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Books > Social sciences > Warfare & defence > Weapons & equipment
The proliferation of advanced weapons to volatile regions of the
world has become a major issue in the post Cold War era. It was
thought that no Third World nation could ever pose a
technologically-based threat to the great powers by acquiring
advanced weaponry. But this has proved to be wrong. The Persian
Gulf War changed the worldwide perception of the spread of
ballistic missiles to countries like Iraq. Access to a new type of
weapon--cruise missiles--poses an even greater threat. With
technology that is accessible, affordable, and relatively simple to
produce, Third World countries could acquire highly accurate,
long-range cruise missile forces to escalate local conflicts and
threaten the forces and even the territories of the industrial
powers. This book is a warning to policymakers. It is not too late
to confront the realities of cruise missile proliferation and to
devise international responses that could contain the worst
possible consequences. Carus proposes a new regime of technology
controls, security-building measures, and conflict resolution that
need to be considered, and acted on, by policymakers and
international relations experts everywhere.
"How the War Was Won" describes the major role played by the
British Expeditionary Force on the Western Front in defeating the
German army. In particular, the book explains the methods used in
fighting the last year of the war, and raises questions as to
whether mechanical warfare could have been more widely used.
Using a wide range of unpublished material from archives in both
Britain and Canada, Travers explores the two themes of command and
technology as the style of warfare changed from late 1917 through
1918. He describes in detail the British army's defense against the
German 1918 spring offensives, analyzes command problems during
these offensives, and offers an overriding explanation for the
March 1918 retreat. He also fully investigates the role of the tank
from Cambrai to the end of the war, and concludes that, properly
used, the tank could have made a greater contribution to victory.
"How the War Was Won" explodes many myths and advances new and
controversial arguments. It will be essential reading for military
historians and strategists, and for those interested in the origins
of mechanical warfare.
Perhaps no one in history has played the role of scientist as
celebrity with as much skill--and as much deception--as Wernher von
Braun. America's leading rocket expert and most enthusiastic
advocate of space travel, he had a closet full of secrets that
would have shocked his colleagues and millions of admirers if they
had been told during his lifetime. "Wernher von Braun: The Man Who
Sold the Moon" is the first critical biography of the young German
aristocrat who created Hitler's most advanced terror weapon, the
V-2 rocket, and who came to the U.S. under the Army's Project
Paperclip to develop missiles as a central weapon of the Cold War.
The book reveals that factions of the U.S. Army, in their zeal to
have von Braun's team of scientists working for American interests,
covered up what they knew about his complicity in Nazi causes and
abetted him in the perpetuation of the myth he carefully created
about his past.
Declassified Army documents and war crime transcripts, as well
as the discovery of Europe of Dora concentration camp survivors'
accounts, and von Braun's published writings and personal papers,
have enabled biographer Dennis Piszkiewicz to document von Braun's
career more fully than any previous historian. The man who
tirelessly promoted space travel, worked with NASA to collaborate
with Walt Disney creating television programs and the Tomorrowland
section of Disneyland, and put the first astronauts on the moon,
was actually a member of the Nazi party, held a rank in the SS
equivalent to that of Major, and was an accomplice in the use of
slave labor from the Dora concentration camp to produce his V-2
rocket. When the Third Reich collapsed, von Braun unashamedly
switched his allegiance to the victor, and adroitly distanced
himself from his Nazi partners. By going on to promote NASA and
sell the American people on his dreams of space exploration, he
became the man who sold the moon--a man who began his brilliant
career by selling his soul to the Nazis.
This book covers the security and safety of CBRNE assets and
management, and illustrates which risks may emerge and how to
counter them through an enhanced risk management approach. It also
tackles the CBRNE-Cyber threats, their risk mitigation measures and
the relevance of raising awareness and education enforcing a
CBRNE-Cy security culture. The authors present international
instruments and legislation to deal with these threats, for
instance the UNSCR1540. The authors address a multitude of
stakeholders, and have a multidisciplinary nature dealing with
cross-cutting areas like the convergence of biological and
chemical, the development of edging technologies, and in the cyber
domain, the impelling risks due to the use of malwares against
critical subsystems of CBRN facilities. Examples are provided in
this book. Academicians, diplomats, technicians and engineers
working in the chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear,
explosive and cyber fields will find this book valuable as a
reference. Students studying in these related fields will also find
this book useful as a reference.
