Warfare and defence Books

Book SynopsisThis volume offers an innovative and counter-intuitive study of how and why artificial intelligence-infused weapon systems will affect the strategic stability between nuclear-armed states. Johnson demystifies the hype surrounding artificial intelligence (AI) in the context of nuclear weapons and, more broadly, future warfare. The book highlights the potential, multifaceted intersections of this and other disruptive technology – robotics and autonomy, cyber, drone swarming, big data analytics, and quantum communications – with nuclear stability. Anticipating and preparing for the consequences of the AI-empowered weapon systems are fast becoming a critical task for national security and statecraft. Johnson considers the impact of these trends on deterrence, military escalation, and strategic stability between nuclear-armed states – especially China and the United States. The book draws on a wealth of political and cognitive science, strategic studies, and technical analysis to shed light on the coalescence of developments in AI and other disruptive emerging technologies.Artificial intelligence and the future of warfare sketches a clear picture of the potential impact of AI on the digitized battlefield and broadens our understanding of critical questions for international affairs. AI will profoundly change how wars are fought, and how decision-makers think about nuclear deterrence, escalation management, and strategic stability – but not for the reasons you might think.Trade Review'This superb book is a technical tour de force with a timely approach to emerging challenges to nuclear deterrence. In this way, it has significant potential to inform current policy among states as they contemplate – for example – the growth of Chinese nuclear forces.'Rose Gottemoeller, Payne Distinguished Lecturer at the Center for International Security and Cooperation, Stanford University'Johnson has crafted a superb narrative that examines the strategic risks of artificial intelligence and its potential impact on deterrence, stability and the maintenance of nuclear weapon capabilities. His evidence-based recommendations on the responsible application of artificial intelligence will provide policy makers and strategists with a range of ethical responses to the dilemmas of using non-human cognitive functions in national security.'Major General Mick Ryan'Artificial intelligence and the future of warfare present the reader with a clear and elegant understanding of artificial intelligence as it provides a robust technical foundation concerning key technological advances in the evolution of AI for a non-technical audience.'Augusto C. Dall’Agnol, Journal of Strategic Studies 'With Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Warfare, James Johnson truly advances the conversation around intelligence, strategic stability, and technology. Johnson is undoubtedly well-positioned to write this book given his education as a Political Scientist, lengthy career working in China, and intellectual interest in emerging technology, especially Artificial Intelligence (AI). While there are similar books on the intersection of emerging technology and geopolitics, Johnson’s work stands out since it addresses how AI influences intelligence collection and analysis which in turn shapes a state’s perception and actions. This approach is novel making Johnson’s contribution well-worth the time for strategic strategists.'Mark Grzegorzewski, Intelligence and National Security'A significant contribution to the wave of recent scholarship on the potential implications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for strategic warfare and great power competition. It is a must-read for strategic studies scholars, decision-makers, and military leaders.'Reuben Steff, Defense & Security Analysis'The book provides a good and comprehensive perspective on the nu­clear power play and strategic stability and how it is shaped by new technological developments.'Thomas Reinhold and Christian Reuter, Z AuBen Sicherheitspolit (2022) -- .Table of ContentsIntroduction: Opening the AI Pandora’s boxPart I: Destabilizing AI renaissance1 Military AI primer2 Artificial intelligence in the 2nd nuclear age Part II: Military AI superpowers3 New challenges to military-techno Pax Americana4 U.S.-China crisis stability under the AI nuclear shadowPart III: Nuclear instability redux?5 Hunting for nuclear weapons in the digital age6 Fast and the furious: Drone swarming and hypersonic weapons7 The AI-cyber security nexus8 Delegating strategic decisions to intelligent machinesConclusion: Managing an AI futureIndex

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Book SynopsisThis book offers a nuanced and detailed examination of two of the most important current debates about contemporary Russia's international activity: is Moscow acting strategically or opportunistically, and should this be understood in regional or global terms? The book addresses core themes of Russian activity – military, energy and economic - but it offers an unusual multi-disciplinary analysis to these themes. Monaghan incorporates both regional and thematic specialist expertise to give a fresh perspective to each of these core themes.Underpinned by detailed analyses of the revolution in Russian geospatial capabilities and the establishment of a strategic planning foundation, the book includes chapters on military and maritime strategies, energy security and economic diversification and influence. This serves to highlight the connections between military and economic interests that shape and drive Russian strategy.Trade Review'In Russian Grand Strategy in the Era of Global Power Competition, editor Andrew Monaghan brings together contributors to explore the military, political and economic features of Russian foreign policy. This book will be a useful starting point for researchers, policymakers, students of history and politics and all those looking to understand Russia’s long-term goals and sense of its place in the evolving world order.'LSE Review of Books -- .Table of ContentsForewordFlorence GaubPrefaceIan HillIntroduction Russian grand strategy and global power competitionAndrew Monaghan1 Mapping the globe and the revolution in Russia’s geospatial capabilityAlexander J. Kent2 Russia’s global maritime strategyMichael B. Petersen3 6th generation war and Russia’s global theatres of military activityCharles Bartles4 Looking to the global economy: Russia’s role as a supplier of strategically important goodsRichard Connolly5 Polar power: Russia’s 21st century power baseNazrin Mehdiyeva6 Strategic planning and management in RussiaJulian CooperConclusions Moscow’s strategy to become a ubiquitous powerAndrew Monaghan

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Book SynopsisFollowing the passage of the fifteenth and twentieth anniversaries of the entry of many former communist states into both NATO and the EU in 2019, this book takes a comprehensive look at the changed security conditions of these new member states. How has NATO and EU membership improved their overall defence protection, and what elements are still missing for them on an individual state basis?Utilising alliance politics theory, convergence/divergence theory and defence policy theory, the book provides an invaluable assessment of defence policies, from the stable East Central European states to the most jeopardised Baltic states in the north of Europe. With chapters on the Cold War defence conditions during the last two decades of Soviet domination, post 1989–91 transformations in the direction of democracy and the impact of the 2014 Ukraine–Russia–Crimea crisis, this book is essential reading for those seeking to understand the changed landscape of European politics in the twenty-first century.Table of Contents1 Introduction: membership anniversaries and theoretical security models – James W. Peterson and Jacek Lubecki2 Cold War security experiences of Eastern European States – Jacek Lubecki3 Anti-communist revolutions and the emergence of states responsible for their own defense – Jacek Lubecki4 NATO: Partnership for Peace (PfP) and a staggered admission process – James W. Peterson5 The EU as a security provider in Eastern Europe – Michael Baun 6 Secure East-Central European NATO members: the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Slovakia – James W. Peterson and Jacek Lubecki 7 Stable Balkan NATO/EU members: Albania and Bulgaria – Ivan P. Nikolov and James W. Peterson 8 Vulnerability of former Yugoslav NATO (Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro, and North Macedonia) and non-NATO (Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, and Serbia) states – James W. Peterson 9 States with significant security issues: Poland, Romania, and Moldova – Jacek Lubecki and James W. Peterson 10 Challenged Baltic States: Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania – Olavi Arens 11 Conclusion: moving beyond the 15-20-year anniversaries to stable policies in a time of constant political turmoil – James W. Peterson and Jacek LubeckiBibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisIn the past, while visiting the First World War battlefields, the author often wondered where the various Victoria Cross actions took place. He resolved to find out. In 1988, in the midst of his army career, research for this book commenced and over the years numerous sources have been consulted. Victoria Crosses on the Western Front: Battles of the Hindenburg Line - Havrincourt and Epehy is designed for the battlefield visitor as much as the armchair reader. A thorough account of each VC action is set within the wider strategic and tactical context. Detailed sketch maps show the area today, together with the battle-lines and movements of the combatants. It will allow visitors to stand upon the spot, or very close to, where each VC was won. Photographs of the battle sites richly illustrate the accounts. There is also a comprehensive biography for each recipient, covering every aspect of their lives warts and all: parents and siblings, education, civilian employment, military career, wife and children, death and burial/commemoration. A host of other information, much of it published for the first time, reveals some fascinating characters, with numerous links to many famous people and events.

