Warfare and defence Books

Book SynopsisThis book includes CRS Reports on the background and issues of conventional prompt global strike and long-rage ballistic missiles, the US Army Weapons-Related Directed Energy (DE) Programs, navy lasers, railgun and hypervelocity projectile (the issue for Congress is whether to approve, reject or modify the Navys funding requests and proposed acquisition strategies for these following potential new weapons); the Navy Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) Program; and finally, a summary on the Navys policies and practices for naming ships as Congress has long maintained an interest in how Navy ships are named, and has influenced the naming of certain Navy ships.

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Book SynopsisThe romance of war in its most thrilling form is exemplified in this narrative of the adventures of "The World's Greatest Military Spies and Secret Service Agents." Much has been published upon the subject of espionage, and the memoirs and secret histories of the courts of Europe give us instances of men and women who have gained favor and money, if not honor and glory, by selling back-stairs gossip concerning their fellow creatures; but the aim of the present work has been rather to relate the big exploits of those who faced great personal danger and risked their lives for the sake of flag and country.Table of ContentsList of IllustrationsPrefaceIntroductionThe Alsatian Smuggler who helped Napoleon to capture the Austrian ArmyBelle Boyd, the Confederate Girl who saved Stonewall JacksonThe Indian Scout who was the Hero of King Philips WarHow the Suicide of a Staff Officer Once Averted War between Austria and RussiaThe Romantic Side of Major Andrés Unsuccessful ExploitThe Mysterious and Romantic Case of General Napper TandyThe Strange Adventures of the Chevalier DEon at the Russian CourtHow Napoleons Chief Spy Hoodwinked the Emperor of AustriaLydia Darrah, the brave Quakeress who saved Washingtons Army from DestructionDoctor Steiber and the Mystery of the Franco-Prussian WarThe Adventure of Private Morgan in the camp of CornwallisHow Monsieur de Meinau helped to make Jerome Bonaparte King of WestphaliaThe Strange Mystery Surrounding the Betrayal of Captain Nathan HaleMajor Le Caron and the Fenian Invasion of CanadaHow Emma Edmonds Penetrated the Confederate LinesThe Amazing Adventure of Brigadier-General Lafayette C. BakerThe Mysterious F and the Captured TroopersThe Mysterious Man who asked for a LightCarl Lody and Spies of the Worlds Greatest WarIndex.

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Book SynopsisThis is a comprehensive list of all the significant battles from ancient time through 1904.

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Book SynopsisThe United States has been developing and deploying ballistic missile defenses (BMD) to defend against enemy missiles continuously since the late 1940s. Chapter 1 gives a brief history of the BMD Program. For over half a century, the Department of Defense (DOD) has funded efforts to defend the United States from ballistic missile attacks. The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) developing missile defense capabilities to defend the United States, deployed forces, and regional allies from missile attacks. Chapter 2 addresses for fiscal year 2018 (1) the progress MDA made in achieving delivery and testing goals and (2) the extent to which MDA made progress in developing and delivering integrated regional BMDS capabilities. Chapter 3 discusses (1) the challenges MDA and the defense intelligence community face in meeting the agency's threat assessment needs and (2) the extent to which MDA engages the defense intelligence community on missile defense acquisitions. Foreign countries have made advancements in their nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs. Chapter 4 reports on the current status of North Korea's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs, while chapter 5 provides information on Iran's ballistic missile capabilities. Members of Congress and Pentagon officials have placed a growing emphasis on U.S. programs to develop hypersonic weapons as a part of an effort to acquire the capability for the United States to launch attacks against targets around the world in under an hour. Chapter 6 focuses, primarily, on the Pentagon's ongoing program to develop ballistic missile-based conventional prompt strike systems. The Navy undertook a conceptual design phase for the FFG(X) Guided Missile Frigate program that enabled industry to inform FFG(X) requirements, identify opportunities for cost savings, and mature different ship designs. Chapter 7 addresses the FFG(X) acquisition approach and contracting plans. Chapter 8 provides background information and issues for Congress on the Aegis ballistic missile defense (BMD) program, which is carried out by the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and the Navy, and gives Navy Aegis cruisers and destroyers a capability for conducting BMD operations.Table of ContentsPreface; Defense Primer: Ballistic Missile Defense; Missile Defense: Delivery Delays Provide Opportunity for Increased Testing to Better Understand Capability; Missile Defense: Further Collaboration with the Intelligence Community Would Help MDA Keep Pace with Emerging Threats; North Koreas Nuclear and Ballistic Missile Programs; Irans Ballistic Missile and Space Launch Programs (Updated); Conventional Prompt Global Strike and Long-Range Ballistic Missiles: Background and Issues (Updated); Guided Missile Frigate: Navy Has Taken Steps to Reduce Acquisition Risk, but Opportunities Exist to Improve Knowledge for Decision Makers; Navy Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) Program: Background and Issues for Congress (Updated); Index.

