Warfare and defence Books

Book SynopsisThis fascinating book concisely tells the story of the birth of three Baltic nation states: Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.Immediately following the end of World War I, amid the collapse of the German, Austro-Hungarian and Russian empires, bitter fighting broke out in the Baltic region as Poland, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania struggled for their independence, and Red and White Russian armies began their civil war. There were also German forces still active in what had been the northern end of Germany''s Eastern Front. This book offers a concise but detailed introduction to this whole theater of war, focusing on the Estonian, Latvian, Lithuanian, and relevant German and Russian forces, plus Finnish, Danish, and Swedish contingents. For each region there is a detailed map as well as meticulous orders-of-battle and insignia charts. Detailed for the first time in the English language, this fascinating book concisely tells the story of the birth of these Baltic nation stTable of ContentsIntroduction: overview of conflicts. * Russian Red Army: command; organization; Estonian and Latvian Rifles units; campaign against Russian White Army and German forces; uniforms and insignia. * Estonian Forces: command; organization; foreign volunteers; campaign against Russian Red Army and German forces; uniforms and insignia. * Latvian Forces: command; organization; campaign against Russian Red Army and German forces; uniforms and insignia. * Lithuanian Forces: command; organization; campaigns against Russian Red Army, German and Polish forces; uniforms and insignia. * German Forces (ex-Eighth Army, Iron Division, Baltic Defence Force, German Legion ): command; organization; campaigns against Russian Red Army, Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian forces; uniforms and insignia. * White Russian Forces (Northern Corps/NW Army, Western Volunteer Army): command; organization; campaign against Russian Red Army; uniforms and insignia. Throughout: * Battle orders: Russian Red Army, Estonian People's Army, Latvian Army, Lithuanian Army, German forces in Baltic, White Russian Army. Rank insignia charts: Estonian, Latvian & Lithuanian armies, and German Baltic Defence Force Colour plate commentaries

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Book SynopsisThis illustrated title explores the deadly battle between the innovative Panzerfaust and Panzerschreck anti-tank weapons employed by the forces of Nazi Germany and the US tanks striving to defend against them. In the summer of 1944, across the battlefields of Normandy, US tanks were confronted with a dangerous challenge: the mobile and deadly Panzerfaust and Panzerschreck anti-tank weapons wielded by the German infantry. Having only occasionally encountered such weaponry before, the US tankers were ill-equipped to defend against this kind of attack, and the threat only increased as the summer wore on. This Duel title follows the technological battle for dominance that ensued, as the US Army devised new ways to defend against the threat posed by the German shaped-charge projectiles. From the addition of sandbags and spare tracks to individual tanks made by anxious crews on the ground to the large-scale programs put together by the USTrade ReviewSuperbly researched and presented. -- Chris Jarvis * Miniature Wargames *Table of ContentsIntroduction /Chronology /Design and Development /The Strategic Situation /Technical Specifications /The Combatants /Combat /Statistics and Analysis /Conclusion /Bibliography /Index

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Book SynopsisDuring the 16th century, Japan underwent a military revolution, characterized by the deployment of large armies, the introduction of firearms and an eventual shift towards fighting on foot. This study encapsulates these great changes through an exploration of the experience on the ground at three key battles, Uedahara (1548), Mikata ga Hara (1573) and Nagashino (1575), in which two very different types of warrior were pitted against each other. On one side were samurai, the elite aristocratic knights whose status was proclaimed by the possession and use of a horse. On the other side were the foot soldiers known as ashigaru, lower-class warriors who were initially attendants to the samurai but who joined the armies in increasing numbers, attracted by loot and glory. These two types of warrior battled for dominance across the period, changing and adapting their tactics as time went on. In this title, the development of the conflicts between samurai and ashigaru is explored acrTable of ContentsIntroduction / The opposing sides / Combat 1 / Combat 2 / Combat 3 / Analysis / Aftermath / Bibliography / Index

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Book SynopsisThis study explores, in detail, the gripping tale of a handful of British X-Craft submarines which stole into one of the best-protected anchorages of World War II and crippled the great German battleship Tirpitz.In September 1943, under the cover of darkness, six British midget submarines crept into the heart of enemy territory, penetrating a heavily guarded Norwegian fjord in an attempt to eliminate the threat of the powerful German battleship, the Tirpitz. Numerous previous attempts to attack the ship from both air and sea had failed, and this mission was carefully strategized and undertaken by skilled operatives who had undergone extensive training in an isolated sea loch. Though five of the six X-Craft submarines were either lost or captured, two crews had just enough time to lay their explosive charges, which detonated after they were forced to the surface, putting the Tirpitz out of action for a crucial six-month period. Masterminded from a

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Book SynopsisThe first illustration of a cannon in Europe can be dated quite precisely to 1326. This book explores the development of gunpowder, the earliest appearance of cast-bronze cannon in Western Europe, followed by the design and development of the wrought-iron cannon. The wrought-iron hoop-and-stave method of barrel construction was a system that came to dominate medieval artillery design both large and small until the end of the 15th century, and saw the cannon used not only as a prestige weapon, but start to be used as a practical and terrifying weapon on the medieval battlefield. In 1453, the Ottomans'' conquest of Constantinople, with their extensive artillery, marked the triumph of medieval firepower.The book will focus on the technology and tactics of early European artillery on both sea and land, and assess its impact on medieval warfare.

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Book SynopsisThe NVG covers all seven Marks of Churchill gun tank with variations and the curious self-propelled gun of 1941/42, but not the so-called Funnies' or the armoured recovery vehicle variants.It will begin with the prototype tank A20, which has not been covered in any detail before, then go on to look at all seven Marks of Churchill, in particular their different guns. This book will also look at the tank's service in Russia and later with the Irish, Jordanian and Australian Armies. It will also feature on the disastrous Dieppe raid of August 1942, ending with a brief look at the Black Prince or super Churchill which was only developed up to the prototype stage at the end of World War II.The Churchill is an interesting tank, quite different from any other British tank of World War II, built outside the normal process of British tanks and the Department of Tank Design. It was built under the watchful eye of the Prime Minister, after whom it was named, by a firm with no pTable of ContentsIntroduction /Design and Development /Marks and Variants /Operational History /Conclusion /Index

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Book SynopsisThe first of two volumes on the Axis campaigns in the Balkans, exploring Mussolini''s fateful decision to move against Greece in October 1940. The Greek President Metaxas rejected the Italian ultimatum with a famous ''Oxi'' (''No''), and what followed was Italy''s first debacle in World War II.In the wake of Italy''s rapid annexation of Albania in April 1940, Mussolini''s decision to attack Greece in October that year is widely acknowledged as a fatal mistake, leading to a domestic crisis and to the collapse of Italy''s reputation as a military power (re-emphasized by the Italian defeat in North Africa in December 1940). The Italian assault on Greece came to a stalemate in less than a fortnight, and was followed a week later by a Greek counter-offensive that broke through the Italian defences before advancing into Albania, forcing the Italian forces to withdraw north before grinding to a half in January 1941 due to logistical issues. Eventually, the Italians took advaTrade ReviewI couldn't put this book down — only 96 pages long but packed full of information. -- David Davies * Wargames, Soldiers and Strategy *Table of ContentsOrigins of the Campaign Chronology Opposing Commanders Opposing Forces plus Order of Battle Opposing Plans The Campaign Aftermath The Battlefields Today Further Reading Index