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Book SynopsisThe Battle of Midway was, on paper, an improbable victory for the smaller, less experienced American navy and air force, so much so that it was quickly described as "a miracle." Yet fortune favored the Americans at Midway, and the conventional wisdom has it that the Americans' lucky streak continued as the war in the Pacific turned against the Japanese. This new history demonstrates that luck, let alone miracles, had little to do with it. In The Silver Waterfall, Brendan Simms and Steven McGregor show how the efforts of America's peacetime navy combined with creative innovations made by designers and industrialists were largely responsible for the victory. The Douglas Dauntless Dive Bomber, a uniquely conceived fighting weapon, delivered a brutally accurate attack the Japanese quickly came to dread. Told through a vivid narrative, Simms and McGregor show how the course of the war in the Pacific was dramatically altered, emphasizing the crucial combination of a culture of innovation, a brilliant contribution from immigrants, and a vital intelligence coup that allowed the navy to orchestrate the devastating attack on the Japanese and dominate the Pacific for good.

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Book SynopsisFrom the acclaimed veteran political analyst, a searing new exposé of how the American military, with the help of the media, conceals its perpetual war“No one is better at exposing the dynamics of media and politics that keep starting and continuing wars. War Made Invisible will provide the fresh and profound clarity that our country desperately needs.” —Daniel Ellsberg More than twenty years ago, 9/11 and the war in Afghanistan set into motion a hugely consequential shift in America’s foreign policy: a perpetual state of war that is almost entirely invisible to the American public. War Made Invisible, by the journalist and political analyst Norman Solomon, exposes how this happened, and what its consequences are, from military and civilian casualties to drained resources at home. From Iraq through Afghanistan and Syria and on to little-known deployments in a range of countries around the globe, the United States has been at perpetual war for at least the past two decades. Yet many of these forays remain off the radar of average Americans. Compliant journalists add to the smokescreen by providing narrow coverage of military engagements and by repeating the military’s talking points. Meanwhile, the increased use of high technology, air power, and remote drones has put distance between soldiers and the civilians who die. Back at home, Solomon argues, the cloak of invisibility masks massive Pentagon budgets that receive bipartisan approval even as policy makers struggle to fund the domestic agenda. Necessary, timely, and unflinching, War Made Invisible is an eloquent moral call for counting the true costs of war.Trade ReviewPraise for War Made Invisible:"Norman Solomon has done the nation a great service by collecting this information to try to make our wars a little more visible."—Radical Philosophy Review"Norman Solomon has written a new book that deserves to be widely read . . . replete with important insights into how the media establishment and government officials from both major political parties promote the interests of the military-industrial complex. In War Made Invisible, readers will also find an eloquent moral call to end this state of affairs."—Monthly Review "A very readable reality check about post-9/11 U.S. foreign policy . . . full of illuminating quotes and facts."—Peace News"Solomon offers a powerful framework for understanding geopolitical crises, as well as the unseen yet enduring costs of militarism."—Truthout "Norman Solomon’s War Made Invisible erects an edifice of evidence showing deliberate, consistent, coordinated, and well-funded efforts to squelch movements opposing the vicious consequences of war. . . . His highly worthwhile book invites readers to embrace his clarity and campaign to end all wars."—The Progressive“[War Made Invisible] builds a convincing case that too many secrets are being kept from the public. It’s a troubling and worthwhile call for change.”—Publishers Weekly“A powerful, necessary indictment of efforts to disguise the human toll of American foreign policy.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)“An engrossing story of governmental hubris and media compliance. . . . Solomon offers a necessary beam of light on an important subject shrouded in darkness.”—Booklist“For decades Norman Solomon has been one of the most insightful critics of the incestuous and war-addicted American press. His new book gives us reason to weep and also to cheer. Weep to see how eagerly our media promotes foreign wars and the politicians and arms makers who design them. Cheer to know that a few clear-eyed Americans see what they are doing and write about it.”—Stephen Kinzer, award-winning journalist and bestselling author of All the Shah’s Men“I couldn’t put it down. This book, written in an easy-to-read style, gets to the heart of the matter. The Pentagon (with an annual PR budget of more than $600 million) has a cardinal rule: Above all do not allow American families to actually see the death and destruction that our government is inflicting on mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters in other countries.”—Ben Cohen, co-founder, Ben & Jerry’s “The great African writer Chinua Achebe recounts an African proverb that ‘until the lions have their own historians, the history of the hunt will always glorify the hunter.’ In Norman Solomon’s gripping and painful study of what the hunter seeks to make invisible, the lions have found their historian, who scrupulously dismantles the deceit of the hunters and records what is all too visible to the lions.”—Noam Chomsky“With an immense and rare humanity, Solomon insists that we awaken from the slumber of denial and distraction and confront the carnage of the U.S.’s never-ending military onslaughts. A staggeringly important intervention.”—Naomi Klein, bestselling author of The Shock Doctrine “Solomon exposes how media lies, distortions, and misdirections represent the abandonment of journalism’s promise to connect human beings to one another.”—Janine Jackson, program director, Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting “Norman Solomon exposes the cant and lies that underpin the global war on terror, indicting the policymakers, functionaries, and media propagandists who perpetuate this ‘political license to kill.’ Read it to understand how Americans were deceived and at last end what was designed to be a perpetual campaign of global violence and surveillance.”—Charles Glass, former ABC News chief Middle East correspondent and author of Syria Burning and Deserter “One of the singular achievements of the U.S. military industrial complex has been its relative invisibility. Enabled by a complicit media, our bloody wars fade into the backdrop of most Americans’ everyday lives, as does the insidious militarization of our culture and economy. Even in Washington, DC, the heart of the complex, one rarely sees a uniform. Norman Solomon performs a vital service with his vivid depiction of the reality behind the artfully crafted veil, and its grim consequences for all of us.”—Andrew Cockburn, author of Kill Chain and The Spoils of War, and Washington editor, Harper’s Magazine “When my father hit the black sands of Iwo Jima, the photograph of the flag raising atop Mount Suribachi took 48 hours from the snap of the camera to mothers and fathers viewing their sons on the front pages of their hometown newspapers. Today dozens of conflicts are unseen and unknown by us the taxpayers who pay for them. Norman Solomon now explains how this seemingly impossible situation has become our everyday reality.”—James Bradley, author of Flag of Our Fathers “No one is better at exposing the dynamics of media and politics that keep starting and continuing wars. War Made Invisible will provide the fresh and profound clarity that our country desperately needs.”—Daniel Ellsberg, bestselling author of The Doomsday Machine “It has been impossible to build an ongoing, effective anti-war movement when the mainstream media in this country has refused to explain to the American people the mendacious pretexts and horrific consequences of U.S. military adventures. War Made Invisible pulls back the curtain on the warmakers and the fawning journalists who enable them to lie and kill with impunity. It exposes the tangled web between the lives we destroy abroad and violence that tears at the heart of our community back home. The book is an antidote to twenty years of U.S. media malpractice and should be required reading for journalists and all those who long to live in peace. ”—Medea Benjamin, co-founder of CODEPINK “Norman Solomon has been speaking necessary truths about America’s addiction to military power for decades, with clarity, directness, and unswerving principle. The message he delivers here is especially urgent in our era of extreme political division: Almost no Americans understand the true costs of our war machine, and both parties are actively deceiving us.”—Andrew O’Hehir, executive editor, Salon“‘The first casualty when war comes is truth,’ Senator Hiram Johnson of California said in 1929. Almost a century later, corporate media ever more closely conforms to the dictates of Pentagon planners, shutting out whistleblowers, dissenters, and those at the target end of U.S. military might. Cutting through this manufactured ‘fog of war,’ Norman Solomon eloquently casts sunlight, the best disinfectant, on the propaganda that fuels perpetual war. War Made Invisible is essential reading in these increasingly perilous times.”—Amy Goodman, Democracy Now!"In this brilliant and timely book, Mr. Solomon courageously exposes America for having veered tragically off course, leaving behind its sacred ideals and betraying the very roots of its revolutionary past. In these difficult times when truth and justice seem to have lost their way, a very special and daring book appears out of the darkness of this seemingly endless night, giving us all as a nation and people a reason to hope."—Ron Kovic, Vietnam veteran and author of Born on the Fourth of July