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Book SynopsisA NATIONAL BESTSELLER This explosive book is the definitive account of the Biden administration's most disgraceful hour-and the chaos it unleashed in the world.America's chaotic retreat from Afghanistan in 2021 was nothing short of a horror show. Women and children were trampled to death outside the gates of the Kabul airfield. Desperate Afghans fell from the landing gear of departing planes. Taliban fighters mercilessly whipped and humiliated U.S. civilians trying to access the few square miles still controlled by American forces. Countless Afghan interpreters were abandoned to the mercy of the Taliban after risking their lives alongside American troops for years. And thirteen U.S. service members-eleven of whom were still in preschool on 9/11-were murdered in an ISIS suicide bombing that could easily have been prevented.Still, the full story is worse than anyone imagined. Drawing from hundreds of hours of first-person interviews, investigative reporter Jerry Dunleavy and former Army Captain and Afghanistan veteran James Hasson provide an exclusive, no-holds-barred account of the disastrous events of August 2021. Kabul is packed with shocking and infuriating exclusive details about fatal politics and bureaucracy that contributed to the catastrophe. The authors also tell, for the first time, inspiring stories of the bravery and sacrifices exhibited by countless Americans on the ground.Kabul's original reporting includes eyewitness accounts from servicemembers of all ranks who participated the rescue effort, inside information from senior intelligence officials, interviews with high-ranking members of allied governments, harrowing stories from Americans and Afghan allies willfully abandoned by craven officials in Washington, and exclusive details about veteran-led rescue missions that continue to this day. Chapter after chapter, Kabul depicts American government at its worst and "ordinary" Americans at their best.Ultimately, this book explains how Biden's Afghanistan retreat spurred a dangerous new era that persist for decades. While Americans watched the fall of Afghanistan with disbelief, our nation's enemies were also paying close attention.

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Book SynopsisIraq''s neighbours have influenced events in Iraq since the fall of the Saddam Hussein regime in 2003, and developments in Iraq have had political, economic, and security implications for Iraq''s neighbours and the broader Middle East. Ongoing violence in Iraq and discussion of options for modifying U.S. policy toward Iraq are fuelling consideration of Iraq''s future and the current and potential policies by Iraq''s neighbours. This book provides information about current perspectives and policies of Iraq''s neighbours; analyses potential regional responses to continued insurgency, sectarian and ethnic violence, and long-term stabilisation; discusses shared concerns and U.S. long-term regional interests and reviews U.S. policy options for responding to various contingencies.

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Book SynopsisThe Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides services and benefits to veterans who meet certain eligibility criteria. Benefits to veterans range from disability compensation and pensions to hospital and medical care. Furthermore, veterans'' education benefits have evolved substantially over the last 60-plus years. This book reviews the two disability programs administered by the VA, one of which is called the Disability Compensation, and the other which is known as a Disability pension. The authors of this book discuss the eligibility criteria and the fundamentals of these VA-administered disability benefit programs and related issues. The evolution of veterans'' education benefit programs are also examined and the types of education benefits made available under these programs are described. Furthermore, the VA administers several pension benefit programs for the surviving spouses and dependent children of veterans. This book describes these programs, including the eligibility criteria and current benefit levels. Other chapters in this book examine the provisions of the National Defense Authorization Act, reflecting the congressional concern about the quality and availability of medical, mental health and dental care services for service members returning from active duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is well-known that veterans have a number of risk factors that increase their chance of attempting suicide. This book discusses suicide prevention efforts by the VA This book consists of public documents which have been located, gathered, combined, reformatted, and enhanced with a subject index, selectively edited and bound to provide easy access.

