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.

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.

Gary Gunkel tells about his real-life experiences as a US Marine, an Anchorage City Policeman, an Alaska State Trooper, Chief of Police in small town Alaska and Sheriff of Asotin County, Washington. His stories are guaranteed to keep you turning the pages on call after call, and his sometimes hair-raising law enforcement experiences will keep you on the edge of your seat. And just when you think you have heard it all there will be another call that you can't imagine. You will discover how Gary handles a dangerous situation surrounded by 24 members of a motorcycle gang with the nearest backup over 200 miles away. Another time you will feel the experience of stopping 17 gang members on a main highway because they were displaying a sawed off shotgun. The amazing thing is all these calls are real life...there is no fiction involved. Gary has, on occasion, changed a name to protect someone's privacy, or sometimes a name is left out because he cannot recall it or has no way of getting the name. You will experience commercial fishing with his whole family for salmon in Bristol Bay and flying loads of fish off the beach in his plane. You will read about several live action and near-death aircraft incidents that you cannot believe happened to Gary and his family. He writes about bush flying experiences that will make you laugh, and some truly whacko ones that will make you shake your head as you go fishing, trapping and hunting with him. And through it all, you will come away with the understanding that everything Gary Gunkel did in law enforcement was professional, that he has a huge capacity for living life completely, and great love for his family.

My War Gone By, I Miss It So is a uniquely powerful piece of writing, unparalleled in the genre. Ex-infantry officer Anthony Loyd arrived in the Balkans hoping to become a war correspondent. He wanted to see `a real war', and in Bosnia he found one. The cruelty and chaos of the conflict both appalled and embraced him - the adrenaline lure of the action perhaps the loudest siren call of all. In the midst of the daily life-and-death struggle among the Serbs, Croatians and Bosnian Muslims he was inspired by the extraordinary human fortitude he discovered. But returning home, empty and craving adrenaline, he faced his own frailties until he could bear it no longer.

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.

The campaigns of a 'soldier sahib' in the nineteenth century
The author of this book was a true soldier of the Raj. His long career took place almost entirely in India or was concerned with the wars of the Honourable East India Company. As a young man he joined the Bombay Rifles in the early years of Queen Victoria's reign and arrived in the sub-continent in time to take part in the Southern Maratha Campaign. Next came the wars that brought about the final destruction of the Sikh kingdom and Maude was present at the storming of Multan and other key actions. 1856 brought 'John Company's Last War'-The Persian Campaign. Maude took part and left posterity much interesting detail on this little covered episode of British military history. The following year he was engaged in the Bheel Campaign and shortly thereafter the infamous Indian Mutiny which erupted in the North East. Again the author was called to the colours to take an active part as a staff officer. This is an ideal book for those interested in India's campaigns in the Victorian age.