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Book Synopsis From the end of the Mongol Empire to today, Russian history is a tale of cultural, political, economic and military interaction with Western powers. The depth of this relationship has created a geopolitical dilemma: Russia has persistently been both attracted to and at odds with Western ideas and technological development, which have tended to threaten Russia''s sense of identity and create destabilizing divisions within society. Simultaneously, deepening involvement in Western international affairs brought meddling in Russian domestic politics and military invasion. This book examines how the centuries-old Western threat has shaped Russia''s political and strategic structures, creating a culture of security rooted in vigilance against Western influence and interference.Table of Contents Preface Introduction. Aspiring to Foes: Russia's "Constitutive Other" and ­Security-Vigilance Norm Cycle I: 1505–1620s Chapter 1. From Religious to Political Others: Muscovite Russia's First Western Encounters Chapter 2. The Smuta and the Birth of Russia's Security Norm Cycle II: 1630–1825 Chapter 3. From Smuta to Early Enlightenment and Schism Chapter 4. Peter the Great and the Great Dislocation Chapter 5. Europeanization and Dislocation in the 18th Century Chapter 6. Russia's Security Dilemma Manifest Cycle III: 1826–1922 Chapter 7. Cursed Solutions: Reactionary Reconstitution and Reformist Displacement Chapter 8. Devils: West and East Chapter 9. The Whirlwind: Russian February–German October Cycle IV: 1922–2008 Chapter 10. The Devils in Power: The Rise and Fall of Soviet Vigilantism Chapter 11. From "Common European Home" to the Eurasian Alternative Conclusion. The Russian Dilemma and Security Norm Chapter Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisIn Cases in Intelligence Analysis, accomplished instructors and intelligence practitioners Sarah Miller Beebe and Randolph H. Pherson offer robust, class-tested cases studies of events in foreign intelligence, counterintelligence, terrorism, homeland security, law enforcement, and decision-making support. In this Second Edition, the authors added five new case studies. Designed to give analysts-in-training an opportunity to apply structured analytic techniques and tackle real-life problems, each turnkey case delivers a captivating narrative, discussion questions, recommended readings, and a series of engaging analytic exercises. The text is logically organized and richly illustrated chapters begin with discussion questions, and a table of techniques precedes each set of exercises. Two hundred photos, maps, figures, tables, boxes, key terms and key takeaways, and technique templates support analysis and instruction.Table of Contents1. Who Poisoned Karinna Moskalenko? 2. The Anthrax Killer 3. Cyber H2O 4. Is Wen Ho Lee a Spy? 5. Jousting with Cuba over Radio Marti 6. The Road to Tarin Kowt 7. Who Murdered Jonathan Luna? 8. The Assassination of Benazir Bhutto 9. Death in the Southwest 10. The Atlanta Olympics Bombing 11. The DC Sniper 12. Colombia′s FARC Attacks the US Homeland 13. Understanding Revolutionary Organization 17 November 14. Defending Mumbai from Terrorist Attack 15. Iranian Meddling in Bahrain 16. Shades of Orange in Ukraine 17. Violence Erupts in Belgrade

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Book SynopsisGiven recent controversies over suspected WMD programs in proliferating countries, there is an increasingly urgent need for effective monitoring and verification regimes—the international mechanisms, including on-site inspections, intended in part to clarify the status of WMD programs in suspected proliferators. Yet the strengths and limitations of these nonproliferation and arms control mechanisms remain unclear. How should these regimes best be implemented? What are the technological, political, and other limitations to these tools? What technologies and other innovations should be utilized to make these regimes most effective? How should recent developments, such as the 2015 Iran nuclear deal or Syria's declared renunciation and actual use of its chemical weapons, influence their architecture? The Politics of Weapons Inspections examines the successes, failures, and lessons that can be learned from WMD monitoring and verification regimes in order to help determine how best to maintain and strengthen these regimes in the future. In addition to examining these regimes' technological, political, and legal contexts, Nathan E. Busch and Joseph F. Pilat reevaluate the track record of monitoring and verification in the historical cases of South Africa, Libya, and Iraq; assess the prospects of using these mechanisms in verifying arms control and disarmament; and apply the lessons learned from these cases to contemporary controversies over suspected or confirmed programs in North Korea, Iran, and Syria. Finally, they provide a forward-looking set of policy recommendations for the future. Trade Review"Establishing effective monitoring and verifying regimens are critical tools in the international community's nonproliferation efforts but do not always provide assurance of compliance. Although international inspections provide capabilities, access, and legitimacy, the international community appears to be in danger of misinterpreting what these regimens can and cannot accomplish. This timely, much-needed book examines previous examples of the successes, failures, and lessons that can be learned from the cases and help strengthen these regimens and apply them to current WMD programs in Syria, Iran, and North Korea. ...Recommended"—K. M. Zaarour, Choice"Nathan Busch and Joseph Pilat have authored a very timely work given the controversies surrounding the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and the often compromised international attempts to control their spread through inspections and disarmament agreements....this is a valuable work for its categorization of the various types of inspection regimes, as well as for its practical suggestions. It is relevant for the policymaking community as well as those academics with a particular interest in the issues of proliferation and inspection regimes."—Zachary Selden, H-DiploTable of ContentsIntroduction 1. What Are Monitoring and Verification Regimes? 2. South Africa 3. Iraq 4. Libya 5. Verifying Global Disarmament 6. Applying Lessons for the "Difficult Cases": North Korea, Iran, Syria Conclusion: Strengthening Monitoring and Verification Regimes

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Book SynopsisThe United States integrated counterterrorism mandates into its aid flows in the West Bank and Gaza Strip during the early years of the global war on terror. Some two decades later, this securitized model of aid has become normalized across donor intervention in Palestine. Elastic Empire traces how foreign aid, on which much of the Palestinian population is dependent, has multiplied the sites and means through which Palestinian life is regulated, surveilled, and policed—this book tells the story of how aid has also become war. Drawing on extensive research conducted in Palestine, Elastic Empire offers a novel accounting of the US security state. The US war chronicled here is not one of tanks, grenades, and guns, but a quieter one waged through the interlacing of aid and law. It emerges in the infrastructures of daily life—in a greenhouse and library, in the collection of personal information and mapping of land plots, in the halls of municipal councils and in local elections—and indelibly transfigures lives. Situated in a landscape where the lines between humanitarianism and the global war on terror are increasingly blurred, Elastic Empire reveals the shape-shifting nature of contemporary imperial formations, their realignments and reformulations, their haunted sites, and their obscured but intimate forms.Trade Review"Elastic Empire is an utterly brilliant piece of research. Lisa Bhungalia fluently and beautifully uses theoretical elaborations of plasticity and malleability of empire to show the interconnections between the aid industry and settler colonial and imperial violence."—Laleh Khalili, author of Time in the Shadows: Confinement in Counterinsurgencies"Into the well-studied terrain of contemporary Palestine and Israel, Lisa Bhungalia has produced a book of stunning originality. Through wide-ranging and incisive analysis, she explains how ever more highly securitized models of foreign aid adversely affect Palestinians. Aid, she argues, is war by other means."—Lisa Hajjar, author of The War in Court: Inside the Long Fight against Torture"Elastic Empire offers a riveting portrait of the quiet administration of violence. Lisa Bhungalia maps US shadow wars carried out through the daily work of aid and state terror in Palestine. This is essential reading for anyone interested in the intimacies of US empire and the topological tentacles of counterterrorism law."—Alison Mountz, author of The Death of Asylum: Hidden Geographies of the Enforcement ArchipelagoTable of ContentsIntroduction 1. War Through Law 2. Elastic Sovereignty 3. Work of the List 4. Afterlives and Reverberations 5. Asphyxiatory Violence Conclusion

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Book SynopsisThe defeat of Donald Trump in November 2020 followed by the attack on the US Congress on 6th January 2021 represented a tipping point moment in the history of the American republic. Divided at home and facing a world sceptical of American claims to be the ‘indispensable nation’ in world politics, it is clear that the next few years will be decisive ones for the United States. But how did the US, which was riding high only 30 years ago, arrive at this critical point? And will it lead to the fall of what many would claim has been one of the most successful empires of modern times? In this volume, Michael Cox, a leading scholar of American foreign policy, outlines the ways in which five very different American Presidents – Clinton, Bush, Obama, Trump and now Biden – have addressed the complex legacies left them by their predecessors while dealing with the longer-term problems of running an empire under increasing stress. In so doing, he sets out a framework for thinking critically about US foreign policy since the end of the Cold War without ever losing sight of the biggest question of all: can America continue to shape world affairs or is it now facing long-term decline?Table of ContentsIntroduction: The Rise of an Empire Part I – Clinton: Liberal Leviathan 1. From Geopolitics to Geo-Economics 2. The Wilsonian Moment? Promoting Democracy 3. Failed Crusade? The United States and Post-Communist Russia Part II – Bush Jnr: Empire in an Age of Terror 4. American Power after the Towers 5. Empire, Imperialism and the Bush Doctrine Part III – Obama: Towards a Post-American World? 6. Navigating the Rapids 7. Stresses across the Atlantic 8. Axis of Opposition: China, Russia and the West Part IV – Trump: Turbulence in the Age of Populism 9. Populism, Trump and the Crisis of Globalization 10. Trump’s World: The Legacy Part V – Biden: Is America Back? 11. After the Deluge or Whither the Empire?