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Book SynopsisFew military officers can ascend to the ranks of senior leadership without eventually being assigned to Washington, DC, where newcomers navigating the system inevitably become emmeshed, flabbergasted, and stymied by entrenched bureaucratic processes they had no idea existed. A career in diplomacy or working on the Hill often involves the process-oriented work necessary to keep departments funded and the government functional. In order to succeed, one must understand these rules, especially as they apply to resourcing. Without funding, strategies and policies are merely interesting ideas. Getting an idea or a program resourced requires a thorough understanding of the process.Considering the national security enterprise from the standpoint of strategic resourcing is neither simple nor straightforward. To succeed requires a multidisciplinary approach; a team with substantial background knowledge on such diverse and byzantine topics as the Department of Defense acquisition system, the president''s budget submission, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency''s National Preparedness Frameworks, in addition to a basic understanding of macroeconomics. Further, the development of a cohesive and logical narrative is difficult because the Framers'' intended checks and balances among the executive and legislative branches effectively preclude the possibility of seamless integration among national security priorities. Anyone aspiring to have a career in national security must understand the process in order to be effective.Graduate school programs in security studies, public policy, and political science offer multiple courses that consider bureaucracy from academic and theoretical perspectives, but these classes generally do not attempt to offer a practitioner''s view of surviving and thriving within the Washington bureaucracy. And although individual government departments and agencies such as the Department of Defense''s Joint Staff and the Department of State''s Foreign Service Institute (FSI) offer courses for personnel newly assigned to Washington, the majority of the learning occurs through on-the-job training.This book fills the gap and provides a much-needed, theoretically grounded, and practical guide. Each chapter in this volume is by a practitioner with decades of experience working on resourcing issues in Washington. Their perspectives are informed by the cultures of the agencies in which they have worked and the positions they have held. Many currently teach in DC-based graduate degree programs in a variety of disciplines, including strategy, economics, and organizational leadership. Resourcing the National Security Enterprise will be a valuable resource for aspiring practitioners who are beginning or seeking careers in the American federal government and to those who wish to learn more about the inner workings of resourcing the national security enterprise.*This book is in the Rapid Communications in Conflict and Security (RCCS) Series (General Editor: Dr. Geoffrey R.H. Burn).

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Book SynopsisThis sweeping history of the development of professional, institutionalized intelligence examines the implications of the fall of the state monopoly on espionage today and beyond. During the Cold War, only the alliances clustered around the two superpowers maintained viable intelligence endeavors, whereas a century ago, many states could aspire to be competitive at these dark arts. Today, larger states have lost their monopoly on intelligence skills and capabilities as technological and sociopolitical changes have made it possible for private organizations and even individuals to unearth secrets and influence global events. Historian Michael Warner addresses the birth of professional intelligence in Europe at the beginning of the twentieth century and the subsequent rise of US intelligence during the Cold War. He brings this history up to the present day as intelligence agencies used the struggle against terrorism and the digital revolution to improve capabilities in the 2000s. Throughout, the book examines how states and other entities use intelligence to create, exploit, and protect secret advantages against others, and emphasizes how technological advancement and ideological competition drive intelligence, improving its techniques and creating a need for intelligence and counterintelligence activities to serve and protect policymakers and commanders. The world changes intelligence and intelligence changes the world. This sweeping history of espionage and intelligence will be a welcomed by practitioners, students, and scholars of security studies, international affairs, and intelligence, as well as general audiences interested in the evolution of espionage and technology.Trade ReviewExplores a series of international, domestic, or technological crises and how governments and intelligence professionals scrambled to meet these challenges, only to see these innovations shape future events in sometimes unanticipated and unwanted ways. -- James J. Wirtz Political Science Quarterly A spectacular contribution to the literature. In it he covers an enormous amount of complex and nuanced material in an extremely easy style, yet his substantial chapter notes and bibliography fully support the academically inclined reader. Were I ever again to teach the history of intelligence, Rise and Fall would unquestionably be my primary text. -- Captain Steven E. Maffeo, U.S. Naval Reserve (Retired) Proceedings Were I ever again to teach the history of intelligence, [this] would unquestionably be my primary text. Proceedings A good guide to the nature of both sides of intelligence systems -- Father James V. Schall, S.J. Catholic Pulse A fine assessment of intelligence processes through the years. Midwest Book ReviewTable of ContentsPreface Timeline Introduction 1. From Ancient to Modern2. A Revolutionary Age 3. As Good as It Gets4. Cold War: Technology 5. Cold War: Ideology6. The Liberal Triumph? 7. The Shadow War Conclusion: Intelligence All around Us Works Cited Index

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Book SynopsisThis book analyzes the evolution of Russian military thought and how Russia's current thinking about war is reflected in recent crises. While other books describe current Russian practice, Oscar Jonsson provides the long view to show how Russian military strategic thinking has developed from the Bolshevik Revolution to the present. He closely examines Russian primary sources including security doctrines and the writings and statements of Russian military theorists and political elites. What Jonsson reveals is that Russia's conception of the very nature of war is now changing, as Russian elites see information warfare and political subversion as the most important ways to conduct contemporary war. Since information warfare and political subversion are below the traditional threshold of armed violence, this has blurred the boundaries between war and peace. Jonsson also finds that Russian leaders have, particularly since 2011/12, considered themselves to be at war with the United States and its allies, albeit with non-violent means. This book provides much needed context and analysis to be able to understand recent Russian interventions in Crimea and eastern Ukraine, how to deter Russia on the eastern borders of NATO, and how the West must also learn to avoid inadvertent escalation.Trade ReviewThis book provides much needed context and analysis to be able to understand recent Russian interventions in Crimea and eastern Ukraine, how to deter Russia on the eastern borders of NATO, and how the West must also learn to avoid inadvertent escalation. * Irish Tech News *This book provides much needed context and analysis to be able to understand recent Russian interventions in Crimea and and eastern Ukraine and how to deter Russia on the Eastern borders of NATO. * Eye Spy Magazine *The ... book offers an efficient overview of trends in Russian military thought since the collapse of the Soviet Union paired with detailed examinations of the two major subjects that have defined those trends: information warfare and color revolutions. * Strategy Bridge *In this well-documented review of Russia’s understanding of war, Jonsson provides an insightful analysis of the profound differences between Western and Russian perceptions of key 21st-century global events. * Choice *While many geopolitical works superimpose (albeit often subconsciously) the assumptions of the analyst upon that which is being analyzed (mirror imaging), The Russian Understanding of War seeks to pierce Moscow’s strategic calculus and the “nuances of the Russian language” ... to answer the question, “Has the Russian understanding of the nature of war changed, and if so, how?” * Strategic Studies Quarterly *Oscar Jonsson’s The Russian Understanding of War is a valuable addition to the corpus of knowledge on Russia’s military thinking about war. * Joint Forces Quarterly *Jonsson offers an interesting illumination of Russian thinking. * RUSI *Drawing on a systematic and exhaustive reading of Russian doctrinal documents and military theory, Jonsson’s thesis is simple: the Russian military’s conception has fundamentally changed in the last decade. * Russian Review *What this timely and wellresearched book does is nicely encapsulate both change and continuity in Russian military doctrine and capabilities, sum- marizing the most influential thinkers within Russia and drawing from primary documents. * Political Science Quarterly *The Russian Understanding of War is an excellent work for anyone looking to understand Russian perspectives on the nature of conflict. * Center for International Maritime Security (CIMSEC) *The Russian Understanding of War brings important light to several intersecting and imperfectly understood topics about Russian strategic thought, as well as about the Kremlin's perspective about and use of information warfare. The book is well structured for addressing its complex subject matter in earnest. This is a valuable addition to the literature on twenty-first-century security issues. * H-Net *Table of ContentsIntroduction 1 The Soviet Understanding of War Soviet Military Science The Cause of War The Nature of War War as an Instrument of Politics Evgeny Messner Conclusion 2 The Russian Understanding of War after the Dissolution of the Soviet Union The 1990s: Continuity The 2000s: Confusion The 2010s: Change Conclusion 3 Information Warfare The Information Security Doctrines Information-Technical Warfare Information-Psychological Warfare Conclusion 4 Color Revolutions The Political View The Military View Conclusion Conclusion Policy Implications References IndexAbout the Author

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Book SynopsisDespite the prevailing view that the Marine Corps bore the brunt of the fighting in the Pacific War, the men of the US Army played a decisive role in the conflict. Indeed, GIs did most of the war's heavy lifting on the ground by conducting more amphibious assaults and prosecuting more operations than the Marines. By the end of the war there were 1.77 million U.S. Army troops in the Pacific and Asia, compared to the USMC's 484,000. The Pacific was as much the Army's war as the fighting in the European theater. The U.S. Army deployed twenty combat divisions to fight in the Pacific, including famous ones such as the 1st Cavalry Division and the 25th Tropic Lightning Division. Most were infantry, and included Regular, National Guard and draftee divisions. The divisions were deployed and maneuvered by theater, field army, and corps commanders around the Pacific's geostrategic chessboard to battle and defeat the Japanese. The Army may have wanted its divisions to be interchangeable and unifo

