This research project is an attempt to demonstrate that it is in America's best interest to support a strong and prosperous Islamic world. It utilizes a literature review of available Islamic, Western, and American perspectives concerning the cultural, economic, religious, and historic conflicts which have caused instability in the Islamic world. The following steps are proposed: withdraw American military withdrawal from Islamic holy lands, reduce world demand for oil, assist non-petroleum based economic development of Middle East, allow bad ideas to naturally fail, see growing non-petroleum based economic, political, military, and cultural strength as a source of stability and success for global and American interests.

The Eastern Front is likely the least appreciated and least understood component of the Second World War. This is especially unfortunate since it contains some of the richest lessons about strategy and the application of airpower while faced with an imminent and existential threat. This study investigates several of these lessons and concludes that, despite the significant impact allied efforts had on the Western Front, their efforts were ultimately of secondary importance compared to the costly and more grueling efforts of the Soviet Union in defeating Germany. Furthermore, despite the fact that Soviet airpower diverged from patterns preferred by US strategic airpower thinkers, the Soviet air force (VVS) developed into an enormously successful and competent air arm which warrants further study, investigation, and consideration. The VVS utilized airpower very differently than did the United States, and yet its ability to reestablish air superiority and decisively contribute to national victory was truly impressive. While allied strategic bombing efforts increased friction, reduced German freedom of action, and reduced available German resources, it was ultimately unable to produce the decisive results they had hoped. Instead, the fortuitous combination of the Red Army, VVS direct and indirect support and deep interdiction operations, time, distance, and the unforgiving Soviet winter produced the most tangible strategic effect: the destruction of 6.5 million German soldiers on the Eastern Front.

So Many Christians, So Few Lions is a provocative look at anti-Christian sentiments in America. Drawing on both quantitative and qualitative research, authors George Yancey and David A. Williamson show that even though (or perhaps because) Christianity is the dominant religion in the United States, bias against Christians also exists-particularly against conservative Christians-and that this bias is worth understanding. The book does not attempt to show the prevalence of anti-Christian sentiments-called Christianophobia-but rather to document it, to dig into where and how it exists, to explore who harbors these attitudes, and to examine how this bias plays itself out in everyday life. Excerpts from the authors' interviews highlight the fear and hatred that some people harbor towards Christians, especially the Christian right, and the ways these people exhibit elements of bigotry, prejudice, and dehumanization. The authors argue that understanding anti-Christian bias is important for understanding some social dynamics in America, and they offer practical suggestions to help reduce religious intolerance of all kinds.

There Is No God: Atheists in America answers several questions pertaining to how the atheist population has grown from relatively small numbers to have a disproportionately large impact on important issues of our day, such as the separation of church and state, abortion, gay marriage, and public school curricula. Williamson and Yancey answer the common questions surrounding atheism. Just how common is the dismissal and derision of religion expressed by atheists? How are we to understand the world view of atheists and their motivations in political action and public discourse? Finally, is there any hope for rapprochement in the relationship of atheism and theism? In There Is No God, the authors begin with a brief history of atheism to set the stage for a better understanding of contemporary American atheism. They then explore how the relationship between religious and atheistic ideologies has evolved as each attempted to discredit the other in different ways at different times and under very different social and political circumstances. Although atheists are a relatively small minority, atheists appear to be growing in number and in their willingness to be identified as atheists and to voice their non-belief. As those voices of atheism increase it is essential that we understand how and why those who are defined by such a simple term as "non-believers in the existence of God" should have such social and political influence. The authors successfully answer the broader question of the apparent polarization of the religious and non-religious dimensions of American society.