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Book SynopsisThe Battle for Pakistan showcases a marriage of convenience between unequal partners. The relationship between Pakistan and the United States since the early 1950s has been nothing less than a whiplash-inducing rollercoaster ride. Today, surrounded by hostile neighbors, with Afghanistan increasingly under Indian influence, Pakistan does not wish to break ties with the United States. Nor does it want to become a vassal of China and get caught in the vice of a US-China rivalry, or in the Arab-Iran conflict.Internally, massive economic and demographic challenges as well as the existential threat of armed militancy pose huge obstacles to Pakistan's development and growth. Could its short-run political miscalculations in the Obama years prove too costly? Can the erratic Trump administration help salvage this relationship?Based on detailed interviews with key US and South Asian leaders, access to secret documents and operations, and the author’s personal relationships and deep knowledge of the region, this book untangles the complex web of the US-Pakistani relationship and identifies a clear path forward, showing how the United States can build better partnerships in troubled corners of the world.Trade ReviewNawaz has produced a book essential to anyone’s South Asia library. . . . [In] writing with serious intent, Nawaz has created, perhaps, inadvertently, another dark, tragic comedy of duplicity, chaos, misunderstanding, miscommunication, backstabbing, and betrayal. . . . [As] his book illustrates, Pakistan has yet to make [the right] choices and is today as was once described of late 19th century Prussia—not a country with an army but an army with a country. * South Asia Journal *This book should stimulate a much-needed debate among policy circles in Washington and Islamabad. It is a must-read for policy makers, top military officers, diplomats, academics and scholars, not just in the two countries that are its focus, but throughout the globe. * Naya Daur *In this seminal work . . . Shuja Nawaz explores what Pakistan’s war against itself means for the new version of the Great Game now being played in Central Asia, for Pakistan, the US, and the alliance between them. . . . It is a remarkable work by an acclaimed writer on the Pakistani military. . . . It also sheds light on the deep involvement of the US and UK in Pakistan’s internal political battles. The horizontal and vertical fragmentation of the society along political, religious and ethnic lines, which has intensified since 9/11, poses the most serious problem for Pakistan. . . . What makes The Battle For Pakistan substantive and authoritative is that it is based on interviews with senior Pakistani and US military officials directly involved in policymaking during that period. The author has unique access to the centres of power in the US and Pakistan, both of which he considers home. That makes the book extremely objective, covering all sides and dimensions of a roller-coaster relationship. * Dawn *A must read for anyone who seeks to understand the complexities of forming and executing foreign policy any place, but especially in South Asia. Written with insight, detailed knowledge, keen analysis, and true conviction. -- Amitai Etztoni, The George Washington University, author of Reclaiming PatriotismShuja Nawaz's important book is as timely as tomorrow's headlines. He's delivering vital guidance to US policy makers―surprisingly misinformed about ties with Pakistan―while, for general readers, he's telling a suspenseful story of diplomacy and intrigue in the toughest of neighborhoods. No one is more authoritative than Mr. Nawaz on the US–Pakistani political-military relationship, and that makes the choices he lays out vital for all of us to understand. -- Derek Leebaert, author of Grand Improvisation: America Confronts the British Superpower, 1945–1957Packed with inside information from the ruling circles in both Pakistan and the United States, this book is essential reading for everyone trying to understand the international community’s most tortuous bilateral relationship. -- Owen Bennett-Jones, journalist and author of The Bhutto Dynasty

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Book SynopsisThe way war is waged is evolving quickly—igniting the rise of private military contractors that offer military-style services as part of their core business model. Arduino unpacks the tradeoffs involved when conflict is increasingly waged not by national armies, but by professional outfits that thrive on chaos. This book charts the rise of private military actors from Russia, China, and the Middle East using primary source data, in-person interviews, and field research amongst operations in conflict zones around the world. Individual stories narrated by mercenaries, military trainers, security businessmen, hackers, and drone pilots will be used to introduce the beginning of each chapter. The book ends by considering today’s trajectories in the deployment of mercenaries by state, corporations, or even terrorist organizations and what it will mean for the future of conflict.The book follows private security contractors that take on missions in different countries with a variety of challenges. These include a former Singaporean commando working with a Chinese company in Kabul, a former British Royal Marine leading a Kurdish private military company in Erbil protecting BP’s oil, and a former Russian Spetsnaz defending commercial vessels from the Somali coast to the Gulf of Guinea.Aside from the human component, the book closely follows the trends in the adoption of unmanned lethal weapons and it peeks into the future of weapons that can decide autonomously to kill humans. One chapter is dedicated to loitering munitions, better known as suicide drones, used by Israel and the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard for remote-controlled assassination. ISIS’s reengineered Chinese DJI commercial drones that are used for propaganda operations or as advanced artillery spotters complete the picture of the range of threats the world will routinely face in less than a decade. First-hand data and intimate knowledge of the actors involved in the market for force allow a fully grounded narrative with personal input. Through this prism, the reader gains an understanding of the human, security, and political risks that are part of this industry. The book specifically reveals the risk that unaccountable mercenaries pose in increasing the threshold for conflict, the threat to traditional military forces, the corruption in political circles, and the rising threat of proxy conflicts in the US rivalry with China and Russia.In a nutshell, the book gazes into the crystal ball to forecast what the future might look like in a world ruled by private armies. Table of ContentsChapter 1: Private ArmiesChapter 2: From Russia with Love: Mercenaries Fit the BillChapter 3: Russian Grey Is the New BlackChapter 4: Mercenaries' Russian RouletteChapter 5: Private Security with Chinese Characteristics: No More Local Guards, Not Yet Wolf WarriorsChapter 6: Defending the Belt and Road Initiative from Africa to the Middle EastChapter 7: How China Sees Its Own Private Security SectorChapter 8: The Evolution of a New Chinese Security ActorChapter 9: Turkey's New JanissariesChapter 10: Drone Mercenaries: A New Security Paradigm from China, Russia, and TurkeyChapter 11: Drone Warfare: Lessons Learned?Chapter 12: Drone Casus BelliChapter 13: Cyber Mercenaries: From Boots on the Ground to the MetaverseChapter 14: Two Opposites: None-Combatant Contractors and Jihadist MercenariesChapter 15: Mercenaries, PMSCs, and the Future of WarfareAppendix I: From Mercenary to Cyber-Mercenary: A TimelineAppendix II: The Duma and Russian PMSCsAppendix III: The Evolution of Chinese Private Security Laws and Regulations and the Data Security LawNotesBibliography Index

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Book SynopsisMost often remembered for its role in the air war against Germany, no book has ever before been devoted to the B-17's Pacific operations. The author combines technical and operational detail with eyewitness accounts by crews and commanders to present a fascinating account of a famous aircraft at war.