This volume takes a perspective on the debate over deterrence
theory that has never been used before. Other books either address
the differences between the two competing schools of thought--those
who support Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD) and those who support
nuclear warfighting--or examine particular policies from within the
perspective of one or the other school of thought. Cori Dauber
examines deterrence theory at a structural level, which allows a
focus on the similarities between the major perspectives on nuclear
strategic doctrine. By examining such issues as validity standards
and the evaluation of evidence, Dauber is able to assess deterrence
as a theory of persuasion, and to examine the way deterrence
discourse so shapes the thinking of policy makers and analysts that
it still drives our analysis of alternatives, even in the
post-Soviet era. Dauber concludes that deterrence is a system
designed to use weapons capabilities as a form of non-verbal
communication with an Other--for the last forty years, the Soviet
Other. Understanding these rhetorical structures and the way they
function is essential in predicting the restrictions that
deterrence places on the way the United States responds to foreign
nations. Cold War Analytical Structures and the Post Post-War World
serves as a model for how scholars in argument and persuasion can
apply their methods to real world situations.
A New Naval History brings together the most significant and
interdisciplinary approaches to contemporary naval history. The
last few decades have witnessed a transformation in how this field
is researched and understood and this volume captures the state of
a field that continues to develop apace. It examines - through the
prism of naval affairs - issues of nationhood and imperialism; the
legacy of Nelson; the socio-cultural realities of life in ships and
naval bases; and the processes of commemoration, journalism and
stage-managed pageantry that plotted the interrelationship of ship
and shore. This bold and original publication will be essential for
undergraduate and postgraduate students of naval and maritime
history. Beyond that, though, it marks an important intervention
into wider historiographies that will be read by scholars from
across the spectrum of social history, cultural studies and the
analysis of national identity. -- .
This book explores how revolutionary developments and convergence
of the chemical, life and associated sciences are impacting
contemporary toxin and bioregulator research, and examines the
risks of such research being misused for malign purposes.
Investigating illustrative cases of dual use research of potential
concern in China, India, Iran, Russia, Syria and the USA, the
authors discuss how states can ensure such research and related
activities are not utilised in weapons development. Although toxins
and bioregulators are, in theory, covered by both the Biological
and Toxin Weapons Convention and Chemical Weapons Convention, this
apparent overlap in reality masks a dangerous regulatory gap - with
neither Convention implemented effectively to address threats of
weaponisation. This book highlights the potentially damaging
consequences for international peace and security, and proposes
realistic routes for action by states and the scientific community.
In this book, the authors explore the controversial Iranian nuclear
programme through the conceptual lens of nuclear hedging. In 2002,
revelations regarding undeclared nuclear facilities thrust Iran's
nuclear activities under the spotlight and prompted concerns that
Tehran was pursuing nuclear weapons. Iran has always denied nuclear
weapons aspirations, yet it cannot be disputed that the Islamic
Republic has gone well beyond what is required for a civil nuclear
programme based on energy production and scientific research. What,
then, is the nature and significance of Iran's nuclear behaviour?
Does it form part of a coherent strategy? What can Iran's actions
in the nuclear field tell us about Tehran's intentions? And what
does the Iranian case teach us about proliferation behaviour more
generally? This book addresses these questions by exploring the
nature of nuclear hedging and how this approach might be
identified, before applying this logic to the Iranian case. It
provides fresh insights into the inherently opaque area of nuclear
proliferation and a more nuanced interpretation of the Iranian
nuclear challenge.
Anthony DiFilippo explores the apparent contradictions behind
Japan's stated goal of nuclear disarmament and its tacit acceptance
of being protected by the US nuclear umbrella.
What can photographs reveal about Canada’s nuclear footprint? The
Bomb in the Wilderness contends that photography is central to how
we interpret and remember nuclear activities. The impact and global
reach of Canada’s nuclear programs have been felt ever since the
atomic bombs dropped on Japan in 1945. But do photographs alert
viewers to nuclear threat, numb them to its dangers, or actually do
both? John O’Brian’s wide-ranging and personal account of the
nuclear era presents and discusses over a hundred photographs,
ranging from military images to the atomic ephemera of consumer
culture. His fascinating analysis ensures that we do not look away.