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Book SynopsisFrom the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Black Flags, the harrowing true story of the mission to find and destroy Syria's chemical weapons and defeat ISIS - only to lose control of both.'Presents [the story] sharply and compellingly' Washington Post'Excellent' IndependentIn August 2012, Syrian president Bashar al-Assad was clinging to power in a vicious civil war. Concerned that Assad might resort to chemical weapons, the international community warned that any such use would cross "a red line", warranting a military response. When a year later Assad bombed the Damascus suburb of Ghouta with sarin gas, killing hundreds, global leaders were torn between living up to their word and becoming mired in another unpopular Middle Eastern war. So when Russia offered to store Syria's chemical weapons, the world leaped at the solution.So begins a race to find, remove, and destroy 1,300 tons of chemical weapons in the middle of Syria's civil war. Told in harrowing detail, the initial effort is a tactical triumph for the West, but soon Russia's long game becomes clear: it has UN cover to assist Assad's regime. Meanwhile, the territory gains of ISIS further destabilise the country, and the terrorist organisation seeks to secure Syria's chemical arsenals for itself, with horrifying consequences.Red Line is a classic Joby Warrick true-life thriller: a character-driven narrative with a cast of heroes and villains, including weapons hunters, politicians, commandos, diplomats, and spies. Through original reporting and eyewitness accounts from direct participants, Joby Warrick reveals how a well-intentioned effort to save Syrian lives became swept up in a calamitous chain of events that would spawn a terrorist movement, unleash torrents of refugees, frustrate two U.S. presidents and empower the Western alliance's most dangerous foes.Trade ReviewExcellent. * The Independent *Highly readable and well-sourced - a real-life thriller. Engrossing. -- Ian Black * Observer *Presents [the story] sharply and compellingly. * Washington Post *Shines a light on just how extraordinary the international operation to rid Syria of 1,300 tonnes of some of the most dangerous materials on the planet was. Powerful. * The New Arab *'Combines the novelist's gift for storytelling with the journalist's gift for hard research...essential and compelling reading for anyone seeking to understand the unimaginable tragedy of the Syrian civil war' * The Tablet *

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Book SynopsisAlbrecht Durer is probably the most famous German artist of the Renaissance, if not of all time. His works are world-famous and he was a master in numerous artistic disciplines such as woodcut, copperplate engraving, drawing and painting. What is less well known is that he was interested in weapons and fencing throughout his life. He produced several woodcuts for a tournament book by Emperor Maximilian I, but he devoted himself much more thoroughly to the subject of duels in his own extensive fencing manuscript. Durer's fight book stands out from the mass of illustrated fencing manuscripts because of its outstanding quality. In well over 100 elaborate drawings, the master uniquely depicts dynamic pairs of fighters practising contemporary combat techniques, such as wrestling or sword and dagger fighting. Since its creation more than 500 years ago, the fight book has never been published in its entirety. This edition offers the complete contents of the manuscript for the very first time: All illustrations are reproduced in colour and the complete text is presented in a letter-perfect transcription as well as a translation into modern English. Albrecht Durer's fight book offers a unique, new look at Durer the artist and Durer the fighter.

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Book SynopsisThe later part of the Bronze Age (1500-700 BC) was a time of settlement expansion and economic prosperity in Ireland. This was a landscape of small autonomous farming communities, but there is also evidence for control of territory and population, involving centralized organization of trade and economy, ritual and military force. That concentration of power was connected to the emergence of chiefdom polities active in the consolidation of large regional territories. Their competitive tendencies led on occasion to conflict and warfare, at a time of growing militarism evident in the mass production of bronze weaponry, including the first use of swords. Hillforts are another manifestation of a warrior culture that emerged not only in Ireland but across Europe during the Middle and Late Bronze Age. They were centers for high-status residence, ceremony and assembly, and represented an important visual display of power in the landscape. This is the first project to study hillforts in relation to warfare and conflict in Bronze Age Ireland. New evidence for the destruction of hillforts is connected to territorial disputes and other forms of competition arising from the ambitions of regional warlords, often with catastrophic consequences for individual communities. This project combines remote sensing and GIS-based landscape analysis with conventional archaeological survey and excavation, to investigate ten prehistoric hillforts across southern Ireland. These include a cluster of nine examples at Baltinglass, Co. Wicklow, often termed ‘Ireland’s hillfort capital’. The results provide new insights into the design and construction of these immense sites, as well as details of their occupation and abandonment. The chronology of Irish hillforts is reviewed, with a new understanding of origins and development. The project provides a challenging insight into the relationship of hillforts to warfare, social complexity and the political climate of late prehistoric Ireland.Table of Contents1. Introduction (William O’Brien); 2. Prehistoric Hillforts in Ireland and Europe (James O’Driscoll); 3. Clashanimud Hillfort, Co. Cork (William O’Brien); 4. Other Bronze Age Hillforts in Munster/south Leinster (William O’Brien); 5. The Baltinglass Hillfort Landscape of Co. Wicklow (James O’Driscoll); 6. The Baltinglass Hillfort Excavations (William O’Brien); 7. Hillfort Chronology in Ireland (William O’Brien); 8. Modelling the Baltinglass Hillfort Landscape (James O’Driscoll); 9. Hillforts and Warfare (William O’Brien); 10. The Hillfort in Prehistoric Ireland (James O’Driscoll and William O’Brien); Appendix 1. Archaeological survey of environs of Clashanimud hillfort (Nick Hogan); Appendix 2. Public presentation of Clashanimud hillfort (William O’Brien); Appendix 3. Hillfort conservation and forestry in Ireland (William O’Brien; Catalogue of hillforts in Ireland (James O’Driscoll); Bibliography

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Book SynopsisThis book explores terrorism as a strategic choic-- one made carefully and deliberately by rational actors. Through an analysis of the terrorist groups of Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Yemen, it charts a series of different strategic 'scripts' at play in terrorist behaviour, from survival, to efforts in mobilising a supporter base, through to the grinding attrition of a long terrorist campaign. The theme that runs through all these organisations is the unbridgeable gap between their strategic vision,and what actually unfolds. Regardless of which script terrorists follow, they often fall short of achieving their political ambitions. And yet, despite its frequent failure, the terrorist strategy is returned to time and again--people continue to join such groups, and to commit violence. Scripts of Terror explores the reasons behind this. It asks why, if terrorism is so rarely successful and so hard to pull off, its approach remains an appealing one. And it examines how terrorists formulate their strategies, and how they envisage achieving their ambitions through violence. Most importantly, it explores why they so often fail.Trade Review'Scripts of Terror offers an essential contribution to our understanding of Islamist groups’ narratives. In this stimulating, clearly written and empirically engaging book, Wilkinson offers every researcher or student a compelling and inspiring framework for understanding how the terrorist mindset might explain violent, yet often unsuccessful, endeavours.' -- International Affairs

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Book SynopsisIn 1993, a newly-appointed CIA director warned that Western powers might have ‘slain a large dragon’ with the fall of the USSR, but now faced a ‘bewildering variety of poisonous snakes’. Since then, both dragons (state enemies like Russia and China) and snakes (terrorist and guerrilla organisations) have watched the US struggle in Iraq and Afghanistan, and mastered new methods in response: hybrid and urban warfare, political manipulation, and harnessing digital technology. Leading soldier-scholar David Kilcullen reveals everything the West’s opponents have learned from twenty-first-century conflict and explains how their cutting-edge tactics and adaptability pose a serious threat to America and its allies, disabling the West’s military advantage. The Dragons and the Snakes is a compelling, counterintuitive look at the new, vastly complex global arena. Kilcullen reshapes our understanding of the West’s foes, and shows how it can respond.Trade Review'This book should be read by everyone in uniform.' -- The Times‘Impressive … The Dragons and the Snakes is based on a formidable array of military and political sources.’ -- The Financial Times‘Interesting and provocative.’ -- The Sunday Times‘An eye-opening look at the state of strategic balance between the United States and its rivals, large and small … Essential reading for anyone concerned with America’s future on the world stage.’ -- Kirkus'Disturbingly brilliant. David Kilcullen, ever the thoughtful observer of wars and the people who wage them, captures the changes in warfare that already confound and threaten to overwhelm us. He correctly shows that we are mentally and physically unprepared for the new nature of conflict, and will likely pay dearly for it.' -- Stanley McChrystal, Retd US Army General, and Partner, McChrystal Group'David Kilcullen has produced another thoughtful, important book. At a time when some believe that the return of competition with great powers might serve as an emotional catharthis to help forget the long war against jihadist terrorist organisations, the author exposes and transcends that false choice. His ideas about how to fight for peace in a dangerous world should be read and discussed not only by diplomats, defence officials, and military officers, but also by citizens concerned about securing a better future for their children.' -- H.R. McMaster, Retd US Army Lt-General, and author of 'Dereliction of Duty' and 'Battlegrounds''Once again David Kilcullen succeeds in demonstrating how our adversaries are adapting faster than we are to the experiences of the recent past. Timely advice for defence strategists on how to apply those lessons, and to plan for the next conflict, not the last.' -- Professor Sir David Omand, former UK Security and Intelligence Coordinator