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Book SynopsisCaptain James Carlin is a biography of a shadowy nineteenth-century British Confederate, James Carlin (1833–1921), who was among the most successful captains running the U.S. Navy’s blockade of Southern ports during the Civil War. Written by his descendent Colin Carlin, Captain James Carlin ventures behind the scenes of this perilous trade that transported vital supplies to the Confederate forces.An Englishman trained in the British merchant marine, Carlin was recruited into the U.S. Coastal and Geodetic Survey Department in 1856, spending four years charting the U.S. Atlantic seaboard. Married and settled in Charleston, South Carolina, he resigned from the survey in 1860 to resume his maritime career. His blockade-running started with early runs into Charleston under sail. These came to a lively conclusion under gunfire off the Stono River mouth. More blockade-running followed until his capture on the SS Memphis. Documents in London reveal the politics of securing Carlin’s release from Fort Lafayette.On his return to Charleston, General P. G. T. Beauregard gave him command of the spar torpedo launch Torch for an attack on the USS New Ironsides. After more successful trips though the blockade, he was appointed superintending captain of the South Carolina Importing and Exporting Company and moved to Scotland to commission six new steam runners.After the war Carlin returned to the southern states to secure his assets before embarking on a gun-running expedition to the northern coast of Cuba for the Cuban Liberation Junta fighting to free the island from Spanish control and plantation slavery.In researching his forebear, the author gathered a wealth of private and public records from England, Scotland, Ireland, Greenland, the Bahamas, and the United States. The use of fresh sources from British Foreign Office and U.S. Prize Court documents and surviving business papers make this volume distinctive.Trade Review"Colin Carlin has produced a groundbreaking work that lifts the veil off the all-important ship captains who supplied the Confederacy with the necessary supplies to sustain its fight for independence. The author does a superb job in relating the story of his relative, James Carlin, a key member of the cadre of captains who sustained the Confederacy by running supplies through the Northern blockade on specialized vessels. James Carlin's career not only included operating blockade runners, but also a Charleston-based torpedo boat, and after the war he served as a gunrunner to Cuban rebels. A sweeping story from England to Charleston, Florida, and Cuba. This book is a must for anyone interested in Southern/ Confederate maritime history." STEPHEN R. WISE, author of Lifeline of the Confederacy: Blockade Running during the Civil War "Captain James Carlin's fascinating adventures come to life in this superbly researched biog¬raphy. As a British captain, commodore, and ship owner, Carlin ran vessels into Confeder¬ate ports from North Carolina to Texas; Civil War and naval scholars and enthusiasts alike will welcome Colin Carlin's fresh insights into this shadowy world." WALTER E. WILSON, captain, U.S. Navy (ret.), author of The Bulloch Belle: Three First Ladies, a Spy, a President’s Mother and Other Women of a 19th Century Georgia Family

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Book SynopsisAnalyzing Intelligence, now in a revised and extensively updated second edition, assesses the state of the profession of intelligence analysis from the practitioners point of view. The contributors-most of whom have held senior positions in the US intelligence community-review the evolution of the field, the rise of new challenges, pitfalls in analysis, and the lessons from new training and techniques designed to deal with 21st century national security problems. This second edition updates this indispensable book with new chapters that highlight advances in applying more analytic rigor to analysis, along with expertise-building, training, and professional development. New chapters by practitioners broaden the original volume's discussion of the analyst-policymaker relationship by addressing analytic support to the military customer as well as by demonstrating how structured analysis can benefit military commanders on the battlefield. Analyzing Intelligence is written for national security practitioners such as producers and users of intelligence, as well as for scholars and students seeking to understand the nature and role of intelligence analysis, its strengths and weaknesses, and steps that can improve it and lead it to a more recognizable profession. The most comprehensive and up-to-date volume on professional intelligence analysis as practiced in the US Government, Analyzing Intelligence is essential reading for practitioners and users of intelligence analysis, as well as for students and scholars in security studies and related fields.Trade ReviewEssential for practitioners and users of intelligence analysis, as well as for students and scholars in security studies and related fields. The Intelligencer A 'must' for any collection interested in the latest security changes and practices Midwest Book ReviewTable of ContentsPreface1. Intelligence Analysis: What Is It-and What Does It Take?James B. Bruce and Roger Z. GeorgePart I: The Analytic Tradition2. The Evolution of Intelligence Analysis in the US Intelligence CommunityJohn H. Hedley3. The Track Record of CIA AnalysisRichard J. Kerr and Michael Warner4. Is Intelligence Analysis a Discipline?Rebecca Fisher, Rob Johnston, and Peter Clement Part II: The Policymaker-Analyst Relationship 5. Serving the National PolicymakerJohn McLaughlin6. The Policymaker's Perspective: Transparency and PartnershipJames B. Steinberg 7. Serving the Senior Military Consumer: A National Agency PerspectiveJohn Kringen Part III: Diagnosis and Prescription 8. Why Bad Things Happen to Good AnalystsJack Davis9. Making Intelligence Analysis More Reliable: Why Epistemology Matters to IntelligenceJames B. Bruce10. The Missing Link: The Analyst-Collector RelationshipJames B. Bruce Part IV: Enduring Challenges11. The Art of Intelligence and StrategyRoger Z. George12. Foreign Deception and Denial: Analytic ImperativesJames B. Bruce and Michael Bennett13. Warning in an Age of UncertaintyRoger Z. George and James J. Wirtz Part V: Analysis for Twenty-First-Century Issues14. Structured Analytic Techniques: A New Approach to AnalysisRandolph H. Pherson and Richards J. Heuer Jr.15. New Analytic Techniques for Tactical Military IntelligenceVincent Stewart, Drew E. Cukor, Joseph Larson III, and Matthew Pottinger16. Domestic Intelligence AnalysisMaureen Baginski Part VI: Leading Analytic Change17. Building a Community of AnalystsThomas Fingar18. The Education and Training of Intelligence AnalystsMark M. Lowenthal19. Analytic Outreach: Pathway to Expertise Building and ProfessionalizationSusan H. Nelson20. Conclusion: Professionalizing Intelligence Analysis in the Twenty-First CenturyRoger Z. George and James B. Bruce GlossaryContributorsIndex

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Book SynopsisThis new textbook gathers an international roster of top security studies scholars to provide an overview of Asia-Pacific's international relations and pressing contemporary security issues. It is a suitable introduction for undergraduate and masters students' use in international relations and security studies courses. Merging a strong theoretical component with rich contemporary and historical empirical examples, Asia-Pacific Security examines the region's key players and challenges as well as a spectrum of proposed solutions for improving regional stability. Major topics include in-depth looks at the United States' relationship with China; Security concerns presented by small and microstates, the region's largest group of nations; threats posed by terrorism and insurgency; the region's accelerating arms race and the potential for an Asian war; the possible roles of multilateralism, security communities, and human security as part of solutions to regional problems.Table of ContentsIntroduction to Asia-Pacific Security Andrew Carr and Joanne WallisPart I: The Changing Asia-Pacific Security Order1. Can The United States Share Power In The Asia-Pacific? Brad Glosserman2 . Is China an Asia-Pacific Great Power?Lowell Dittmer3. Are India and Japan Potential Members of the Great Power Club?H. D. P. Envall and Ian Hall 4. Are Middle Powers on a Collision Course in the Asia-Pacific? Andrew Carr5. Why are Small States a Security Concern in the Asia-Pacific? Joanne Wallis Part II: Current and Emerging Security Challenges6. Military Modernization and Arms-Racing in the Asia-PacificTim Huxley and Brendan Taylor7. Maritime Security: Will Asia's Next War Occur at Sea? James Manicom8. What Threat do Terrorism and Insurgency Pose in the Asia-Pacific? Christopher Paul and Nick Nelson9. How Relevant are Internal and NonTraditional Security Challenges in the Asia Pacific? Alistair D.B. Cook10. How Is the Cyber Revolution Changing Asia-Pacific National Security Concerns? Rex B. Hughes Part III: Security Solutions 11. Can Multilateralism and Security Communities Bring Security to the Asia-Pacific? Mathew Davies12. Is Human Security a Solution? Sarah TeittConclusion: What is the Asia-Pacific's Likely Security Future? Brendan Taylor and William T. Tow GlossaryList of ContributorsIndex

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Book SynopsisThe anthology Proud to Be: Writing by American Warriors showcases writing from military veterans and their families from across the nation, including writing about WWI and WWII, Vietnam, the Gulf Conflict, Afghanistan, and Iraq. The anthology is the seventh in an annual series published by Southeast Missouri State University Press in Cooperation with the Missouri Humanities Council's Veterans Projects and the Warriors Arts Alliance. The Missouri Humanities Council plans to expand the partnership to include additional organizations that are both concerned and supportive of American veterans.