There is a significant number of nuclear and radiological sources
in Central Asia, which have contributed, are still contributing, or
have the potential to contribute to radioactive contamination in
the future. Key sources and contaminated sites of concern are: The
nuclear weapons tests performed at the Semipalatinsk Test Site
(STS) in Kazakhstan during 1949-1989. A total of 456 nuclear
weapons tests have been perf- med in the atmosphere (86), above and
at ground surface (30) and underground (340) accompanied by
radioactive plumes reaching far out of the test site. Safety trials
at STS, where radioactive sources were spread by conventional
explosives. Peaceful nuclear explosions (PNEs) within STS and
outside STS in Kazakhstan, producing crater lakes (e.g., Tel'kem I
and Tel'kem II), waste storage facilities (e.g., LIRA) etc.
Technologically enhanced levels of naturally occurring
radionuclides (TENORM) due to U mining and tailing. As a legacy of
the cold war and the nuclear weapon p- gramme in the former USSR,
thousands of square kilometers in the Central Asia co- tries are
contaminated. Large amounts of scale from the oil and gas
industries contain sufficient amounts of TENORM. Nuclear reactors,
to be decommissioned or still in operation. Storage of spent
nuclear fuel and other radioactive wastes. In the characterization
of nuclear risks, the risks are estimated by integrating the
results of the hazard identification, the effects assessment and
the exposure assessment.
The He 111 flew over every front from the first day of the Second
World War to the last and was among the most produced aircraft of
the Luftwaffe. Aerodynamically a very clean aircraft, it was a
superior bomber during the first two years of the war. This volume
is dedicated to this aircraft.
The B-24 Liberator remains to this day the world's most-produced
heavy bomber and multi-engine aircraft, and the most produced
military aircraft in US history, with almost 19,000 examples
leaving the assembly lines of five plants. Through a broad range of
photos gathered from around the world, this book chronicles the
design, development, and wartime use of the iconic early models of
the B-24-those featuring the so-called "glass nose"-from the
assembly line to their use in the famous raid on the refineries at
Ploesti, Romania, in 1943. The story of these iconic early WWII
aircraft is told through carefully researched photos, many of which
have never before been published, which are reproduced in
remarkable clarity. Large clear photos, coupled with descriptive
and informative captions, unlock the secrets of this aircraft. Part
of the Legends of Warfare series.
In the heady days of the Cold War, when the Bomb loomed large in
the ruminations of Washington's wise men, policy intellectuals
flocked to the home of Albert and Roberta Wohlstetter to discuss
deterrence and doomsday. The Cold World They Made takes a fresh
look at the original power couple of strategic studies. Seeking to
unravel the complex tapestry of the Wohlstetters' world and
worldview, Ron Robin reveals fascinating insights into an unlikely
husband-and-wife pair who, at the height of the most dangerous
military standoff in history, gained access to the deepest
corridors of American power. The author of such classic Cold War
treatises as "The Delicate Balance of Terror," Albert Wohlstetter
is remembered for advocating an aggressive brinksmanship that stood
in stark contrast with what he saw as weak and indecisive policies
of Soviet containment. Yet Albert's ideas built crucially on
insights gleaned from his wife. Robin makes a strong case for the
Wohlstetters as a team of intellectual equals, showing how
Roberta's scholarship was foundational to what became known as the
Wohlstetter Doctrine. Together at RAND Corporation, Albert and
Roberta crafted a mesmerizing vision of the Soviet threat,
theorizing ways for the United States to emerge victorious in a
thermonuclear exchange. Far from dwindling into irrelevance after
the Cold War, the torch of the Wohlstetters' intellectual legacy
was kept alive by well-placed disciples in George W. Bush's
administration. Through their ideological heirs, the Wohlstetters'
signature combination of brilliance and hubris continues to shape
American policies.
The global threat of nuclear weapons is one of today's key
policy issues. Using a wide variety of sources, including recently
declassified information, Nathan E. Busch offers detailed
examinations of the nuclear programs in the United States, Russia,
China, Iraq, India, and Pakistan, as well as the emerging programs
in Iran and North Korea. He also assesses the current debates in
international relations over the risks associated with the
proliferation of nuclear weapons in the post--Cold War world. Busch
explores how our understanding of nuclear proliferation centers on
theoretical disagreements about how best to explain and predict the
behavior of states. His study bridges the gap between theory and
empirical evidence by determining whether countries with nuclear
weapons have adequate controls over their nuclear arsenals and
fissile material stockpiles (such as highly enriched uranium and
plutonium). Analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of various
systems of nuclear weapons regulation, Busch projects what types of
controls proliferating states are likely to employ and assesses the
threat posed by the possible theft of fissile materials by aspiring
nuclear states or by terrorists. No End in Sight provides the most
comprehensive and up-to-date analysis of issues at the forefront of
contemporary international affairs. With the resurgence of the
threat of nuclear terrorism, Busch's insights and conclusions will
prove critical to understanding the implications of nuclear
proliferation.
