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Books > Social sciences > Warfare & defence > Other warfare & defence issues > General
We've all seen the images from Abu Ghraib: stress positions, US soldiers kneeling on the heads of prisoners, and dehumanizing pyramids formed from black-hooded bodies. We have watched officials elected to our highest offices defend enhanced interrogation in terms of efficacy and justify drone strikes in terms of retribution and deterrence. But the mainstream secular media rarely addresses the morality of these choices, leaving us to ask individually: Is this right? In this singular examination of the American discourse over war and torture, Douglas V. Porpora, Alexander Nikolaev, Julia Hagemann May, and Alexander Jenkins investigate the opinion pages of American newspapers, television commentary, and online discussion groups to offer the first empirical study of the national conversation about the 2003 invasion of Iraq and the revelations of prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib a year later. Post-Ethical Society is not just another shot fired in the ongoing culture war between conservatives and liberals, but a pensive and ethically engaged reflection of America's feelings about itself and our actions as a nation. And while many writers and commentators have opined about our moral place in the world, the vast amount of empirical data amassed in Post-Ethical Society sets it apart - and makes its findings that much more damning.
Nominated for the Royal Historical Society Whitfield Book Prize 2013Nominated for the SAHR Templer Medal 2013As with many other aspects of the British army the outbreak of World War One started a process of change that was to result in a radically different provision of chaplaincy care once the war was over. Nothing was ever simple with army chaplaincy. The war saw an increase in the number of churches becoming involved with the army. The structure had already been under pressure in the first decade of the century with the Catholic Church insisting on new rules for its chaplains. The creation of the Territorial Force added a new dimension after 1907, bringing new players into the mix including the Jewish community. These chaplains challenged the traditional Garrison Church based ministry of the regulars. The book examines the muddled state of chaplaincy in August 1914 and looks at how chaplains were mobilized. It then reviews how organizational changes were often the result of pressure from the different churches. The unilateral decision of the Church of England, in July 1915, to leave the unified administration in France that had existed since August 1914 is examined in the light of the availability of the relevant volume of the diaries of Bishop Gwynne, a key participant in the change. Chapters also look at the experience of other Imperial forces and of the casualties suffered by chaplains. These all provide evidence of the expectations that various groups had of army chaplains. It is often forgotten that two chaplains were captured during the retreat from Mons in 1914. They were never far from the fighting throughout the war. The experiences of the war meant that the pre-war structure needed reform. The final chapter looks at the structure that was created in 1920 and then survived virtually unchanged until 2004. Army chaplaincy has always been a mix of Church, Army and State. Such a coming together inevitably lead to confusion. Not surprisingly one of the themes was the muddle that resulted. Even so army chaplaincy ended the war with a much higher profile than the one it had in 1914. This was recognised by the addition of 'Royal' creating the RAChD. Anglicans, Catholics, Presbyterians, Methodists, and other faith groups, as well as military historians will find this book of interest as it overturns a number of myths and puts chaplaincy in its wider contextREVIEWS "For those interested in how the Church responded organizationally to the Great War this is a comprehensive and fascinating account." Methodist Recorder ..".provides carefully researched information about the organisation of First World War army chaplaincy."Church Times a most interesting account Peter Howson is to be congratulated on the depth of his research and the way in which he has presented it. The book certainly adds to our knowledge of how army chaplains operated during 1914-18 Mars & Clio"
A must-read for every concerned citizen, this absorbing book goes inside the mind of the psychological terrorist to look at what motivates him to act and to choose the weapon he does. Created by a team of experts in military science and psychology, this timely study is the first comprehensive treatment of the tactical and psychological use of weapons of mass destruction. The book introduces the term "weapons of mass psychological destruction" (WMPD) and draws from examples and case histories to examine the minds of the terrorists who choose these weapons, not for maximum killing, but for maximum psychological harm to the greatest number of people. This groundbreaking work identifies the recruiting practices that create psychological terrorists, revealing how these fanatics are "made," who becomes one, and why. Emerging trends in WMPD tactics and new technology in the field are detailed, as are related ethical issues, psychological reactions to WMPD, and the role religion may play in the choice of weapons. The innovative strategies and policies that can be used to predict, identify, and prevent disasters employing WMPD are outlined as well. Readers will also learn how the media is unknowingly used as a WMPD, and how terrorists employ social media to launch targeted psychological attacks. Details the science and psychology of WMPD in relation to chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive weapons, explaining why a terrorist chooses a specific type of a weapon Examines who becomes a WMPD terrorist and why Highlights how and why a suicide bomber is made as well as how, why, and where he will kill to do the most psychological damage Includes case examples drawn from interviews with terrorists at Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib and from analysis of events including the Boston Marathon bombing Lays out prevention strategies that can decrease the likelihood of an attack
The classic story of the Bravo Two Zero Mission.