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Book SynopsisAs one of the earliest Arabs to join the Afghan Jihad, the Algerian Islamist Abdullah Anas counted as brothers-in-arms the future icons of al-Qaeda’s global war, from Abdullah Azzam to Osama bin Laden, and befriended key Afghan resistance leaders such as Ahmad Shah Massoud. Brushing shoulders with everyone from Zarqawi to Haqqani, Anas distanced himself from their movements, disagreeing with their narrow interpretations of political Islam. While he remains committed to Jihad, to this day Anas takes issue with the extremist trajectories of his one-time companions. Co-written with investigative journalist Tam Hussein, To the Mountains is an intimate and penetrating portrait of the networks that formed during the Afghan-Soviet war. In this revealing memoir, Anas shatters some of al-Qaeda's foundational myths, and rethinks what it means to be a Jihadist in the modern world.Trade Review'An unusual personal foray into the motives of the jihadis from one of their number. Anas . . . describes vividly for a western audience the human story . . . [a] fascinating book.'‘This important memoir … is a valuable resource that deserves a broad readership.’ -- The New Arab'Specialists and scholars will enjoy the accounts of arguments among different Afghan factions and the personal details related about key figures from the period . . . a valiant attempt to create something accessible and readable.'‘A treasure trove for scholars and historians, ["To The Mountains"] also provides fresh food for thought for all those, Muslim or non-Muslim, trying to understand how to build enduring peace settlements in Muslim-majority countries.’ -- War on the Rocks'Paints a dystopian picture of endless warfare in impoverished cities.' -- New Frame‘Provides an insider’s perspective of how jihadism emerged from the Afghan-Soviet war.’ -- Middle East Journal'A fascinating book with new insights and anecdotes in a history which resonates to this day.''No one knows the story of the Afghan Arabs better than Abdullah Anas. His personal story, and his observations of the recent developments in the Arab world, will surely be a revelation.' -- Lawrence Wright, author of 'The Looming Tower''Abdullah Anas has had a ringside seat at the most important moments in the evolution of the Islamist movement from his early involvement in the Afghan War during the mid 1980s where he met and befriended Osama bin Laden to his more recent role as a negotiator with the Taliban as well as his place as a respected Islamist intellectual around the Arab world as it undergoes its present revolutionary upheaval.' -- Peter Bergen, New America / CNN'Abdullah Anas is an Algerian mujahed who can tell the real story of the Afghan jihad and his life as one of those Arabs involved there. He can speak with true and lived knowledge about Abdullah Azzam, Osama bin Laden, Ahmed Shah Massoud, Hekmatyar and Sayyaf. I have no doubt that this book will be useful for future generations to understand this history, to take advantage of his experience and to avoid making the mistakes that many of his generation made.' -- Sheikh Yusuf Qaradawi'Abdullah Anas is an essential voice in the debate about jihad, and what it means for our societies. Told with honesty, modesty and clarity, "To the Mountains" deserves to be widely read.' -- Mike Martin, author of 'Why We Fight''"To the Mountains" presents stories from the beating heart of the Afghan jihad. This is essential reading, a first-hand eyewitness account with a message for the next generation.' -- Alex Strick van Linschoten, co-editor of 'The Taliban Reader''Through the mountains of Afghanistan, the killing fields and torture chambers of Algeria, the streets of Londonistan, and the highest diplomatic venues of Kabul, Kandahar, Riyadh and Mecca, Anas traces a journey that ends, despite everything, in unexpected hope.' -- Barnett Rubin, Center on International Communication

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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 SynopsisThe summer of 2014--when the Islamic State seized Mosul, Iraq's second city; captured vast swathes of eastern Syria; and declared itself a latter-day Caliphate--marked a turning point in the history of photography, one that pushed its already contested relationship with reality to its very limits. Uniquely obsessed with narrative, image management and branding, the Islamic State used cameras as weapons in its formative years as a Caliphate. The tens of thousands of propaganda photographs captured during this time were used to denote policy, to navigate through defeat and, perhaps most importantly, to construct an impossible reality: a totalising image-world of Salafi-Jihadist symbols and myths. Based on a deep examination of the 20,000 photographs Charlie Winter collected from the Islamic State's covert networks online in 2017, this book explores the process by which the Caliphate shook the foundations of modern war photography. Focusing on the period in which it was at its strongest, Winter identifies the implicit value systems that underpinned the Caliphate's ideological appeal, and evaluates its uniquely malign contribution to the history of the photographic image. The Terrorist Image travels to the heart of what made the Islamic State tick during its prime, providing unique insights into its global appeal and mobilisation successes.Trade Review‘The Terrorist Image offers an exhaustive and brilliant account of the Islamic State’s use of photography to imagine, convey, and construct reality in view of its ideological and strategic goal(s).’ -- E-International Relations‘[T]his book is an excellent read given the prominent resort to images in jihadist communication and their powerful resonance… In a fast-evolving digital world, Winter shows how to deconstruct the ideas and the systems of meaning embedded in propaganda images.’ -- International Affairs'A welcome addition to the literature on militant Islamist groups, non-state actors, and media/information warfare. [Winter's] approach to the semiotics, techniques, and strategies of IS media warfare is comprehensive and rigorous and his writing style engaging while also being informative.' -- The Muslim World Book Review'Everybody knows images matter, but few have studied them as deeply as Charlie Winter. Stop what you are doing and join him on this fascinating visual journey into the mind of the Islamic State.' -- Thomas Hegghammer, Senior Research Fellow, Norwegian Defence Research Establishment'This in-depth, detailed and insightful investigation of the Islamic State's use of visual semiotics offers a highly sophisticated understanding of how photographic images can be used to transmit a certain authority in propaganda and its meaning-making.' -- Tahir Abbas, FRSA, FAcSS, Professor of Radicalisation Studies, Institute of Security and Global Affairs, Leiden University'This brilliant and highly original analysis of how and why the Islamic State used cameras as weapons is indispensable for all who seek to understand the pull of militant jihad. It takes us into the heart of the meticulously constructed "reality" of the world's most propaganda-savvy jihadist terror group.' -- Elisabeth Kendall, Senior Research Fellow in Arabic and Islamic Studies, Oxford University'A very insightful look at the photographic campaign of ISIS in its heyday. This will be an invaluable archive for years to come.' -- Kareem El Damanhoury, Assistant Professor, Department of Media, Film & Journalism Studies, University of Denver'The meticulous work of one of the world's leading experts on the Islamic State and its propaganda machine. For everyone from scholars and policymakers to journalists and students, The Terrorist Image is essential reading.' -- Haroro J. Ingram, Senior Research Fellow, Program on Extremism, George Washington University