Stephen Hill analyzes the factors that affected the success or failure of the UN disarmament processes during intra-state peacekeeping missions conducted between 1991 and 1999. He examines seven case studies including Cambodia, Mozambique, the former Yugoslavia, Somalia, El Salvador, and the last two operations in Angola. The text utilizes developing approaches to conflict resolution in order to create an analytical framework through which to assess the UN's attempts at disarmament.
Countries around the globe are continuously investing money into
weapon development and manufacturing. While weapon design has been
a relevant topic, from the Middle Ages to today, the morality of
this practice is not commonly presented in research. The Morality
of Weapons Design and Development: Emerging Research and
Opportunities is an essential scholarly resource that presents
detailed discussions on ethical dilemmas in weapons design and
innovations. While highlighting relevant topics including
projectile and nuclear weapons, the true costs of war, design in
peacetime, and weapons development and justification, this book is
an ideal resource for researchers, engineers, graduate students,
and professionals who have an interest in weapons design,
development, and ethics.
At the beginning of the 1930s, North American Aviation designed one
of the most popular aircraft of all time, the T-6 Texan. Over
24,404 planes in 260 versions and variants were produced. This WWII
vintage, propeller-driven aircraft is covered in its various forms
and uses, including combat and training. Detailed specifications,
unit insignia, and historical and present-day photographs are
provided.
World War II saw pilots from around the world battling in the skies
over Europe, Asia and Africa, with victory resting upon their
nerve, skill and the capabilities of some of history's most iconic
aircraft. In the chaos of battle, it was vital that they could
quickly identify friend from foe. But do you know your Hurricane
from your Bf 109, or what the legendary P-51 Mustang looks like? Do
you know the wingspan of the A6M Zero-sen, or how fast it could
fly? THE WORLD WAR II FIGHTER PLANES SPOTTER'S GUIDE answers all of
these questions and more, providing essential information on over
90 legendary aircraft, from the celebrated Spitfire to the
jet-powered Me 262. Featuring full-colour artwork to aid
recognition, as well as all the details you need to assess their
performance, this is the perfect pocket guide to the Allied and
Axis fighters of World War II.
Atomic Steppe tells the untold true story of how the obscure
country of Kazakhstan said no to the most powerful weapons in human
history. With the fall of the Soviet Union, the marginalized
Central Asian republic suddenly found itself with the world's
fourth largest nuclear arsenal on its territory. Would it give up
these fire-ready weapons-or try to become a Central Asian North
Korea? This book takes us inside Kazakhstan's extraordinary and
little-known nuclear history from the Soviet period to the present.
For Soviet officials, Kazakhstan's steppe was not an ecological
marvel or beloved homeland, but an empty patch of dirt ideal for
nuclear testing. Two-headed lambs were just the beginning of the
resulting public health disaster for Kazakhstan-compounded, when
the Soviet Union collapsed, by the daunting burden of becoming an
overnight nuclear power. Equipped with intimate personal
perspective and untapped archival resources, Togzhan Kassenova
introduces us to the engineers turned diplomats, villagers turned
activists, and scientists turned pacifists who worked toward
disarmament. With thousands of nuclear weapons still present around
the world, the story of how Kazakhs gave up their nuclear
inheritance holds urgent lessons for global security.
American Survivors is a fresh and moving historical account of U.S.
survivors of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombings, breaking
new ground not only in the study of World War II but also in the
public understanding of nuclear weaponry. A truly trans-Pacific
history, American Survivors challenges the dualistic distinction
between Americans-as-victors and Japanese-as-victims often assumed
by scholars of the nuclear war. Using more than 130 oral histories
of Japanese American and Korean American survivors, their family
members, community activists, and physicians - most of which appear
here for the first time - Naoko Wake reveals a cross-national
history of war, illness, immigration, gender, family, and community
from intimately personal perspectives. American Survivors brings to
light the history of Hiroshima and Nagasaki that connects, as much
as separates, people across time and national boundaries.
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