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Book SynopsisThis book provides the results of a review, which was initiated at the request of the Army Inspector General, of actions taken by the chain of command following the friendly fire death of Corporal Patrick Tillman in Afghanistan on 22 April 2004. This review sought to determine whether investigations were adequate, whether Army notification of next of kin complied with regulations and whether documentation to justify the posthumous award of the Silver Star was accurate. This book provides a summary of the concurrent investigation by the Army Criminal Investigation Command into the facts and circumstances of Corporal Tillman''s death (wherein a full report was issued separately). The review discussed in this book found that Corporal Tillman''s chain of command made critical errors in reporting Corporal Tillman''s death and in assigning investigative jurisdiction in the days following his death, and bears ultimate responsibility for the inaccuracies, misunderstandings and perceptions of concealment that led to this review. Those errors, in part, contributed to omissions and inadequacies in the three investigations that followed Corporal Tillman''s death.

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Book SynopsisThis book evaluates military compensation. To attract and retain the military personnel it needs, the Department of Defense (DOD) must offer a competitive compensation package - one that adequately rewards service members for the rigors of military life. After reenlistment rates declined in the late 1990''s, lawmakers and the DOD began increasing cash and non-cash elements of military compensation. In 2000, for example, they authorised that basic pay for service members would rise 0.5 percentage points faster that wages in the civilian sector through 2006. Housing allowances and other compensation were also increased. This book looks at compensation for the 83 percent of active-duty U.S. service members who are enlisted personnel. It considers various ways to measure military compensation and examines common methods of, and problems with, comparing that compensation with pay and benefits in the civilian sector. The analysis also explores the connection between the components of military compensation and the military''s recruiting and retention of personnel. It also discusses possible options to make the military compensation system visible to service members and decision-makers more efficient.

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Book SynopsisOn December 27, 2008, Israel launched a major military campaign dubbed "Operation Cast Lead" against the Palestinian Islamist militant group Hamas in the Gaza Strip in order to counter Palestinian rocket fire and more broadly, to significantly weaken all aspects of Hamas rule in Gaza. On January 3, 2009, Israel began a ground offensive into Gaza intended to eliminate Hamas''s willingness or capacity to launch rockets at Israeli towns and cities. As of January 14, Israeli bombings and ground forces had reportedly killed over 1,000 Palestinians, while 13 Israelis had been killed by Palestinian rockets. Some Israeli observers have suggested that neither toppling the Hamas regime nor permanently ending all rocket attacks is a realistic goal. Nevertheless, by temporarily disabling Hamas''s military capacity and slowing its rearmament, Israel could ease the frequency and intensity of Hamas attacks in the months ahead as it prepares to deploy new, more sophisticated anti-rocket defence systems. Bringing an end to the conflict and constructing a sustainable order in its aftermath are major challenges with implications for the Gaza Strip''s population and infrastructure, Israel''s security, and the future Palestinian polity, including the role of Hamas. This book considers the changing fortunes of the Palestinian movement, HAMAS, and the recent outcomes of Israeli strategies aimed against this group. This book consists of public domain documents which have been located, gathered, combined, reformatted, and enhanced with a subject index, selectively edited and bound to provide easy access.

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Book SynopsisThe authors examine some of the most significant ongoing transnational or "spillover" problems associated with the continuing conflict in Iraq, with particular attention being paid to those problems that could disrupt or even undermine the stability of regional states beyond Iraq. Spillover issues addressed include refugees and displaced persons fleeing Iraq in large numbers for neighbouring countries, cross-border terrorism, intensification of separatism and sectarian discord among Iraq''s neighbours fuelled by conflict in Iraq, and transnational crime. This work assumes that spillover influencing neighbouring states will continue to occur even in the best case scenarios where the Iraqi government rapidly assumes full sovereignty over the entire country in ways that allow it to provide security and stability to most of the population. In perhaps the more likely event that Iraq continues to wrestle with serious internal conflict, cross-border spillover problems could be significantly more intense. This book is designed to serve as an overview of the present dangers for Iraq''s neighbours, which may intensify as a result of the ongoing conflict within Iraq.

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Book SynopsisThis book looks at the Special Operations Forces (SOF), which are small, elite military units with special training and equipment that can infiltrate into hostile territory through land, sea, or air to conduct a variety of operations, many of them classified. SOF personnel undergo rigorous selection and lengthy specialised training. The U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM)oversees the training, doctrine, and equipping of all U.S. SOF units. USSOCOM has about 54,000 Active Duty, National Guard and Reserve personnel from all four Services and Department of Defense (DOD) civilians assigned to its headquarters, its four components, and one sub-unified command. Special Operations Forces (SOF) also play a significant role in U.S. military operations and the Administration has given U.S. SOF greater responsibility for planning and conducting world-wide counter-terrorism operations. The merits of cross-border raids and possible equipment and logistical support shortfalls, which are potential policy issues for congressional consideration, are examined in this book as well. This book consists of public documents which have been located, gathered, combined, reformatted, and enhanced with a subject index, selectively edited and bound to provide easy access.