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Book SynopsisHow does the Taliban wage war? How has its war changed over time? Firstly, the movement’s extraordinary military operation relies on financial backing. This volume analyses such funding. The Taliban’s external sources of support include foreign governments and non-state groups, both of which have affected the Taliban's military campaigns and internal politics. Secondly, this is the first full-length study of the Taliban to acknowledge and discuss in detail the movement’s polycentric character. Here not only the Quetta Shura, but also the Haqqani Network and the Taliban’s other centres of power, are afforded the attention they deserve. The Taliban at War is based on extensive field research, including hundreds of interviews with Taliban members at all levels of the organisation, community elders in Taliban-controlled areas, and other sources. It covers the Taliban insurgency from its first manifestations in 2002 up to the end of 2015. The five-month Battle of Kunduz epitomised the ongoing transition of the Taliban from an insurgent group to a more conventional military force, intent on fighting a protracted civil war. In this latest book, renowned Afghanistan expert Antonio Giustozzi rounds off his twenty years of studying the Taliban with an authoritative study detailing the evolution of its formidable military machine.Trade Review‘['The Taliban at War' is] highly informed and detailed … [It is] based on extensive field work in Afghanistan by the author (a renowned expert on the region) and his Afghan researchers’. -- Washington Times‘Giustozzi provides a detailed and dense account of the Taliban’s resilience. [This book] is an important contribution to the history of the American-led war in Afghanistan.’ -- Foreign AffairsA detailed description of the changing nature of the war in Afghanistan over the past two decades, and how the Taliban and its leaders have responded over time.’ -- CHOICE‘Giustozzi’s narrative skill, analytical authority, and long-standing reputation as an expert on the Taliban and events in Afghanistan after 2001 are advanced in The Taliban at War.‘ -- Terrorism and Political Violence'Documents in great detail the history and evolution of theAfghan Taliban’s military strategy and capabilities as well as its internal divisions and partial fragmentation. … provides a wealth of detail for academics, students, and policymakers to consider with regard to the trajectory and future of the Afghan conflict and state-building experiment.' * Muslim World Book Review *'A fine-meshed and carefully documented analysis of how the Taliban's military organisation and strategy have evolved since the movement's defeat in 2001. Uniquely sourced from over 400 interviews, this book will clearly be a standard reference on the subject.' -- Astri Suhrke, Senior Researcher, Chr. Michelsen Institute, Bergen and author of 'When More is Less: The International Project in Afghanistan''Based primarily on first-hand interviews, Giustozzi's expansive new book presents a treasure trove of new and important information on the Afghan Taliban, and might well be the work to which all future scholarly explorations of the Taliban will be compared.' -- Thomas H. Johnson, Research Professor of National Security Affairs, Naval Postgraduate School and author of 'Taliban Narratives'

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Book SynopsisEight years after annexing Crimea, Russia embarked on a full-scale invasion of neighbouring Ukraine in February 2022. For Vladimir Putin, this was a legacy-defining mission—to restore Russia’s sphere of influence and undo Ukraine’s surprisingly resilient democratic experiment. Yet Putin’s aspirations were swiftly eviscerated, as the conflict degenerated into a bloody war of attrition and the Russian economy faced crippling sanctions. How can we make sense of his decision to invade? This book argues that Putin’s policy of global counter-revolution is driven not by systemic factors, such as preventing NATO expansion, but domestic ones: the desire to unite Russians around common principles and consolidate his personal brand of authoritarianism. This objective has inspired military interventions in Crimea, Donbas and Syria, and now all-out war against Kyiv. Samuel Ramani explores why Putin opted for regime change in Ukraine, rather than a smaller-scale intervention in Donbas, and considers the impact on his own regime’s legitimacy. How has Russia’s long-term political and foreign policy trajectory shifted? And how will the international response reshape the world order?Trade Review'[Ramani's] encyclopedic descriptions... yield interesting details and... solid tactical analysis.' -- The New York Times'Looks behind the headlines to determine the motivations for the invasion and the likely path forward. Ramani is convincing in his view that the war marks a seismic shift in the geopolitical landscape. Clear-minded and authoritative, this book is a thorough analysis of how Putin's gambit fits into the big picture.' -- Kirkus Reviews‘A strongly researched account of the events that led to the tragic Russo-Ukrainian war.’ -- The Washington Free Beacon‘An important, well-referenced book that covers the details and impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.’ -- CHOICE'Unpicks Putin's concocted rationales for invading Ukraine... [and] dissects Russia's strategic military failings.' -- Labour Hub‘The book represents an open-ended chronicle of a very short, but significant, phase in the Russian-Ukrainian confrontation.’ -- The Russian Review'This book will help those who cannot understand why and how a genocidal war of colonial reconquest came to be launched on Europe in the twenty-first century. But it also explains clearly the vital importance of that war for the future of Russia itself and of global security.' -- Keir Giles, Research Director, Conflict Studies Research Centre'This valuable study offers a compelling, detailed and well-sustained argument that Putin seeks to subjugate Ukraine through war, as part of a broader illiberal "counter-revolutionary" agenda for control of former Soviet territory.' -- Roy Allison, Professor of Russian and Eurasian International Relations, University of Oxford'Samuel Ramani's book on Russia's invasion of Ukraine will doubtless be followed by many others, but when it comes to meticulous research, balanced assessments, acute insights, and comprehensiveness, this superb volume has set a very high standard.' -- Rajan Menon, co-author of 'Conflict in Ukraine: The Unwinding of the Post-Cold War Order'

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Book SynopsisThere are countless books on war photography, most of these focusing on dramatic images made by photojournalists in combat zones. Photography and War instead proposes a radically expanded notion of war photography, one that encompasses a far broader terrain of geographies, chronologies, practices and viewpoints. Pippa Oldfied considers photography’s fundamental role in military reconnaissance, propaganda and protest, exposure of war crimes, and the memorialisation of war, among other themes. While iconic images by well-known names such as Roger Fenton and Robert Capa are included, the viewpoints of people who have historically been overlooked - women and photographers from diasporic and non-Western backgrounds - are forcefully present. As a result, this book offers a nuanced and more inclusive understanding of war as a far-reaching undertaking in which anyone might be implicated and affected. Richly illustrated, with some photos published for the first time, this book offers an accessible and well-rounded introduction to photography’s perhaps most contested, complex and emotive subject.

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Book SynopsisEurasianism: An Ideology for the Multipolar World investigates the ideology of Eurasianism, a political doctrine that founds its principles on geopolitics and conservatism. Specifically, the book examines neo-Eurasianist thought and its implications for the international system. After collocating Eurasianism in the spectrum of conservative theories, the research analyzes its historical evolution from the early 20th century to its contemporary manifestations. Pizzolo describes the liaison between Eurasianism and geopolitics, describing the nature of geopolitics and the main theories that highlight the relevance of the Eurasian landmass, including Mackinder’s “Heartland theory”, Spykman’s “Rimland theory”, and Haushofer’s “Kontinentalblock” project. The book also focuses on the central elements of the neo-Eurasianist ideology, including the key features of the so-called “Fourth Political Theory”, arguing that Eurasianism could represent a theoretical contribution for the advent of the multipolar world.Trade ReviewSince the disintegration of the Soviet Union, Russia's efforts to define itself as well as to reknit the Soviet space has generated political and scholarly attention in the West as well as in Russia. At the center of interest is "Eurasianism," which serves to define Russia as both European and Asian and as a scaffold for various projects to integrate former Soviet republics. Defining "Eurasianism" as an ideology, Pizzolo (LUISS Guido Carlo Univ., Italy) addresses the concept in the context of geopolitical theories, notably those of Halford Mackinder and Nicholas J. Spykman. This covers familiar ground, but his narrative on Aleksandr Dugin's "neo-Eurasianism" is a useful study of the more controversial aspects of "Eurasianism." Among other things, Pizzolo discusses Dugin's "Fourth Political Theory," a peculiar melding of liberalism, fascism, and Marxism that is intended to replace Western Atlanticism as a dominant world order. The international system, Dugin argues, is becoming multipolar. Pizzolo also addresses Dugin's much-criticized advocacy of Russian imperialism. Pizzolo's study is well documented with a bibliography rich in Russian sources. The book is strongly recommended for all university readers. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty. * Choice *“Eurasianism: An Ideology for the Multipolar World represents a useful study to understand the dynamics of the current international system in its evolution towards a post-unipolar context. By analyzing the Eurasianist doctrine and the main geopolitical theories behind it, Pizzolo addresses all the relevant sources and cites the most important authors from the field. The book embodies a valuable tool and a noteworthy contribution for the investigation of international relations.” -- Gabriele Natalizia, La Sapienza University of Rome“The twenty-first century and multipolar world need formulas of understanding in terms of the reality of international politics and post-ideological new paradigms: among them, ‘Eurasia’ is not only a geographical paradigm, but also a longstanding cultural reference for the Russian world. Within this book, ‘Eurasianism’ is explained as the essential lens to read both the Russian soul and Russia’s links with neighbors and other countries.” -- Andrea Carteny, La Sapienza University of RomeTable of ContentsChapter 1: Ideology as a methodological tool for interpreting EurasianismChapter 2: From early Eurasianism to neo-Eurasianism. A historical and philosophical overlookChapter 3: The liaison between geopolitics and EurasianismChapter 4: The foundations of Eurasian power. The strategic role of the Heartland region in geopolitical thoughtChapter 5: The Eurasianist ideology. Theory, mission, and programChapter 6: The antagonists of Eurasianism. Post-liberalism, Atlanticism, and unipolar globalismChapter 7: The Eurasianist vision of global order. The quest for a multipolar world