Hundreds of thousands of US military personnel have been victims of sexual assault and harassment. This client workbook is an essential part of an integrative, evidence-based treatment developed over many years by Lori S. Katz, PhD, which has already helped hundreds of survivors of Military Sexual Trauma (MST). The only workbook of its kind, it provides a wide range of therapeutic exercises and activities to help survivors restore their sense of safety and reclaim their lives. These include obtaining an in-depth understanding of MST, opportunities for self-discovery, and engaging the body with movement and relaxation exercises in a context of support, caring, and validation. This workbook is designed to help MST survivors understand normal reactions to MST and how to manage them. Readers will learn how to release the grips of anger and resentment, injustice, betrayal, self-blame, shame, and grief. They will learn how to deal with such physical symptoms as sleep problems and stress and engage in assessment of their own interpersonal patterns. The book also explores the impact of MST on relationships and how to cultivate and sustain healthy relationships, intimacy and sexuality. Additionally, the workbook can be used to help individuals who have experienced childhood and/or adult sexual abuse and trauma. Through Warrior Renew, survivors will be able to move forward in their lives by creating a new sense of identity, purpose, and self-worth. Key Features: Provides an effective, easy-to-use treatment for MST Based on a proven program already in use at several VA centers and military bases Addresses a variety of issues specific to MST such as injustice, betrayal, self-blame, effect on intimacy and trust, and emotional isolation Includes therapeutic activities including writing exercises, visualizations, relaxation and movement exercises, and group interactions Stresses an integrative approach to psychotherapy
The Millennial Generation and National Defence captures the views, values, and attitudes of today's youth - the Millennial generation - towards the military, war, national defence and foreign policy matters.Surveying over five thousand American college students, ROTC cadets, and military academy cadets from eighteen states across ten years, the authors provide a unique insight into the attitudes of civilian and military Millennials at the intersection of the armed forces and society and toward the American military institution. Exploring a range of issues such as military professionalism, the military's role in American society and the world, and the role of women and the gay and lesbian community in the military, this study portrays a generation who, after the impact of 9/11, have narrowed the civilian-military divide and entered a new era of civil-military relations. It will be a valuable resource to scholars of Sociology, Psychology, International Relations and Military and Defence Studies.
During World War II at least 13.5 million people were employed as forced labourers in Germany and across the territories occupied by the German Reich. Most came from Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldavia, the Baltic countries, France, Poland and Italy. Among them were 8.4 million civilians working for private companies and public agencies in industry, administration and agriculture. In addition, there were 4.6 million prisoners of war and 1.7 million concentration camp prisoners who were either subjected to forced labour in concentration or similar camps or were 'rented out' or sold by the SS. While there are numerous publications on forced labour in National Socialist Germany during World War II, this publication combines a historical account of events with the biographies and memories of former forced labourers from twenty-seven countries, offering a comparative international perspective. Alexander von Plato is a historian and the former Director of the Institute for History and Biography at the University of Hagen (Germany). He has been a Visiting Professor at the University of Vienna, the Director of the International Life Story Project on Forced Labourers during WW II, and the Secretary of the International Oral History Association. His many publications include books and films on mentality history, focusing particularly on National Socialism, World War II, and German reunification. Almut Leh is a historian and Research Fellow at the Institute for History and Biography at the University of Hagen (Germany) and co-editor of BIOS -Zeitschrift fur Biographieforschung, Oral History und Lebensverlaufsanalysen. She also is a council member of the International Oral History Association and has published on German history since 1945 and the methodology of oral history. Christoph Thonfeld is a historian and language teacher and is currently Assistant Professor of German language and culture at Cheng Chi University in Taipei, Taiwan. He is also researching forced labourers' memories of WW II in an internationally comparative perspective. He is co-editor of the periodical WerkstattGeschichte.
Increasingly, the power of a large, complex, wired nation like the United States rests on its ability to disrupt would-be cyber attacks and to be resil-ient against a successful attack or recurring campaign. Addressing the con-cerns of both theorists and those on the national security front lines, Chris C. Demchak presents a unified strategy for survival in an interconnected, ever-messier, more surprising cybered world and examines the institutional adaptations required of our defense, intelligence, energy, and other critical sectors for national security. Demchak introduces a strategy of "security resilience" against surprise attacks for a cybered world that is divided between modern, digitally vulner-able city-states and more dysfunctional global regions. Its key concepts build on theories of international relations, complexity in social-technical systems, and organizational-institutional adaptation. Demchak tests the strategy for reasonableness in history's few examples of states disrupting rather than conquering and being resilient to attacks, including ancient Athens and Sparta, several British colonial wars, and two American limited wars. She applies the strategy to modern political, social, and technical challenges and presents three kinds of institutional adaptation that predicate the success of the security resilience strategy in response. Finally, Demchak discusses implications for the future including new forms of cyber aggression like the Stuxnet worm, the rise of the cyber-command concept, and the competition between the U.S. and China as global cyber leaders. "Wars of Disruption and Resilience" offers a blueprint for a national cyber-power strategy that is long in time horizon, flexible in target and scale, and practical enough to maintain the security of a digitized nation facing violent cybered conflict.