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Book SynopsisAn eye-opening account of a world order shaped by spacepower and the threat of space warfare. Space technology was developed to enhance the killing power of the state. The Moon landings and the launch of the Space Shuttle were mere sideshows, drawing public attention away from the real goal: military and economic control of space as a source of power on Earth. Today, as Bleddyn E. Bowen vividly recounts, thousands of satellites work silently in the background to provide essential military, intelligence and economic capabilities. No major power can do without them. Beyond Washington, Moscow and Beijing, truly global technologies have evolved, from the ground floor of the nuclear missile revolution to today’s orbital battlefield, shaping the wars to come. World powers including India, Japan and Europe are fully realising the strategic benefits of commanding Earth’s ‘cosmic coastline’, as a stage for war, development and prestige. Yet, as new contenders spend more and more on outer space, there is scope for cautious optimism about the future of the Space Age—if we can recognise, rather than hide, its original sin. Trade Review‘Original Sin is a comprehensive and thorough account of the particular “fall” of developing space-related technologies with military uses.’ -- Professor Lawrence Freedman, Foreign Affairs'Convincing.' -- New Scientist'Every page of this book is suffused with unrivalled knowledge of space technology and its implications for international relations.' -- Morning Star‘Bleddyn Bowen proves himself to be… a leading expert on the politics of space.’ -- Politique étrangère'A fascinating new book... examining how the military has shaped the use of space in countries around the world.' -- The Space Review‘A comprehensive and thorough account of the particular “fall” of developing space-related technologies with military uses.’ -- Foreign Affairs‘An indispensable introduction to the field of astropolitics, helping us to think about outer space security in a volatile geopolitical context.’ -- Journal of Cyber Policy'[Bowen] offers a robust framework for understanding the politics of security on orbit ... ['Original Sin' is] a timely and welcome contribution to our understanding of space, politics, and security in the modern era.' -- Diplomatic Courier‘This work should have pride-of-place in the book collections of Guardian and other military space operators, outer space enthusiasts, and space-minded members of the general public.’ -- Air University‘What sets Original Sin apart from similar books is the outstanding context it provides and its willingness to challenge trite slogans attached to space power.’ -- United States Army War College Press'A work from Britain's leading thinker on astropolitics... Dr Bowen strips away any pretence that space is not already a war-fighting domain.' -- Tim Marshall, bestselling author of The Power of Geography and Prisoners of Geography'The perspective on space Bowen brings is meant to--and does--challenge the reader. There is much of value here to chew on, and any serious space power student or practitioner needs to pay careful attention to his arguments.' -- Everett Dolman, Professor of Comparative Military Studies and Strategy, US Air Force's Air Command and Staff College, and author of Astropolitik'This book sets out to describe how the militarisation of space is not a new policy issue or trend in world politics, but a long-established historical fact and present reality. Original and compelling, this will be of interest to anyone seeking a history of technology's role in space strategy.' -- John J. Klein, author of Understanding Space Strategy'A fresh, timely and detailed account of the military-political origins of spacepower and the future of warfare in space.' -- Deganit Paikowsky, author of The Power of the Space Club'Bowen persuasively demonstrates that space technology is the outcome of war, and driven by military applications. By exposing the hidden face of space, this book makes a critical intervention towards a peaceful world.' -- Alice Gorman, author of Dr Space Junk vs the Universe'Original Sin makes the valid argument that, far from us existing in a new "space race", the history of space exploration has always been about power, politics, political economy and the pursuit of national interests on the global stage. A satisfying and insightful read from a deeply knowledgeable expert.' -- Tim Stevens, Senior Lecturer in Global Security and head of the King's Cyber Security Research Group, King's College London'Just as space security is becoming more urgent, Bleddyn Bowen has delivered a remarkable account of the seventy-year-long militarised Global Space Age. Original Sin's compelling narrative will be of great interest to scholars of military strategy, Cold War historians, and policymakers.' -- Aaron Bateman, Assistant Professor of History and International Affairs, George Washington University‘[Bleddyn E. Bowen] reasons that the more complex and complicated the new space ecosystem becomes, the more likely competition and potential conflict become.’ -- RAF Chief of Air Staff's Reading List

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Book SynopsisWhat is military strategy today? In an era when European states seek to de-escalate and avoid armed conflict, and where politicians fear the consequences of protracted operations or tactical hazards, does military strategy have any relevance? This is the first volume to examine current military risks and threats for NATO from a military strategy vantage point. Which strategies are needed? Is ways-ends-means thinking possible as a strategic template today? The contributors probe the relative importance, utility and options of military strategy across NATO as it confronts a variety of challenges old and new, as hybrid threats, new nuclear risks and conventional force combine in complex ways. They also examine what military strategy and military integration really mean, when NATO's multilateral framework is being weakened by degrees of self-interest. They analyse the USA's political and military role in Europe, and assess military strategic responses to Russian aggression in Ukraine and the Middle East. Moreover, they study the role of member states' military strategy set against Article 5 and non-Article 5 risks and threats, and explore how European states devise and implement military strategic options. This book makes a clear assessment of political level strategy and its implications for military integration.Trade Review'A sobering and stimulating set of essays which remind us of the importance of military strategy and the difficulty of getting politicians to think strategically. The authors take aim at some dangerous misconceptions which, unless addressed, will continue to weaken the Western alliance.' -- Christopher Coker, Department of International Relations, London School of Economics, and author of 'The Improbable War: China, the United States and the Logic of Great Power Conflict''Two world-leading experts have recruited the winning team in the current Olympics of strategy-making. Exploring the complexity of strategy and its cultural variations, this book provides a valuable update on individual states' positions. This should be on every IR reading list!' -- Beatrice Heuser, Professor of International Relations, University of Glasgow'This excellent new book provides a much-needed, in-depth analysis of the concept of military strategy, the utility of military force and the differing approaches of NATO member-states to the wide range of challenges facing the alliance in the 21st century.' -- Tracey German, Reader in Conflict and Security, King’s College London

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Book SynopsisThe account of the fateful bridge too far…‘It was a bridge too far and perhaps the whole plan was doomed to failure from the start, but we had to try, didn’t we?’17 September 1944: 30,000 airborne soldiers prepare to drop 64 miles behind enemy lines into Nazi-occupied Holland; tens of thousands of ground troops race down Hell’s Highway in tanks and armoured cars, trucks and half-tracks to link up with them. The goal – to secure eight bridges across the Rhine and end the war by Christmas. Ten days later, over 15,000 of these soldiers have died, 6,000 have been taken prisoner.Operation Market Garden was the daring plan to stage a coup de main in occupied territory, gain control of those bridges, and obtain a direct route into Hitler’s Germany. But the operation failed and the allied forces suffered a brutal military defeat.In the 75 years since, tactics have been analysed and blame has been placed, but the heart of Arnhem’s story lies in the selflessness and bravery of those troops that fought, the courage and resilience of the civilians caught up in confrontation, and the pure determination to fight for their lives and their freedom. This is the story of ordinary people caught up in extraordinary events.In Ballantyne’s Arnhem, we go into battle with not only the famous commanders in the thick of the action, but also with all those whose fates were determined by their decisions. Based on first-hand interviews, military records, and diaries, we witness the confusion and mayhem of war – from the horrific and devastating to the surreal and mundane. But most of all, we witness the self-sacrifice and valour of the men who gave their lives to liberate strangers in a foreign country.Praise for Arnhem: Ten Days in the Cauldron ‘Reminiscent of Stephen Ambrose at his best… some remarkable stories, which Ballantyne neatly dovetails into a rolling epic’ Dr Harry Bennett, University of Plymouth‘Breath-taking… I thoroughly enjoyed reading this account of Arnhem, adding, if you like, a trench-level perspective to those other accounts written from more senior, and sometimes more detached, points of view. Thoroughly recommended’ British Journal for Military History

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Book SynopsisTerrorism, radicalization and violent extremism dominate sociological, political and cultural concerns in today’s polarized social and political world. However, the role of governments and issues relating to state terrorism and the counter-terror state remain important considerations. This book presents an understanding of the concept of Countering Violent Extremism from a critical terrorism studies perspective using case studies from different countries while examining the issues it raises. Extremism and violence do not emerge in a vacuum – nor do the policies that counter these concerns. There are no simple solutions to violent extremism but the fixation on ideology can do more harm than good.Trade ReviewA wide-ranging and provocative treatment of political violence today. Countering Violent Extremism not only provides researchers with a set of critical resources through which to interrogate dominant conceptions of extremism and terrorism. It also offers practitioners an important set of tools with which to situate and address diverse forms of violence. The book deserves the wide audience it will no doubt receive. * Lee Jarvis, Professor of International Politics and Research Director, University of East Anglia, UK *Countering Violent Extremism: The International Deradicalization Agenda provides a deeply insightful overview – and trenchant critique – of the contemporary terrorism and de-radicalisation field. I was particularly impressed with the clear and concise but always sophisticated analysis of this complex and often perplexing subject, and the simple but profound conclusions it draws about responding to political violence. A fine example of applied critical thinking and research-informed analysis, it should be required reading for everyone involved in the de-radicalisation field, whether as researchers or practitioners. * Richard Jackson, University of Otago, New Zealand *Challenging the status quo is as crucial for CVE as it is for global security, especially when considering that the status quo can lead to ignoring or misrepresenting the underlying causes of terrorism and extremism. This book is a welcome departure from stagnant CVE evaluations that contribute to lackluster or damaging programming. * Kris McGuffie, Deputy Director, Center on Terrorism, Extremism, and Counterterrorism, Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, USA *Table of ContentsAbout the book Acknowledgements Part One Terrorism and states 1 Definitional challenges 2 State terrorism 3 The counter-terror state 4 Genocide and ethnic cleansing Part Two Disentangling violent extremism 5 Individual factors in terrorism 6 The social science of extremism 7 Reciprocal radicalization 8 Countering reciprocal radicalization 9 The UK ‘Prevent’ agenda Part Three Deradicalization 10 Leaving terrorism behind 11 Disordered deradicalization 12 Driven to hate 13 Terror politics Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisFrom the deliberate, but delightful, misspelling of Shakespeare in the title to the carefully portrayed perils of being a Victorian soldier and the appropriately selected Shakespearian quotes to go alongside each cartoon, Thomas Seccombe’s book will resonate with all who have an interest in observing life – military and otherwise. Seccombe was a true son of the Victorian Empire and served in The Royal Artillery until retiring as a Lieutenant-Colonel in 1881. This book was first published in 1880 and was so popular that it went on to six reprints in the following two years. Seccombe subsequently had a flourishing civilian career as an illustrator. Some 140 years later, even today’s readers will see why Military Misreadings of Shakspere [sic] was such a success. Seccombe’s subtle, but perceptive, observations of human character are as true today as they ever were. He had a wonderful eye for detail as well as the ridiculous – but never with malice even when pairing his cartoons with quotes from the Bard of Avon. This re-issued edition has the added benefit of former Grenadier Paul Cordle’s highly informative commentary which puts Seccombe’s army into perspective and relates regiments to their modern successors-in-arms. With a similar eye for detail as the original illustrator, military historian Paul brings the illustrations to life with fascinating military observations.Trade Review“This book is fun; it throws an amusing light on the British Army as the British Empire approached the apogee of its power... This short book should make a colourful addition to the home of anyone remotely interested in military history and Shakespeare; and I wish it success” General Sir Jack Deverell KCB OBE DLTable of ContentsForeword. Introduction and Acknowledgements. Original title page & Major T.S. Seccombe's Disclaimer. Illustrations and Quotations. Author's Note. Appendix 1 - Note on British Army Reforms. Appendix 2 - The British Army, 2020. Appendix 3 - Succession of Cavalry and Armoured Regiments.