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Book SynopsisOne of the greatest threats facing the world today is the increasing proliferation of ballistic missiles and weapons of mass destruction. Non-proliferation activities, to include diplomacy and arms control agreements with Russia, have been successful in reducing this threat. Despite reductions in the number of weapons deployed by the United States and the former Soviet Union, ballistic missile proliferation continues on a wide scale today and could increase as technology is transferred. This new book proposes the creation of anti-missile systems to serve as protection against long-range ballistic missile threats facing the United States and European nations.

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Book SynopsisAfter the conclusion of World War II, the United States adopted the national-security strategy of containment. Giving force to this strategy is the doctrine of Mutually Assured Destruction. But this national-security strategy failed to prevent the attack on the United States on 11 September 2001. The failure of this strategy led Barnett to develop and propose a new national-security strategy as a successor to containment. This book discusses the new strategy, which identifies two new problems that have arisen in the national-security sphere, and proposes military solutions to each of these problems. This book also sets out to examine the incremental changes that have occurred in Japan''s national security considerations and policies over the last sixty years.

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Book SynopsisA navy (sometimes called a maritime force) is the branch of a nation''s armed forces principally designated for naval warfare and amphibious warfare; namely, lake- or ocean-borne combat operations and related functions. It includes anything conducted by surface ships, amphibious ships, submarines, and sea-borne aviation, as well as ancillary support, communications, training, and other fields; recent developments have included space related operations. This book discusses the issues facing the United States Navy, including warfare and counter-terrorism operations; leases on foreign-built ships; Navy force structure and shipbuilding plans; and aircraft carrier programs.

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Book SynopsisThe foreign policy of the United States is the policy by which the United States interacts with foreign nations and sets standards of interaction for its organisations, corporations and individual citizens. This book presents information on the issues which affect the United States foreign policy, including foreign aid; national strategy; U.S. policy relations with Bahrain, Serbia and Costa Rica; and U.S. foreign assistance issues with Africa and Afghanistan.

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Book SynopsisThis book focuses on the features and structure of the EU''s food chain, food industry developments, introduction of new technologies, institutional transformation, food and trade policies, communication, nutrition diet, risk management, competition, management, marketing, financial and economic issues. The food chain is an important part of the European industry, economy and society, highly connected to food production and Europe''s high quality consumer market. This book addresses the maintenance of the dynamic features of the EU food chain and its capacity to confront the new challenges and to adjust adequately for the benefit of Europe''s food industry and economy.

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Book SynopsisThe goal of disability insurance is to replace a portion of a worker''s income should illness or disability prevent him or her from working. Individuals may receive disability benefits from either federal or state governments, or from private insurers. This book presents information on two components of federal disability benefits, those provided through the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs. The SSDI program is an insured program that provides benefits to individuals who have paid into the system and meet certain minimum work requirements. The SSI program, in contrast, is a means-tested program that does not have work or contribution requirements, but restricts benefits to those who meet asset and resource limitations.

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Book SynopsisEconomic motivations are generally the major driving force for the formation of free trade agreements among countries, but there are other reasons countries enter into FTAs, including political and security factors. Trade agreements were also expected to improve investor confidence, attract foreign investment, and create jobs. Mexico may have other reasons for entering into FTAs, such as expanding market access and decreasing its reliance on the United States as an export market. This book provides an overview of the North American Free Trade Agreement, the current functions of the free trade agreement, and the effects of this agreement which have affected both countries over the last five years.

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Book SynopsisThe final text of the proposed U.S.-Panama FTA incorporates specific amendments on key issues at the behest of congressional leadership. The most significant were adoption of enforceable labour standards, compulsory adherence to select multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs), and an easing of restrictions on developing country access to generic drugs. In these cases, the proposed U.S.-Panama FTA goes beyond provisions in existing bilateral FTAs and multilateral trade rules, including those contemplated in the Doha Round. This book presents the U.S.-Panama Free Trade Agreement, as well as an examination of the main points and effects of the agreement after three years'' time.