Increasingly, the power of a large, complex, wired nation like the United States rests on its ability to disrupt would-be cyber attacks and to be resil-ient against a successful attack or recurring campaign. Addressing the con-cerns of both theorists and those on the national security front lines, Chris C. Demchak presents a unified strategy for survival in an interconnected, ever-messier, more surprising cybered world and examines the institutional adaptations required of our defense, intelligence, energy, and other critical sectors for national security. Demchak introduces a strategy of "security resilience" against surprise attacks for a cybered world that is divided between modern, digitally vulner-able city-states and more dysfunctional global regions. Its key concepts build on theories of international relations, complexity in social-technical systems, and organizational-institutional adaptation. Demchak tests the strategy for reasonableness in history's few examples of states disrupting rather than conquering and being resilient to attacks, including ancient Athens and Sparta, several British colonial wars, and two American limited wars. She applies the strategy to modern political, social, and technical challenges and presents three kinds of institutional adaptation that predicate the success of the security resilience strategy in response. Finally, Demchak discusses implications for the future including new forms of cyber aggression like the Stuxnet worm, the rise of the cyber-command concept, and the competition between the U.S. and China as global cyber leaders. "Wars of Disruption and Resilience" offers a blueprint for a national cyber-power strategy that is long in time horizon, flexible in target and scale, and practical enough to maintain the security of a digitized nation facing violent cybered conflict.
In 1939 a group of artists, designers, architects, scientists and military experts met in Sydney, Australia, to discuss the impending war. Convinced that the need for regional innovations in the military science of concealment and deception was urgent, they nominated a zoologist to lead a campaign to camouflage Australia. Camouflage Australia tells a once secret and little known story of how the Australian government accepted the advice of zoologist William John Dakin and seconded the country's leading artists and designers, including Max Dupain and Frank Hinder, to deploy optical tricks and visual illusions for civilian and military protection. Their work was an array of ingenious constructions for the purpose of disguise and subterfuge. Drawing on previously unpublished photographs and documents, Camouflage Australia exposes the story of fraught collaborations between civilian and military personnel who disagreed over camouflage's value to wartime operations and the usefulness of artists to warfare. In this engrossing book, Ann Elias provides international context for the historical circumstances and events of the organisation of camouflage in World War II in Australia and the Pacific region. She elaborates on the parallel involvement of British and American artists in the field of concealment and deception, and reveals the widespread interest shown by western naturalists and scientists in the application to warfare of the behaviours and aesthetics of animals. Camouflage Australia, by redressing the near invisible contribution of Australian artists and designers to defence in World War II, makes a major contribution to the history of art and to the history of Australia. Importantly, by discussing how citizens dutifully transformed themselves into servants of the war enterprise as camouflage labourers, camouflage designers and camouflage field officers, the author provides a valuable historical perspective for the 21st century, when ethical conflicts and moral struggles dominate debates on war participation. And camouflage itself, even in an age of nuclear warfare, retains many of its historical methods and controversies.
"War and Social Welfare: Reconstruction after Conflict" addresses the issues of rebuilding social assistance and pension programs in the wake of war. Arguing that post-conflict reconstruction missions need to pay greater attention to comprehensive social policy formation, the book makes normative and functional claims that social welfare programs articulate the core aspects of citizenship. "War and Social Welfare "uses the case of Kosovo to examine the interaction of international and local political actors in their efforts to rebuild social assistance and pension programs after the 1999 NATO airstrikes. Based extensive field research, as well as the author's experience as a humanitarian field officer in Kosovo in 1999 and 2000, "War and Social Welfare "looks closely at the design and implementation of social policy at both the national and local level.