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Book SynopsisThis definitive history of the Pathfinders and the role they played in World War Two takes an in-depth look at the elite unit, from its initial inception, and less than spectacular start, to its development as a precision instrument that transformed bomber operations. The aircraft, technology and weapons used are covered in full, as are the characters involved with the unit. The author also details the training and techniques deployed, in particular the emergence of the Master Bomber and Long-Stop systems. Finally, the Pathfinder Force's contribution to victory is assessed. This comprehensive look at one of the war's most fascinating units will give the reader a greater understanding of the unit's vital contribution to the war and show how some of the techniques developed are still in use today.

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Book SynopsisFormer intelligence officer Will Britten lifts the lid on his work for BRIXMIS at the height of the Cold War

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Book SynopsisFollowing the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the fortunes of NATO - pronounced "braindead" only a few years prior - have been miraculously revived. The alliance, buoyed by surging European military budgets and inflows of combat-ready troops and cutting-edge hardware, looks forward to welcoming additional member states. Originally conceived as a bulwark against the Soviet Union, NATO has outlasted its ostensible foe by over three decades. Its geostrategic remit is limited to the North Atlantic in name only. Treaty obligations range from the Andes to the Gulf of Aden and the Khyber Pass, and allied commanders now prepare for battle in the South China Sea.Natopolitanism takes an in-depth look at the evolution and aggrandizement of NATO since the turn of the 1990s. What purposes does NATO serve in the post-Cold War world? What is the balance sheet of a quarter century of alliance expansion, and what part did it play in the eruption of conflict on Europe's eastern marches?Contributors to the volume, including John J. Mearsheimer, Mary Elise Sarotte, Susan Watkins, Wolfgang Streeck, and Volodymyr Ishchenko, revisit this this history as it unfolded. Varying in viewpoint and judgment, all share a critical perspective at odds with wartime pieties.Trade ReviewAfter Donald Trump brazenly doubted NATO's necessity, the Ukraine war reanimated the zombie. This indispensable collection sets sanctimony to one side, gathering diverse reflections on the alliance's functions and trajectory since the Cold War - including in the coming of the Ukraine war itself. -- Samuel Moyn, Yale UniversityA bracing critical review of the 'most successful alliance' in history. An essential primer for the new era of Natopolitanism. -- Adam Tooze, author of CrashedThis collection of essays and documents regarding NATO's role as the military wing of US capitalism and its increasingly aggressive approach to that role is important and (obviously) timely. -- Ron Jacobs * Counterpunch *

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Book SynopsisThe Russian government’s deniable use of rogues, businessmen, enthusiasts, mercenaries and political technologists confounded policymakers as Moscow waged a covert invasion of Ukraine in 2014. Did Crimea and Donbas reveal the Kremlin’s new ‘hybrid war’ playbook? Or was Moscow itself manipulated by the very forces it had unleashed? Given the disinformation and skewing of the narrative, it is no wonder that the international community has dramatically misunderstood the very nature of this war and was unprepared for the Kremlin’s sudden and brutal escalation in 2022. As Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine risks pitting the world’s great powers against each other, Hybrid Warriors traces the trajectory of the conflict from the bottom up. Starting from the first pivotal years in the 2010s, the book draws on unique interviews, reporting from the conflict zones, and wider on-the-ground research, to reconstruct the granular relationships between civilians, non-state actors, and the Kremlin that co-opted them. In the process, it speaks not just to the history of this conflict, but also to our wider understanding of how Putin’s Kremlin works and how it has prosecuted its war on Ukraine.Trade Review‘In her illuminating, well-researched book, Arutunyan sets out a nuanced argument about the Donbas conflict.' * Financial Times *'Anna Arutunyan's 'Hybrid Warriors' offers an in-depth account of the first days of Russia's covert invasion of Ukraine in 2014 that... sheds new light on the roots of today's war.' -- Foreign Policy‘Truly one of the most insightful books released this year … [Hybrid Warriors] is sharp, incisive, insightful, and presents a much-needed complex and nuanced look at what is assumed to be a well-known story.’ -- Diplomatic Courier‘[This book] combines a deeply textured knowledge of ground-level politics with a well-theorised sense of how Putin’s regime works.’ -- Inside Story'Arutunyan challenges boldly old dogmas and new stereotypes, and the book makes a valuable contribution to examining the murky and often neglected environment of the war, which needs to be rehabilitated for building sustainable peace.' -- Journal of Peace Research‘Excellent.’ -- OBC TransEuropa'Well-researched … Arutunyan’s book is likely the most in-depth attempt at investigating and defining the role of Girkin/Strelkov in the Donbas War.' -- New Eastern Europe'A nuanced and deeply researched account of the origins of the Russian-Ukrainian antagonism. The most subtle and detailed analysis of Russia's policy toward Ukraine yet written. Hybrid Warriors is an indispensable book for understanding Russia's march toward war.' -- Christopher Miller, Assistant Professor of International History, Tufts University, and author of 'Putinomics: Power and Money in Resurgent Russia''A masterful account putting a human face to a conflict ravaging Europe. Arutunyan's gripping prose and the people's stories she tells add nuance and depth to our understanding of Russia's bid to conquer Ukraine.' -- Dimitar Bechev, Lecturer in Russian and Eastern European Studies, University of Oxford, and Visiting Scholar, Carnegie Europe'Two excellent books in one. Arutunyan's approach differs from previous explanations of the 2014 "Russian Spring" by combining the machinations of various policy entrepreneurs and factions in a decentralised Kremlin with the agency of the Donbas rebels. She shows how the awkward compromises between them had broken down by 2022, setting the stage for the current war.' -- Andrew Wilson, Professor of Ukrainian Studies, University College London'A detailed and thoroughly researched account of Russia's policy towards Ukraine. Showing the links between the Kremlin, Russia's "policy entrepreneurs" and local activists, it demonstrates that what may look like conspiracy from a distance can often seem like chaos up close. Essential reading.' -- Kadri Liik, Senior Policy Fellow, European Council on Foreign Relations

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Book SynopsisIn February 1943, German forces surrendered to the Red Army at Stalingrad and the tide of war turned. By May 1945 Soviet soldiers had stormed Berlin and brought down Hitler's regime. Total War follows the fortunes of these fighters as they liberated Russia and the Ukraine from the Nazi invader and fought their way into the heart of the Reich. It reveals the horrors they experienced - the Holocaust, genocide and the mass murder of Soviet POWs - and shows the Red Army, brutalized by war, taking its terrible revenge on the German civilian population. For the first time Russian veterans are candid about the terrible atrocities their own army committed. But they also describe their struggle to raise themselves from the abyss of hatred. Their war against the Nazis - which in large part brought the Second World War in Europe to an end - is a tarnished but deeply moving story of sacrifice and redemption.Trade ReviewPraise for Michael Jones * --- *A milestone in the treatment of the battle . . . highly effective and utterly captivating . . . This is the finest history of its type published to date * David Glanz *'A tribute to the resilience of the human spirit' * Herald *'Jones deserves full credit for the remarkable personal testimonies he has amassed' * Max Hastings, Sunday Times *An epic depiction of a "tarnished victory" * Independent *

