1 Jul 2008

Stopping Mass Killings in Africa

This is a compendium of case studies that seek to describe the best uses of military power, particularly airpower, in response to genocide. The writers examine recent instances of genocide in Somalia, Rwanda, and Côte d’Ivoire to draw out useful generalizations concerning the nature of genocide, international reactions to genocide, and effective responses to genocide and the possibility of genocide. [Dr. Douglas Carl Peifer / 2008 / 188 pages / ISBN: 978-1-58566-182-4 / AU Press Code: B-112] Read This Book Now

1 May 2008

Democracy and Deterrence

Dr. Sharp argues that two fundamental strategies are necessary to create lasting peace in the world: facilitating the spread of democracy and maintaining comprehensive deterrence mechanisms targeted at individual world leaders. He surveys conventional approaches to avoiding war and presents evidence to validate the democratic peace principle (the notion that democracies are inherently more peaceful than nondemocracies) and the incentive theory of war avoidance, formulated by John Norton Moore. Dr. Sharp proposes a mathematical formula that can be used to predict the probability of peace for a given nation. Comprehensive tables collate data from multiple sources on freedom and human development in nations around the world. [Dr. Walter Gary Sharp Sr. / 2008 / 290 pages / ISBN: 978-1-58566-180-0 / AU Press Code: B-111] Read This Book Now

1 Sep 2007

Velocity, Speed with Direction

This storyline addresses the only question mark on O’Malley’s career—the Lavelle raids of February 1972. Using appropriate Nixon White House audio recordings and top secret messages (sent by the Joint chiefs of Staff to Vietnam) that were acquired through the Freedom of Information Act, Aloysius and Patrick Casey rescued from character assassination the reputation not only of Jerry O’Malley but also the reputation of Gen John D. Lavelle. They reveal the real culprit in the matter—the Nixon White House. [Aloysius G. Casey and Patrick A. Casey / 2007 / 294 pages / ISBN: 978-1-58566-169-5 / AU Press Code: B-110] Read This Book Now

1 Aug 2007

Divining Victory: Airpower in the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah War

The 2006 Israel-Hezbollah War may well be a paradigm for twenty-first century warfare. The technically sophisticated Israel Defense Forces (IDF) were confronted by a much smaller but well-armed and highly unconventional “state within a state” opponent. Israel launched an intensive 34-minute air assault designed to essentially disarm Hezbollah; it did not. Hezbollah’s interspersion within the civilian population presented major targeting problems for the IDF, setting up condemnation of Israel’s “over-reaction” in the international press. Airpower became the big loser in the press and after-action reports. Divining Victory examines the decisions, the effects, and the lessons learned for those who must confront similar enemies. [William M. Arkin / 2007 / 356 pages / ISBN: 978-1-58566-168-8 / AU Press Code: B-109] Read This Book Now

1 Aug 2007

Vantage Points

The aim of this pocket-size and shorter version of Military Airpower: A Revised Digest of Airpower Opinions and Thoughts is to supply Airmen with useful thoughts that might help them meet their known responsibilities and the unknown challenges their service will bring. [Col Charles M. Westenoff, USAF, retired / 2007 / 68 pages / ISBN: 978-1-58566-165-7 / AU Press Code: B-108] Read This Book Now

1 Jun 2007

Command in Air War

This work examines whether “centralized control and decentralized execution” is a valid doctrinal tenet, given the technological advances in the information age. Fascinating scenarios from recent operations, set in the context of a “complex air operations system,” show the dilemmas presented by participants’ increased access to information—and the resulting consequences of their decisions. With the uncertainty of war and the blending of diverse organizations, the author illustrates that commanders must balance empowerment with accountability by developing depth in command relationships among their subordinates. [Lt Col Michael W. Kometer, USAF / 2007 / 345 pages / ISBN: 1-58566-164-3 / AU Press Code: B-107] Read This Book Now

1 Mar 2007

Military Airpower: A Revised Digest of Airpower Opinions and Thoughts

Col Charles M. Westenhoff, USAF, retired, has compiled a thought-provoking collection of ideas from an array of luminaries—including contemporary and legendary generals, innovative tacticians and strategists, world leaders, and philosophers. The quotations were chosen for their value to Airmen and the profession of arms. The aim of this book is to supply Airmen with useful thoughts that might help them meet their known responsibilities and the unknown challenges their service will bring. Gen T. Michael Moseley, chief of staff, USAF, notes that “understanding the way that our predecessors handled their challenges can equip us to better serve our nation.” [Col Charles M. Westenhoff / USAF retired / 2007 / 277 pages / ISBN: 1-58566-163-5 / AU Press Code: B-106] Read This Book Now

1 Mar 2007

Middle East Security Issues

The ten authors of the essays in this study examine issues that the US must address if its national security policy in the Middle East is to be well informed. In "NBC and Missile Proliferation in the Middle East," Lawrence Scheinman summarizes the nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons capabilities and missile systems of Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Libya, and Syria. Scheinman argues that that stability in the region is best served by universal adherence to treaties to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD). Anthony R. Cordesman, in his essay "Recent Developments in the Persian Gulf," looks at both the conventional and WMD military balance between the states in the region. [Barry R. Schneider, ed. / 1999 / 146 pages / ISBN: 1-58566-077-0 / AU Press Code: B-75] Read This Book Now

1 Dec 2006

Space Power Integration

This book is the culmination of Gen Lance Lord’s vision to initiate vigorous discussion about how best to integrate space to support the war fighter. From the first Space Weapons Officer Air and Space Integration Conference in 2005 come nine research papers that form the basis for this publication and fulfillment of General Lord’s vision. The papers address issues across a spectrum of air- and space-integration topics at the operational level of war. [Kendall K. Brown / 2006 / 234 pages / ISBN: 1-58566-158-9 / AU Press Code: B-105] Read This Book Now

1 Nov 2006

Making Twenty-first Century Strategy

This new work defines national security strategy, its objectives, the problems it confronts, and the influences that constrain and facilitate its development and implementation in a post–Cold War, post–9/11 environment. The authors note that making and implementing national strategy centers on risk management and present a model for assessing strategic risks and the process for allocating limited resources to reduce them. The major threats facing the United States now come from its unique status as “the sole remaining superpower” against which no nation-state or other entity can hope to compete through conventional means. The alternative is what is now called asymmetrical or fourth generation warfare. Drew and Snow discuss all these factors in detail and bring them together by examining the continuing problems of making strategy in a changed and changing world. [Dennis M. Drew and Donald