policymakers think about drone strikes."" - Michael C. Horowitz, University of Pennsylvania

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