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Book SynopsisColonel Stuart Tootal is the first senior commander to provide an account of the fighting in Afghanistan. A gritty portrayal of unforgiving conflict, Danger Close captures the essence of combat, the risks involved and the aftermath.3 PARA was the first unit into Helmand in 2006. Sent on a peace mission, it became engaged in a level of combat that has not been experienced by the British Army since the end of the Korean War. Undermanned and suffering from equipment shortages, 3 PARA fought doggedly to win the break in battle.Numerous gallantry decorations were awarded, but they were not without cost. On returning from Afghanistan, Tootal fought to get proper treatment for his wounded and feeling frustrated with the Government's treatment of its soldiers, he resigned from the Army.This is a dramatic, and often moving insight into the leadership of soldiers and the sharp end of war.Trade Review'At last, a commander telling us the cold, harsh truth about this war. An excellent and compelling read' * Andy McNab *'A gripping first-hand account of the realities of frontline command at the start of the bitterest war that Britain has fought for generations' * Patrick Bishop, author of 3 PARA *'Tootal offers the perspective of a man in charge ... he tells the story well ... passionate admiration for his men is matched by disdain for others' * Max Hastings, Sunday Times *'The first senior commander to provide an account of the fighting, Tootal's book is refreshingly free of the gung-ho machismo and sentimentality that afflicts other lesser entries of the genre' * The Sunday Tribune *'Gripping account' * Essex Chronicle Series *'Captures the essence of combat...a gritty portrayal of unforgiving combat' * East London Enquirer *

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Book SynopsisWarfare in Atlantic Africa, 1500-1800 investigates the impact of warfare on the history of Africa in the period of the slave trade and the founding of empires. It includes the discussion of:: * the relationship between war and the slave trade * the role of Europeans in promoting African wars and supplying African armies * the influence of climatic and ecological factors on warfare patterns and dynamics * the impact of social organization and military technology, including the gunpowder revolution * case studies of warfare in Sierra Leone, the Gold Coast, Benin and West Central AfricaTable of ContentsMaps, Preface, Introduction: African War and World History, 1 Cavalries of the Savannah, 2 War in the Rivers: Senegambia and Sierra Leone, 3 War in the Forest: The Gold Coast, 4 Horses, Boats and Infantry: The Gap of Benin, 5 War on the Savannah: West Central Africa, 6 War, Slavery and Revolt: African Slaves and Soldiers in the Atlantic World, Conclusion, Notes, Index

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Book SynopsisCyber-warfare is often discussed, but rarely truly seen. When does an intrusion turn into an attack, and what does that entail? How do nations fold offensive cyber operations into their strategies? Operations against networks mostly occur to collect intelligence, in peacetime. Understanding the lifecycle and complexity of targeting adversary networks is key to doing so effectively in conflict. Rather than discussing the spectre of cyber war, Daniel Moore seeks to observe the spectrum of cyber operations. By piecing together operational case studies, military strategy and technical analysis, he shows that modern cyber operations are neither altogether unique, nor entirely novel. Offensive cyber operations are the latest incarnation of intangible warfare--conflict waged through non-physical means, such as the information space or the electromagnetic spectrum. Not all offensive operations are created equal. Some are slow-paced, clandestine infiltrations requiring discipline and patien

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Book SynopsisThis book isBlack Hawk DownmeetsEnemy at the GatesmeetsBand of Brothers,and it's all true. It tells the story of what happens when careless Western politicians assume we're living the end of history', until it turns out that the Great Game is back, uglier and more callous than ever before. It's the story of the men who tried to fix those mistakes, at the riskand sometimes lossof their lives.Shannon Monaghan follows a core group of Western volunteers in Ukraine, fighting together from the early days of the battle for Kyiv through to the last stands at Severodonetsk and Bakhmut. They arrived alone, but formed a familyback when nobody bothered to learn names, because they all expected to die. One of them was among the last men to leave the city of Bakhmut in the final days of May 2022.These men knew very well that they'd be fighting without the NATO support they were used to. They knew the severe risks they would run, and the potential criticism they would face for fighting someone else's war. But they also knew it was the right thing to do. This is their story.

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Book SynopsisThe question of whether there is a general, universal, theory for the conduct of war has long preoccupied famous military thinkers, military people, and students of military affairs. War and its conduct have changed across history, most notably under the influence of successive technological revolutions during modern times. So is there anything enduring that can be determined about them, taught in professional schools of instruction and applied in practice? This is the question that this groundbreaking book sets out to answer.In the process, the book offers a fresh look at the relationship between politics and war; examines what victory' means; reexamines the concepts of offense and defence; elucidates the meaning and role of the principles of war' and of military doctrine'; analyses the successive military revolutions of modernity down to the advent of nuclear weapons and the ongoing cyber and robotics revolution; and explains why guerrilla and terrorism have risen in significance, and where they are heading. Finally, the book addresses the common perception that war is in our nature, and inquires, in view of the recent challenges posed by China and Russia, if war is declining. A book that will excite students of war and strategy in academia, the military, and the public at large.

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Book SynopsisIWM holds approximately 11 million photographs in its archives, covering the causes, course and consequences of modern conflict from the First World War to the present day. Animals in Wartime highlights 50 images from this vast collection and illustrates the many and varied ways that animals have played their part in wartime over the past century. Vital in moving supplies, sending messages and in many cases for the morale boost they gave, animals have often been subject to the same dangers faced by their owners during conflict. This unique selection of images depicts incredible animal bravery and features some of the most heart-warming stories found within IWM’s photograph archive.

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Book SynopsisWhile 'winning' might be considered a fundamental part of the human objective, what constitutes winning and how one might achieve it remain somewhat abstract, in war as in any other human endeavour. 'Winning' militarily at the tactical level - in a firefight or a battle - has always been more quantifiable than at the strategic level. At the strategic level, success might be measured by means of three big ideas: ownership; intervention for effect; and fighting for ideas. The divergence between success at the tactical level and the political context of the war creates a challenge at the operational level when it relates to political and strategic matters.The result of a research project carried out by the Centre for Historical Analysis and Conflict Research for the British Army, this book analyses the philosophical constituents of what may comprise ‘victory’ or ‘winning’ and then travels, chronologically, through a wide set of historical case studies, exploring those more philosophical components and weaving them into the factual discussion. Thus the factual relation and analysis is the vehicle for a deeper exploration of the concept of success or ‘winning’, rather than a narrative end in itself.Trade ReviewAlthough much of the book’s focus is about winning in conventional wars, the insights about the components in measuring effectiveness in such warfare also apply to assessing effectiveness in counterterrorism. * Perspectives on Terrorism 05/07/2021 *Comprising sixteen excellent and thought-provoking essays by eighteen noted military historians and former warriors, the book comprehensively examines the realities of war and the wide-ranging concepts of victory. At the same time, it offers a very good general history of warfare. * Baird Maritime 05/07/2021 *…a salutary reminder that it is all too possible to win the war but lose the peace....an extremely rich book, containing a multitude of insights. * Militaire Spectator 02/08/2021 *…extremely readable and jargon-free. […] very instructive collection. * RUSI Journal 05/07/2021 *Table of ContentsIntroduction – Sir Hew Strachan 1 ‘Winning’ in Classical Antiquity and the Roman Conception of Victory – Ali Parchami 2 The European Concept of ‘Winning’ in the Middle Ages – John France 3 The Early Modern Period in Europe, 1500–1715 – David Parrott 4 From the Age of Reason to the European Nation State, 1750–1850 – Jonathan Riley 5 ‘Winning’ in World War I, 1914–1919 – Lothar Höbelt 6 ‘Winning’ in the World Wars. The British Conceptions of the War-Time Leaders Lloyd George and Winston Churchill, 1914–1945 – Rob Johnson 7 ‘Winning’ in the Cold War and the Nuclear Age, 1945–1990 – Jonathan Riley 8 Western Strategic Goals and ‘Winning’ in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2001 – Daniel Marston and Carter Malkasian 9 A Hollow Victory? Assad’s Regime and ‘Winning’ the Conflict in Syria since 2001 – Richard Kuno 10 The Impact of History, Politics and Religion: Three Contrasting Conceptions of ‘Winning’ in Iran since 1979 – Ali Parchami 11 The Chinese Concept of ‘Winning’ – Kerry Brown 12 A Decisive British Victory? The Confrontation with Indonesia, 1963–1966 – Christopher Tuck 13 The Ambiguity of Victory: The Spectrum of ‘Winning’ in African History – Richard Reid 14 The Provisional IRA and the Elusive Concept of ‘Winning’ since 1969 – Aaron Edwards 15 Russian Views of ‘Winning’: ‘Velikaya Pobeda’ ‘pobedonosnaya voina’ – Andrew Monaghan 16 ‘Winning the Peace’: The Peacebuilding Paradigm and its Implications for Peacekeepers in the 21st Century – Nicholas Rees Conclusion: So, What is ‘Winning’? Andrew Sharpe