KC-X is the first of three planned programs intended to recapitalise the Air Force's air refuelling fleet. Eventually, the KC-X program is expected to acquire 179 new, commercial off-the-shelf airliners modified to accomplish air refuelling. The program is expected to cost $35 billion. Both Boeing and a consortium consisting of Northrop Grumman and European Aeronautic Deference and Space Company (EADS) competed for KC-X. Boeing offered a variant of the 767-200, while Northrop Grumman submitted a version of the Airbus 330-200. On February 29, 2008, the Air Force awards the KC-X contract to Northrop Grumman. The initial $12.1 billion KC-X contract covers purchase the first 68 KC-45s of the anticipated 179 aircraft. Boeing protested the Air Force's decision to the Government Accountability Office (GAO). GAO upheld the Boeing protest, and in July, Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced that he would reopen the tanker competition. This book explains the protests and issues surrounding the Air Force refuelling tanker competition. This book consists of public documents which have been located, gathered, combined, reformatted, and enhanced with a subject index, selectively edited and bound to provide easy access.
Temptations of Power examines the new security dilemma which confronted President George W. Bush when terrorists proved for the first time on 9/11 that they could seriously wound even the greatest of military powers on its home ground. In their indictment, the authors argue that the response was influenced by neo-conservative exaggeration of the efficacy of military power and belief in the US ability to change the world and its own image. The new security dilemma needs to be addressed by new politics but not those Washington has adopted since 2001.
"Temptations of Power" examines the new security dilemma that confronted George W. Bush when terrorists proved for the first time on 9/11 that they could seriously wound even the greatest of military powers on its own soil. The authors argue that the response was influenced by neo-conservative exaggeration of the efficacy of military power and belief in the US ability to change the world. Jackson and Towle advocate for new politics--but not the kind Washington has adopted since 2001.
This book questions the universal belief that England's 1840-42 war
with China was an "Opium War." What really worried London was
"insults to the crown," the claim of a dilapidated and corrupt
China to be superior to everyone, threats to British men and women
and seizure of British property, plus the wish to expand and free
trade everywhere. It was only much later that general Chinese
resentment and Evangelical opinion at home - and in America -
persuaded everyone that Britain had indeed been wicked and fought
for opium.
Combining theoretical analyses with case studies, this book increases understanding of the internationalization, diffusion and escalation of ethnic conflict. The essays stand at the nexus of comparative politics and international relations, examining the influence on ethnic conflict of the weakening of state institutional structures, the role of non-state regional and international actors, changes in the ethnic balance of power, and the degree of economic, social, and cultural integration within the regional or global system. The variety of approaches provides useful analytical tools for students, while the diversity of cases from different regions gives the reader a sense of the scope of such problems.
Combining theoretical analyses with case studies, this book increases understanding of the internationalization, diffusion and escalation of ethnic conflict. The essays stand at the nexus of comparative politics and international relations, examining the influence on ethnic conflict of the weakening of state institutional structures, the role of non-state regional and international actors, changes in the ethnic balance of power, and the degree of economic, social, and cultural integration within the regional or global system. The variety of approaches provides useful analytical tools for students, while the diversity of cases from different regions gives the reader a sense of the scope of such problems.
Anthropology and the United States Military is a fascinating edited collection of ethnographic research that seeks to provide visions of and for US military culture from a solid anthropological base. The volume explores several important but relatively unknown cultural variations in the defense community through a variety of lenses. A strong list of contributors highlight important issues such as: anthrax vaccines, the "Golden Age" culture of the military, gender roles among army spouses, weight control and physical readiness, the military advisor, and the USNA.
This book is about how people behaved during the German occupation of France during the Second World War, and more specifically about how individuals from differeent social and political backgrounds recorded and reflected on their experiences during and after these tragic events. The book focuses in particular on the concepts of treason and sacrifice, as they affected the behaviour of individuals and groups and their relationship to the nation state. An introductory overview, discussing problems of representation, moral issues and the nature of collaboration and resistance, is followed by contextualised case-studies in the areas of politics, daily life, civil administration, paramilitary action, literature and film. The figures examined are chosen not only because of their representative or even iconic nature but also because most of them left a record expressing their own vision of the occupation. This is very much an interdisciplinary study, linking political, historical, moral and cultural ideas.
A historic opportunity without precedent is gradually becoming reality in the 21st Century with the chance taken to pave the way in the period 1990-2000 towards the organisation of defence in Europe. The corresponding conditions have been brought about by concrete steps taken at the Masstricht, Amsterdam, Cologne, Helsinki, and Nice European Council meetings. In the end, the EU/WEU is developing into an 'equal' partner to the US by assuming greater responsibility in the security and defence sphere. The French and German bilateral relationship - which is the driving force behind every European integration process - is the historical force behind this development of the ultimate desire to reach a robust European 'Pillar of Defence' through reconfiguration of the transatlantic relationship. This book provides the first comprehensive and up-to-date analysis of German and French approaches to the European 'Pillar of Defence' from the view of 'Europeanisation' emanating from the process of integration.
While Jewish-Americans have been in the forefront of history since the inception of the Republic, little is known about Jews in the military. This book contains dozens of stories of Jewish GI's. |
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