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Book SynopsisScholars and policymakers have sought to understand what drives sectarianism in the Middle East and its relationship to multiple conflicts, but far less attention has been focused on the factors that make a community more resilient to sectarianism. This report provides a better understanding of how communities inoculate themselves from sectarianism or recover from it and draws lessons on how to promote resilience and cross-sectarian cooperation.

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Book SynopsisOver the last few decades, as the United States has become embroiled in foreign war after foreign war, some of the most vocal activists for peace have been veterans. These veterans for peace come from all different races, classes, regions, and generations. What common motivations unite them and fuel their activism? Guys Like Me introduces us to five ordinary men who have done extraordinary work as peace activists: World War II veteran Ernie Sanchez, Korean War veteran Woody Powell, Vietnam veteran Gregory Ross, Gulf War veteran Daniel Craig, and Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran Jonathan Hutto. Acclaimed sociologist Michael Messner offers rich profiles of each man, recounting what led him to join the armed forces, what he experienced when fighting overseas, and the guilt and trauma he experienced upon returning home. He reveals how the pain and horror of the battlefront motivated these onetime warriors to reconcile with former enemies, get involved as political activists, and help younger generations of soldiers. Guys Like Me is an inspiring multigenerational saga of men who were physically or psychically wounded by war, but are committed to healing themselves and others, forging a path to justice, and replacing endless war with lasting peaceTrade Review“The greatest of all myths about wars is that they come to an end. This deeply personal, very human book shows how ten, twenty, thirty, sixty years later their hurts and scars live on in those who fought them. Michael Messner has brought on stage some eloquent survivors whom our politicians should listen to before they dare even consider sending young men and women out to fight yet again.” -- Adam Hochschild * author of To End All Wars: A Story of Loyalty and Rebellion, 1914-1918 *“There is a revelation on every page of Guys Like Me. The journey any man takes to transform his sense of his own manliness isn’t direct or simple. And, as Michael Messner shows us in these five engaging life histories, each gendered journey will have added twists and turns when distorted by militarism. A truly humane book." -- Cynthia Enloe * author of The Big Push: Exposing and Challenging Persistent Patriarchy *"With Guys Like Me, Michael Messner delivers an eloquent, passionate, and moving account of how war has sometimes moved veterans towards peace. Messner’s interviewees give us hope that humanity might yet one day listen to the soldiers who have gone to war, the ones who tell us, again and again, that war’s devastation is never worth it." -- Viet Thanh Nguyen * author of The Sympathizer *"Michael Messner is our new Studs Terkel. His five men speak with extraordinary eloquence about the psychic wounds they suffered in war, and the moral odysseys they undertook to break the silence that surrounds the human cost of war in the United States. Each man fought in a different war, but each tells a common story of exploitation by their own government and a descent into numbness, followed by redemption. These men form an intergenerational chain reflecting with honesty and courage on masculinity and war. Messner describes and analyzes their experiences with warmth and insight. Essential reading for those seeking to understand military veterans." -- Hugh Gusterson * author of Drone: Remote Control Warfare *"Messner's narrative points the way for other activists seeking to build popular opposition movements." * Kirkus Reviews *"The true meaning of Armistice Day — a commitment to peace," by Susan Bell * USCDornsife *"Professor to publish book following lives of veteran" by Joelle Tenderich * Daily Trojan *"This book tells the stories of five veterans of five U.S. wars: WWII, Korea, Vietnam, and Iraq Parts I and II. We learn their stories from long before they entered the military through long after they left it. The stories are well-told, with subtlety and complexity, not museum-like propaganda. Patterns become evident without the book becoming repetitious. Each person is unique, but each confronts the same monster." * World Beyond War *"Veterans have fought in wars – and fought against them," by Michael Messner * The Conversation *"All five [veterans] are unique and engaging storytellers who pack the book with human interest....The testimonies of these varied, thoughtful, and racially diverse veterans are at stark odds with the cinematic ads we see of government-approved pro-war imagery, and it’s important they be heard." * Foreword Reviews *"Vermont Conversation with David Goodman" with Mike Messner and veterans Daniel Craig, Jonathan Hutto, and Ken Mayers * Vermont Conversation with David Goodman *"The Page 99 Test" with Michael Messner * The Page 99 Test *Excerpt of Guys Like Me: Five Wars, Five Veterans for Peace in the Spring 2019 issue of Voice Male Magazine * Voice Mail Magazine *"Can the Military Be Reformed? Six Unusual Veterans Ponder Active Duty and Its Aftermath," by Steve Early * LA Progressive *"Guys Like Me is well written; Messner does a fine job of telling the men’s stories, conveying the complexity of their struggles by sharing their words and providing vivid details about their lives. What we see are real people, confused and lost at times, trying to reclaim their humanity and repair the damage caused by participating in organized violence." * Gender and Society *Reprint of LA Progressive's "Can the Military Be Reformed?: Six Unusual Veterans Ponder Active Duty and Its Aftermath," by Steve Early * CounterPunch Magazine *"From Manly Silence to Projects of Peace," by Michael A. Messner * Gender and Society Blog *"Sociologist Michael Messner uses [sociological imagination] to better understand men’s experiences in war and how they come to make sense of these experiences over the course of their lives. His book, Guys Like Me: Five Wars, Five Veterans for Peace, examines the life stories of veterans to understand how they have grappled with their experiences in war and how this is connected with constructions of masculinity." * Everyday Sociology *"[Messner has] a remarkable ability to elicit stunning memories and reflections from his subjects. But the work is much more than a splendid oral history, though it's that for sure; his approach and interpretations make it a book like no other." -- John Ibson * author of Picturing Men: A Century of Male Relationships in Everyday American Photography *"Peace advocates have long been found among veterans who fought in America’s wars," by Michael Messner https://theconversation.com/peace-advocates-have-long-been-found-among-veterans-who-fought-in-americas-wars-126467 * The Conversation *"Serving Veterans" by Dave Pugl * Library Journal *Table of ContentsContents Prologue Chapter 1 Projects of Peace Chapter 2 There Is No “Good War” Ernie “Indio” Sanchez, World War II Chapter 3 Being Honorable Wilson “Woody” Powell, Korean War Chapter 4 Paying Off My Karmic Debt Gregory Ross, The American War in Vietnam Chapter 5 You Clock In, You Go Kill People Daniel Craig, The Gulf War Chapter 6 Laying the Tracks Jonathan W. Hutto, Sr., Operation Iraqi Freedom Chapter 7 This Is Our Service References Notes

