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Liberty's Surest Guardian: American Nation-Building from the Founders to Obama

by Jeremi Suri

Americans are a nation-building people, and in Liberty's Surest Guardian, Jeremi Suri--Nobel Fellow and leading light in the next generation of policy makers--looks to America's history to see both what it has to offer failed states around the world and what it should avoid. Far from being cold imperialists, Americans have earnestly attempted to export their invention of representative government. We have had successes (Reconstruction after the American Civil War, the Philippines, Western Europe) and failures (Vietnam), and we can learn a good deal from both. Nation-building is in America's DNA. It dates back to the days of the American Revolution, when the founding fathers invented the concept of popular sovereignty--the idea that you cannot have a national government without a collective will. The framers of the Constitution initiated a policy of cautious nation-building, hoping not to conquer other countries, but to build a world of stable, self-governed societies that would support America's way of life. Yetno other country has created more problems for itself and for others by intervening in distant lands and pursuing impractical changes. Nation-building can work only when local citizens "own it," and do not feel it is forced upon them. There is no one way to spread this idea successfully, but Suri has mined more than two hundred years of American policy in order to explain the five "P"s of nation-building: PARTNERS: Nation-building always requires partners; there must be communication between people on the ground and people in distant government offices. PROCESS: Human societies do not follow formulas. Nation-building is a process which does not produce clear, quick results. PROBLEM-SOLVING: Leadership must start small, addressing basic problems. Public trust during a period of occupation emerges from the fulfillment of basic needs. PURPOSE: Small beginnings must serve larger purposes. Citizens must see the value in what they're doing. PEOPLE: Nation-building is about people. Large forces do not move history. People move history. Our actions in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya will have a dramatic impact on international stability. Jeremi Suri, provocative historian and one of Smithsonian magazine's "Top Young Innovators," takes on the idea of American exceptionalism and turns it into a playbook for President Obama over the next, vital few years.

Libya

by Ronald Bruce St. John

Combining a historian's balance with an analyst's insight to skilfully navigate Libya's eventful past and present, Ronald Bruce St John updates his authoritative history of this turbulent North African state to include an in-depth examination of the 2011 rebellion that finally put an end to over 40 years of authoritarian rule by Qadaffi. From early Greek settlements to the infamous Lockerbie bombing, and from the colonel's astonishing return to the international stage to the events that led to his ousting, this stands as an essential introduction to this complex land on the cusp of Africa and the Middle East. Ronald Bruce St John is a scholar of Libya, having consulted to ABC's 20/20, the New York Times, Fortune 500 companies, and the U.S. government. Now an analyst for the progressive think tank Institute for Policy Studies, he has also served on the advisory board of The Journal of Libyan Studies and the Atlantic Council's working group on Libya. A former military intelligence officer in the US army, he is the author of Libya and the United States and Qaddafi's World Design, among other books.

Libya After Qaddafi: Lessons and Implications for the Future

by Christopher S. Chivvis Jeffrey Martini

The 2011 overthrow of Libyan dictator Muammar Qaddafi by internationally backed rebel groups has left Libya's new leaders with a number of post-conflict challenges, including establishing security, building political and administrative institutions, and restarting the economy. This report assesses these challenges, the impact of the limited international role in efforts to overcome them, and possible future roles for the international community.

Libya and Nuclear Proliferation: Stepping Back from the Brink (Adelphi Ser. #380)

by Wyn Q. Bowen

This Adelphi Paper examines the motives behind Libya‘s pursuit of a nuclear weapons capability, from Gadhafi‘s rise to power in 1969 through to the end of 2003. It also assesses the proliferation pathways that the regime followed during this period, including early dependence on Soviet technology and assistance, subsequently relying on technological infusions from the A.Q. Khan network. Wyn Q. Bowen clearly analyzes the decision to give up the quest for nuclear weapons, focusing on the main factors that influenced the Gadhafi regime‘s calculations, including the perceived need to re-engage, both politically and economically, with the international community, particularly the United States. It explores the process of dismantling the nuclear programme and the question of whether Libya constitutes amodel for addressing the challenges posed by other proliferators.