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Book SynopsisThis book presents and discusses information on the contemporary politics and economics of Asia. The coverage is intended to deal with Asia, its political dynamics, economic policies, institutions, and its future. Topics discussed herein include the European Union and Asia; identity change and the emergence of regionalism; trading security in alliances; China''s naval modernisation; education in China; the Australia-China economic relationship; and the capability for economic growth in Asia.

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Book SynopsisThis book presents and discusses information on the contemporary politics and economics of Asia. The coverage is intended to deal with Asia, its political dynamics, economic policies, institutions, and its future. Topics discussed herein include a profile of Central Asia, as well as the security of Central Asia; U.S.-China trade; policy development in Kyrgyz republic and Tajikistan; the evolution of the "One China" Policy; and Japan''s nuclear future.

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Book SynopsisThis book presents and discusses information on contemporary politics and economics of South and Central America. Topics discussed herein focus on South and Central America, its political dynamics, economic policies, institutions, and its future, as well as a specific focus on the countries of Colombia, Chile, Panama and Cuba.

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Book SynopsisThis book focuses on the rapid changes occurring in the Caucasus Region, which has been shown by recent events to be one of the world''s newest and potentially most incendiary hotspots. Topics discussed herein include political developments in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia; Azerbaijan''s 2005 legislative election; Caspian oil and gas production and prospects; and security issues in Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia.

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Book SynopsisThis book presents and discusses important political and economic changes in North America. Topics discussed herein include the federal government debt and debt limit; unauthorised employment in the United States; the National Intelligence Council; organised crime in the United States; sea-based ballistic missile defence; strategic arms control; Mexico-U.S. relations; and market-based greenhouse gas control.

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Book SynopsisThis book focuses on the rapid changes occurring in the Caucasus Region, which has been shown by recent events to be one of the world''s newest and potentially most incendiary hotspots. Topics discussed herein include the national security concept of Georgia; presidential elections in Armenia; the history and present condition of the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict; Russia-Georgia Conflict in South Ossetia; the Caucasus and Georgian economy; and the political developments in Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia.

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Book SynopsisThis book outlines the strategic framework to guide the activities of participants in homeland security towards a common end. A safe and secure homeland means more than preventing terrorist attacks from being carried out; it must also ensure that the liberties of all Americans are assured, privacy is protected and the means by which we interchange with the world - through travel, lawful immigration, trade, commerce, and exchange - are secured. In addition, while the importance of preventing another terrorist attack in the United States remains undiminished, much has been learned since September 11th, 2001 about the range of challenges we face.

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Book SynopsisThe appointment of a Supreme Court Justice is an event of major significance in American politics. Each appointment is of consequence because of the enormous judicial power the Supreme Court exercises as the highest appellate court in the federal judiciary. Appointments are usually infrequent, as a vacancy on the nine-member Court may occur only once or twice, or never at all, during a particular President''s years in office. This book examines the Supreme Court appointment and nominations process.

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Book SynopsisThis book examines the brutal attack at Fort Hood on November 5th, 2009, allegedly perpetrated by U.S. Army Major Nidal Malik Hasan, which has raised legitimate questions about why such an event happened, whether authorities, both civilian and military, could have prevented such an attack, and the national security implications of this incident. Unlike any event since 9/11, it has also fuelled discussion about the spectre and threat of a violent extremist ideology in our midst.

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Book SynopsisIn June 2013, two classified National Security Agency (NSA) collection programs received increased media attention based on unauthorised disclosures of classified documents by a contractor working for the NSA. Under one program, the NSA collects domestic telephone metadata (ie: call records) in bulk. Under the other program, implemented under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), the government collects the contents of electronic communications, including telephone calls and emails, where the target is reasonably believed to be a non-U.S. person located outside the United States. This book contains the results of an in-depth analysis of electronic communications collection under the program. It examines the program''s development and operation, statutory basis, constitutional implications, and whether it strikes the right balance between national security and privacy and civil liberties. Recommendations for policy reforms are provided as well.

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Book SynopsisLiberia held elections in October 2005, with a presidential runoff in November, a key step in a peace-building process following its second civil war in a decade. The war pitted the forces of Charles Taylor, elected president in 1997 after Liberia''s first civil war, against two armed anti-Taylor rebel groups. The war also destabilised neighbouring states, which accepted Liberian refugees and, in some cases, hosted anti-Taylor forces and became targets of the Taylor regime. This book examines developments in Liberia.

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