Two of Wellington's officers tell their stories of war
This book contains personal accounts giving the perspectives of two young British officers of infantry during the Peninsular War in Spain against Napoleon's French forces. Each account is comparatively short and they have been published in a single volume by Leonaur not only because they represent aspects of common experience, but also to provide readers with essential texts of the Napoleonic Wars in a cost effective way. John Dobbs was an officer in the 51st Foot and shared the experience of campaigning with the famous Light Division. Here is the storming of Badajoz in all its appalling detail as well as fascinating details of the campaign that led to the fall of San Sebastian and the invasion of France. Young Robert Knowles was an officer in the 7th-the Royal Fusiliers. He was clearly a particularly bold and courageous soldier and through his letters we share his personal view of the conflict. These are vital additions to every library of the Peninsular War and will be appreciated by students and casual readers alike.

In January 2007, Lieutenant Colonel Matthew K. Green journeys to Iraq to serve as the team chief of a national police transition team. It s a historic time, and America is pushing forth a radical plan meant to help the fledgling Iraqi government regain control of their country. Something must be done to rip away the power from insurgents and religious extremists. As part of this bold move, which becomes known as the surge, the U.S. Army enlists the support of leaders such as LTC Green, who is just one of hundreds of team chiefs deployed with transition teams to live and fight with Iraqi units. Attached to the 5th Brigade Iraqi National Police, the lieutenant colonel joins a newly appointed Iraqi commander, Colonel Bahaa Noori Yassin Al Azawi. Together, the two train a brigade of troops, all while engaged in a complex counterinsurgency. Despite violence, cultural misunderstandings, and political squabbles, the two military leaders persevere, and so do those under their command. Take an insider s look at the complex culture behind the Iraq war; feel the hope and experience the fears that threaten to subdue an entire country in Postmark Baghdad.

On October 19, 1862, Lieutenant Colonel Carter Van Vleck wrote to his wife and daughter:

"It takes an immense amt. of study to learn well the art of killing people, without getting killed yourself And that is the great secret of war, to kill & cripple the enemy to the greatest degree with the least possible damage to those under your command It is a fearful yet a very pleasent study I like it much better than I expected to & much better than any thing else I ever studied or practiced.

How I should like the sad realities of war, or how I should demean myself in an actual fight, of course I have as little idea as anyone else that knows me I might disgrace myself & family forever or might win honors worthy to be won."

During the next two years, the young officer would detail his Civil War experiences in intimate letters to his "whole heart's love," Patty, and their daughter Nellie. The letters reveal both the external challenges Van Vleck faced and his personal conflicts: the urge to eliminate slavery by serving his country well and the longing to return to his loved ones.

On the 29th of June 2014 ISIS declared the establishment of a caliphate stretching across territories in Iraq and Syria. In response, Operation Inherent Resolve, a US-led 77 nation coalition, was launched to respond to the threat of Islamic State. The West's War Against Islamic State offers the first history of Operation Inherent Resolve and the West's war against ISIS, from its inception in 2014 to the fall of Raqqa in 2017. Andrew Mumford offers a comprehensive analysis and assessment of the military campaign deployed against ISIS in Syria and Iraq by examining the West's strategic objectives as well as the conflicting interests of rival powers, namely Russia, Iran and Turkey. By examining individual operational components of this military engagement such as drone usage, cyber warfare, special forces operations and sponsorship of guerrilla forces, this book offers a unique insight into the nature of modern warfare.

Since its birth, America has been involved in more than a dozen military conflicts. From the battle of King's Mountain in the American Revolution to the Persian Gulf War, this resource provides a wealth of primary documents and commentary on pivotal events of war and peace. Expert commentary and the text of 70 primary documents expressing a variety of positions on these issues bring to light the complexities of American military conflicts. Documents include excerpts from speeches, diaries, pamphlets, broadsides, songs, newspaper articles, congressional debates, and government reports.

Among the issues covered are the arguments between Federalists and anti-Federalists over the War of 1812, the debate over westward expansion during the Mexican War, the New York City draft riot in the Civil War, the debate over the Indian Question, the annexation of the Philippines, the Espionage and Sedition Acts of World War I, the decision to drop the bomb on Hiroshima, the recall of General Douglas MacArthur, the My Lai massacre, and the bombing of Iraq. Each entry contains a comprehensive discussion and analysis of the event, followed by the text of 3-8 primary documents presenting a variety of viewpoints by participants in the event. A narrative introduction to the topic, a helpful annotated bibliographic research guide for each event, including recommended web sites and videos, and a timeline of key events will aid the student researcher. This is an ideal resource for student research and class debate.

Weep, Grey Bird, Weep is the story of the most extraordinary love story of the 19th century, set against the background of the most disastrous war ever fought. The war saw the tiny republic of Paraguay fighting against the combined forces of Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay. By the time the war ended, in March 1870, Paraguay's population had been reduced by more than half, and 80 per cent of the male population had been killed. Paraguay's leader in this war was Francisco Solano Lopez and by his side was his devoted lover, a girl from Ireland called Eliza Lynch. He was killed on the last day of the war and she buried him and their eldest son, who died trying to protect her, with her bare hands.

Preventative war has a long history in international politics, but until it became an instrumental part of the 'Bush Doctrine', it was mostly overlooked. We know that there have been preventative wars throughout history, but the motivations behind them have remained elusive. Because of the relatively little attention focused on preventative action, there are many crucial questions that remain unanswered. What exactly constitutes preventative action? What differentiates preventative action from pre-emptive action? Are there significant differences between preventative strikes and full-on preventative wars? What is the relationship of preventive action to traditional concepts of deterrence, compellence, and international law? Finally, and most important, why do states initiate preventative action? Ultimately, the best avenue for understanding decisions to initiate preventative action is through a close examination of the individual leader responsible for such decisions. The theory of preventative action presented in this book is based upon the beliefs, values, and perceptions of leaders. Israel's strike on Iraq's nuclear reactor, 1981; American preventive war planning, 1946-1954; Indian preventative war planning, 1982-2002; and America's war against Iraq, 2003. In each instance, preventative action was seriously considered, and yet it only occurred in three of the five cases. In the end, each case provides further evidence that individual leadership matters, and nowhere more so than in decisions involving preventative war.