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Books > History > Asian / Middle Eastern history > From 1900
Contemporary Military Strategy and the Global War on Terror offers
an in-depth analysis of US/UK military strategy in Afghanistan and
Iraq from 2001 to the present day. It explores the development of
contemporary military strategy in the West in the modern age before
interrogating its application in the Global War on Terror. The book
provides detailed insights into the formulation of military plans
by political and military elites in the United States and United
Kingdom for Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Alastair Finlan highlights the challenges posed by each of these
unique theatres of operation, the nature of the diverse enemies
faced by coalition forces, and the shortcomings in strategic
thinking about these campaigns. This fresh perspective on strategy
in the West and how it has been applied in recent military
campaigns facilitates a deep understanding of how wars have been
and will be fought. Including key terms, concepts and discussion
questions for each chapter, Contemporary Military Strategy and the
Global War on Terror is a crucial text in strategic studies, and
required reading for anyone interested in the new realities of
transnational terrorism and twenty-first century warfare.
"Fight of the Phoenix" is a historical personal account of
duties as an Advisor in the Delta of Vietnam in 1972. The author
counters claims of other Advisors and Academics and sets the record
straight on the vicious nature of the Communist insurgency that
killed their own people and the spectacular success of the Phoenix
Program throughout the country and especially in the Delta Region
MR-4 in targeting and neutralizing the enemy Viet Cong
insurgents.
"Wounded" is an eloquent, gritty account of the ordeal suffered
by injured American soldiers during Operation Iraqi Freedom. The
human elements of courage, love, fear, and sacrifice paint an
intriguing picture of the reality of war. Author Ed Hrivnak, a
flight nurse witness to the pain and suffering, offers a heroic
narrative for the reader. There are valiant accounts of battle
followed by the reality of life altering injuries, and how troops
support each other and persevere.
"Wounded" closes all gaps between the reader, the injured troops
in the field, and the medevac personnel helping them during their
darkest hours. The book offers a unique look at what it was like to
evacuate wounded at the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Hrivnak
wants the reader to fully understand the price of war. This
international odyssey transcends the casualty statistics forgotten
in the news. A wounded soldier is a human being who is vulnerable
and weakened. Those who care for them, at times struggling to
maintain life, are also scarred. These men and women are an
incredible source of strength, courage, and devotion.
"Wounded" completes Captain Hrivnak's original journal, featured
in the Emmy winning and Oscar nominated film, "Operation
Homecoming. "
Possibly there is nothing more conducive to thoughts of the
Eternal, than having one's face slammed into red, wet muck, with
explosions so close your body arcs and bounces off the ground, hot
shards burn in your flesh, and concussions are bright flashes of
dirty fire beating a tattoo on the light receptors in the backs of
your eyes. Your head aches; throbbing from visual shock waves.
Time has come to an end; there is no right, no wrong, only
whatever follows a life that is now over. The dark reaper is here.
What's it going to be like on the other side? Is there an "other
side"?
The old timers use the maxim, "There are no atheists in a
fox-hole." Possibly so; I can only give my own experience, and I
never had the opportunity to be in one. Combat aviators crash and
sometimes burn instead. But close calls almost always give rise to
interminable questions; especially when the survived experience is
seared into the human psyche.
For some, satisfactory answers never seem to come. For myself,
may I pro-offer both scorching experience, and incredible
life-lessons learned? Then, should you ever fall into similar
adventure; you man go into it better prepared than I was.
JWV
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