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Book SynopsisThis new work examines how the European states, the United Kingdom and the United States will approach the defence and Security of Europe in the medium and long-term. It is often assumed that Brexit, the United Kingdom’s departure from the political and commercial European Union, would affect defence and security profoundly, but the basis of that assumption is rarely analysed. Bringing together a panel of specialists from Europe, the UK, the EU, and the United States, this volume evaluates the relative position they play in Europe’s defence in the era of Brexit. It examines the arguments, challenges, and problems in European defence, and tests them against the residual commitment, cohesion, and capabilities of the states concerned, including Anglo-French military co-operation, the silent Anglo-German partnership, the US-UK Special Relationship, and the emergent Northern Group.Table of ContentsPreface (by the editors)Foreword (by the Chief of Defence Staff Sir Stuart Peach)List of contributorsContents 1 Introduction Rob Johnson and Janne Haaland MatlaryPart I Britain’s Partnerships 2. UK Defence Policy: The ‘New Canada’ and ‘International by Design’ Rob Johnson 3. The ‘Special Relationship’ and the “Principled Realism” of the Trump Administration Andrew Michta 4. 'You don't hear the word Britain anymore': Anglo-American Security Relations in the Era of Brexit and Trump Jeffrey Michaels 5. Franco-British defence co-operation in the context of Brexit Samuel Faure 6. British-German defence and security relations after Brexit: Quo vadis, ‘silent alliance’? Håkon Saxi 7. A Special Partnership? The EU’s Military Ambition and the Role of Britain, Janne Haaland Matlary Part II Britain’s Coalitions8 Britain’s Joint Expeditionary Force: A Force of Friends? Tormod Heier 9. Sweden, Finland, and the Defence of the Nordic-Baltic Region: Ways of British Leadership, Joakim Erma Møller and Magnus Petersson 10 The JEF as a Force Multiplier: The Example of Joint Amphibious Response in the Nordic – Baltic Theatre, Richard Cantrill and Eystein Lockwood Meyer

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Book SynopsisIn a world of accelerating unending change, perpetual surveillance, and increasing connectivity, conflict has become ever more complex. Wars are no longer limited to the traditional military conflict domains—land, sea, air; even space and cyber space. The new battlefield will be the cognitive domain and the new conflict a larger contest for power; a contest for cognitive superiority. Written by experts in military operations research and neuropsychology, this book introduces the concept of cognitive superiority and provides the keys to succeeding within a complex matrix where the only rules are the laws of physics, access to information, and the boundaries of cognition.The book describes the adversarial environment and how it interacts with the ongoing, accelerating change that we are experiencing, irrespective of adversaries. It talks about the ascendant power of information access, pervasive surveillance, personalized persuasion, and emerging new forms of cognition. It profiles salient technologies and science, including persuasion science, artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML), surveillance technologies, complex adaptive systems, network science, directed human modification, and biosecurity. Readers will learn about human and machine cognition, what makes it tick, and why and how we and our technologies are vulnerable.Following in the tradition of Sun-Tsu and von Clausewitz, this book writes a new chapter in the study of warfare and strategy. It is written for those who lead, aspire to leadership, and those who teach or persuade, especially in the fields of political science, military science, computer science, and business.Table of ContentsChapter 1: Introduction – Humans and their Matrix.- Chapter 2: The Technium – Tools and Targets of the Conflicts.- Chapter 3: The Noosphere.- Chapter 4: The Target – Humans.- Chapter 5: The Technium – Plus, Redux.- Chapter 6: The adversarial Environment.- Chapter 7: Engagement.- Chapter 8: Conclusion.- Appendix.- Glossary of Selected Terms.- Bibliography.- Index.

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Book SynopsisNow available the XVIII edition of our Italian defence yearbook “Coccarde Tricolori”. Among the subjects covered in this edition: an exclusive interview to the Italian Navy CINCNAV, and reports on new Italian procurement programs, on the Italian Air Force training on the F-35 at Luke AFB, a flight report on the on T-346 LIFT trainer or the ItAF, an article on the Parachutist Brigade "Folgore", on the Anti-Aircraft Artillery Command of the Italian Army, on the new PPA ship of the Navy, on the Italian-Spanish landing force, on the new helicpters for the Carabinieri and Guardia di Finanza, and much, much more!

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Book SynopsisIs India too defensive and tolerant when its core national security is threatened? Has it been a ''soft state'' in responding to terrorist provocations from Pakistan and territorial encroachments from China? Does India lack a strategic culture of raising the costs of aggression by its two principal adversaries? The past record of the Indian state has been questioned on such grounds. But this changed during the prime ministership of Narendra Modi. Guided by a ''security first'' vision and the doctrine of ''offensive defense'', his government sought to alter the strategic calculus of India''s opponents by credibly demonstrating a willingness to use commensurate military force and apply diplomatic and economic pressure. Crunch Time: Narendra Modi''s National Security Crises offers a comprehensive analysis of how ''new India'' conducted itself during episodes of major national security crises. It is a testament to how a strong-willed political leadership with mass social support can transform a country''s strategic culture and deter its foes.

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Book SynopsisEnhance business, career, and life with The Art of War's timeless wisdom. Apply its strategies to various life situations, gain insights into relationships, communication, and negotiation. Access secrets used by successful businesspeople for generations. Carry the master's wisdom with you in this compact edition.

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Book SynopsisWhile the IAF provided excellent air support to the Army in the West, it established complete air superiority in the East which facilitated the advance of Indian ground troops and helped in the famous para-drop over Tangail and Meghna heliborne operations. The attack on the Governor's residence served as the last nail in the coffin of the Pak armed forces in the East. General AAK Niazi had no option but to surrender along with 93000 soldiers. This was the biggest such surrender after the second World War. The IAF pilots covered themselves with glory and a number of them won gallantry awards. The nation is proud of them and is celebrating Swarnim Vijay Varsh this year. This book is a humble tribute to the bravery and valour of Air Warriors who participated in this war. It carries first hand experiences of some of them.

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Book SynopsisThis book is a comprehensive and exhaustive guide on practical aspects of Military Law. Ever since publication of its First Edition in the year 1988, the book has been very popular amongst its users. On their constant suggestions, its subsequent editions have been regularly updated, revised and published in the years 1991, 1994, 1996, 1998 (Reprint), 2001, 2006, 2010 and 2019. In this ninth edition.

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Book Synopsis"Don't be a coward. What are you afraid of? Never mind if people do not take favourably to what you have to share. Just be honest and truthful, don't embellish but humbly present your story." This was how Winston Choo convinced himself to write this memoir. As a boy, all he wanted was to be a soldier. Never in his wildest dream did he imagine that he would, one day, have three stars on his shoulders. He tells how he was groomed by Dr Goh Keng Swee to lead the Singapore Armed Forces - and yet had to surmount hurdles within both the military and civilian administration. He relates how he shaped the structure, values and culture of the SAF by focusing on people and esprit de corps, and taking a strategic yet pragmatic approach. After 33 years being a man of war, he found himself once again handpicked, this time to be a man of peace - first in the diplomatic service, then as Chairman of the Singapore Red Cross. His novel experience of being ADC to President Yusof Ishak and his astute dealings with the military around the world for the SAF ensured his success in making friends for his homeland. Stricken with cancer, but ever disciplined and never ready to surrender, Winston Choo shares what keeps him soldiering on.

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Book SynopsisHow are alliances made? In this book, Stephen M. Walt makes a significant contribution to this topic, surveying theories of the origins of international alliances and identifying the most important causes of security cooperation between states. In...Trade ReviewThe Origins of Alliances offers a different way of thinking about our security and thus about our diplomacy. It ought to be read by anyone with a serious interest in understanding why our foreign policy is so often self-defeating. * New Republic *A valuable refinement of traditional balance-of-power theory.... Walt provides a sophisticated account of recent Middle East diplomacy. * International Affairs *

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