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Book SynopsisThis book applies cutting-edge methods from cognitive and evolutionary theories to develop models of conflict between hierarchically-structured cognitive entities under circumstances of imprecision, uncertainty and stress. Characterized as friction and the fog-of-war by the Prussian military theorist Carl von Clausewitz, such conditions impair institutional cognition in real-time conflict and pose a real and continuing threat to organizations, such as the US military. In a linked collection of formal essays and a mathematical appendix, the book explores different aspects of cognitive and evolutionary process as conducted under the direction of doctrine that acts as a kind of genome for retention of what is learned through Lamarckian evolutionary selection pressures: armies and corporate entities learn from conflict, and incorporate that learning into their ongoing procedures. The book proposes models and policy solutions for strategic competence. A central feature of the book is a formal description of the famous OODA loop of the US military theorist John Boyd in terms of the Data Rate Theorem that links control and information theories. That description is expanded to cover more fully the impact of stochastic fog-of-war effects on tactical and operational scales of conflict. Subsequent chapters examine in more detail the role of doctrine, and the particular effect of embedding culture on cognitive and Lamarckian evolutionary processes associated with conflict on tactical, operational, and strategic scales and levels of organization. A scientifically sophisticated exercise in applied mathematics, history, evolutionary theory, and ecosystem theory, this book will be appropriate for researchers and students interested in defense, security, and international relations, as well as non-academic career professionals in government and industry.Table of ContentsChapter 1. Contrasting tactical and strategic dynamics.- Chapter 2. Doctrine and the fog-of-war.- Chapter 3. On asymmetric conflict.- Chapter 4. The Albigensian ground state.- Chapter 5. Can there be ‘Third Stream’ doctrine?- Chapter 6. Reconsidering doctrine and its discontents.- Chapter 7. Challenges to the US security doctrine of ‘Resilience’.- Chapter 8. Culture and the induction of emotional dysfunction on a Clausewitz landscape.- Chapter 9. Expected unexpecteds: Cambrian explosions in Lamarckian systems.- Chapter 10. Reconsidering Clausewitz Landscape dynamics.- Chapter 11. Failure of a paramilitary system: a case history of catastrophe.- Chapter 12. An emerging catastrophe: The weaponization of emotional sentience in AI.- Chapter 13. Final Remarks.- Chapter 14. Mathematical Appendix.

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Book SynopsisThis book examines the challenges foreign fighter returnees from Syria and Iraq pose to Western countries. A number of returnees have demonstrated that they are willing to use violence against their home countries, and some have already staged terrorist attacks on Western soil on apparent orders from ISIS. Through the historical context of previous waves of mobilizations of Islamist foreign fighters, the author tracks the experiences of returnees from previous conflicts and discusses the major security challenges associated with them. The book analyzes the major approaches implemented by Western countries in response to foreign fighter returnees, discusses the prosecution of returnees, and evaluates the corresponding challenges of prison radicalization.Trade Review“Pokalova’s book is an important quest to understand a form of terrorism that still poses perils to the West and should not be taken lightly.” (C. C. Lovett, Choice, Vol. 58 (1), September, 2020)Table of ContentsChapter 1The Returnee ChallengeChapter 2Foreign Fighters in Syria and Iraq: Aberration from History or History Repeated?Chapter 3Foreign Fighters After the Conflict EndsChapter 4Foreign Fighter Returnees from Syria and IraqChapter 5Dealing with the Challenge: Responses to Foreign Fighters and Foreign Fighter ReturneesChapter 6Prosecution of Foreign Fighter ReturneesChapter 7Women, Jihad, and Female ReturneesChapter 8Child ReturneesChapter 9Moving Forward

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Book SynopsisThe intense debate over US targeted drone strikes outside war zones has been limited by the failure to review and assess a considerable body of quantitative research and qualitative material on the impacts of such strikes on terrorist groups and civilians. This book fills an important gap in the literature by conducting a careful and rigorous review of such evidence. It argues that decisions about the use of targeted strikes as a counterterrorism instrument, as well as legal and ethical evaluations of such use, must be informed by our best understanding of the insights that empirical evidence can provide on the effectiveness of strikes and the costs they impose on populations where they occur.Table of Contents1. Introduction PART I. EMPIRICAL RESEARCH ON TARGETED KILLING 2. Measuring Cause and Effect in Targeting Killing 3. Israeli Targeted Strikes 4. Leadership Decapitation Studies PART II: IMPACTS OF US STRIKES ON TERRORIST GROUPS 5. Overview of US Targeted Strikes 6. Quantitative Research 7. Qualitative Evidence 8. Weighing the Evidence PART III: IMPACTS OF US STRIKES ON CIVILIANS 9. Civilian Casualties from US Targeted Strikes 10. Civilian Casualties: Beyond the Numbers 11. Effects on Local Populations 12. Conclusion

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Book SynopsisThis book identifies and explains the functional and ideational boundaries regarding what states and Private Military and Security Companies (PMSCs) both do and possess regarding land power, sea power, and air power. Whereas the mercenaries, privateers, and chartered companies of years past held similar characteristics to state military forces, the PMSCs of today are dissimilar for two reasons: a conventional forces norm amongst states and a state proclivity towards the offensive. These factors reveal both the limitations of and the possibilities for contemporary security privatization. This volume is ideal for civilian and military practitioners and students wishing to develop a detailed understanding of what the private military and security industry has to offer and why it is structured the way it is.Table of ContentsChapter 1: Introduction.- Chapter 2: Conventional Forces Norm.- Chapter 3: The Histroy of commercial non-state violent actors.- Chapter 4: Land Power and PMSCs.- Chapter 5: Sea Power and PMSCs.- Chapter 6: Air Power and PMSCs.- Chapter 7: Conclusion.

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Book SynopsisWhen Russia attacked Ukraine on February 24, 2022, academic life and other social activities in Ukraine changed drastically. Scholars who either stayed in their cities or were forced to evacuate gained first-hand participant observation experience of war. Their teaching and research have been interrupted, but they continued to reflect on social, political, and economic events in Ukraine.This book is a collection of personal reflections by scholars of different disciplines, offering a variety of perspectives on Russia's war against Ukraine. We immerse in the personal experiences and stories of researchers who reflect on their academic and analytical backgrounds-sociology, political science, international relations, and literature. This unique collection offers not only fascinating and shocking insights from Ukrainian citizens but also the thoughts and reflections of scholars of several fields that help us better understand the situation in Ukrainian society during the war.

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Book SynopsisBeing located between the Black and Caspian seas, Azerbaijan has always been the juncture of Eurasia—with a traditional reputation as a crossroads between the north-south and east-west transport corridors—and the traditional ground for competition between numerous regional and global players, using both soft and hard power. With its vast hydrocarbon energy reserves, Azerbaijan is a country of particular importance in the South Caucasus. The region’s complex geopolitics have immensely influenced Azerbaijan’s foreign policy strategy. With the dissolution of the USSR, Azerbaijan, as a new state with fragile security, found itself in a complicated situation surrounded by regional powers like Iran, Russia, and Turkey. This book focuses on several major foreign policy issues faced by the Republic of Azerbaijan since it regained its independence in 1991. These major issues include the conflict with Armenia and related matters, the relationship with the West, as well as the complexities arising from its relationship with Russia and its ties to Muslim countries, such as Iran and Saudi Arabia.Table of ContentsIntroduction Farid Shafiyev 1. Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict: Deconstructing Stereotypes and International Imagery Farid Shafiyev 2. Rethinking Azerbaijan’s Foreign Policy Strategies vis-à-vis a Hegemony-Seeking Russia, 1991-2017 Kamran Ismayilov 3. Azerbaijan-EU Relations: More Opportunities on the Horizon Anar Valiyev 4. Azerbaijan's Place in West Central Eurasian Energy Security Robert M. Cutler 5. Azerbaijan and Turkey: Analysis of Mutual Cooperation and Strategic Relations since the Independence of Azerbaijan Shamkhal Abilov 6. The Next Front? Iranian Ambitions and Azerbaijan’s Strategic Bulwark Mitchell Belfer 7. The Emerging Strategic Partnership between Azerbaijan and Saudi Arabia: Azerbaijan’s Policy of Common Incentives and Overcoming Geography Lucie Švejdová

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