Licensed to Kill: Hired Guns in the War on Terror

by Robert Young Pelton

While it is not an entirely new phenomenon, a distinctive feature of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have been the number of military "private contractors" that have been employed by the Pentagon in order to carry out traditional military tasks such as protecting infrastructure and individuals. Investigative journalist Pelton offers a partial window into the world of the private contractor that focuses primarily on the men who carry the guns and there experiences in carrying out their duties. He tells the tales of the contractors that died in Fallujah in an event that set the stage for the later US assault on that Iraqi city, his own former bodyguard now serving time for involvement in an attempted coup in Equatorial Guinea, and the man accused of maintaining his own private prison in Afghanistan (who claims that he was acting on behalf of the Central Intelligence Agency), among other guns-for-hire in the "War on Terror. " Annotation ©2007 Book News, Inc. , Portland, OR (booknews. com)

Licensed to Kill: Privatizing the War on Terror

by Robert Young Pelton

Robert Young Pelton first became aware of the phenomenon of hired guns in the War on Terror when he met a covert team of contractors on the Afghanistan/Pakistan border in the fall of 2003. Pelton soon embarked on a globe-spanning odyssey to penetrate and understand this shadowy world, ultimately delivering stunning insights into the way private soldiers are used.Enter a blood-soaked world of South African mercenaries and tribal fighters backed by ruthless financiers. Drop into Baghdad’s Green Zone, strap on body armor, and take a daily high-speed ride with a doomed crew of security contractors who dodge car bombs and snipers just to get their charges to the airport. Share a drink in a chic hotel bar with wealthy owners of private armies who debate the best way to stay alive in war zones.Licensed to Kill spans four continents and three years, taking us inside the CIA’s dirty wars; the brutal contractor murders in Fallujah and the Alamo-like sieges in Najaf and Al Kut; the Deep South contractor training camps where ex–Special Operations soldiers and even small town cops learn the ropes; the contractor conventions where macho attendees swap bullet-punctuated tales and discuss upcoming gigs; and the grim Central African prison where contractors turned failed mercenaries pay a steep price.The United States has encouraged the use of the private sector in all facets of the War on Terror, placing contractors outside the bounds of functional legal constraints. With the shocking clarity that can come only from firsthand observation, Licensed to Kill painstakingly deconstructs the most controversial events and introduces the pivotal players. Most disturbingly, it shows that there are indeed thousands of contractors—with hundreds more being produced every month—who’ve been given a license to kill, their services available to the highest bidder.From the Hardcover edition.

Licensed to Marry (Montana Confidential)

by Charlotte Douglas

By day these agents are cowboys; by night they are specialized government operatives. Men bound by love, loyalty and the law-they've vowed to keep their missions and identities confidential...THE MISSION: UNDERCOVER HUSBANDNo woman had ever looked more beautiful to Kyle Foster than the trembling female he rescued from the wreckage of an explosion. But he never dreamed he'd marry Laura Quinlan just days later! When traces of the bomb led to a security leak inside Laura's top-secret laboratory, a stricken Laura made Kyle a shocking proposal-marry her, and infiltrate the lab to find the traitor. As a Confidential agent and single father, Kyle would do anything to make the world a safer place. But living with Laura could prove a deadly distraction. Kyle's daughter loved her. Kyle's own heart was in jeopardy. And now the enemy knew it...

Lie Catcher: Become a Human Lie Detector in Under 60 Minutes

by Dr. David Craig

International undercover expert and criminologist Dr David Craig gives us an easy-to-read, light-hearted guide that demonstrates through practical examples how to apply lie detecting skills in our day-to-day lives. From bargaining, making a purchase, negotiating a business contract, dealing with children to identifying infidelity, he delivers simple but effective tips and techniques we can all use to see behind the facade and get to the truth.

Lie Down with Lions

by Ken Follett

Ellis, the American. Jean-Pierre, the Frenchman. They were two men on opposite sides of the cold war, with a woman torn between them. Together, they formed a triangle of passion and deception, racing from terrorist bombs in Paris to the violence and intrigue of Afghanistan--to the moment of truth and deadly decision for all of them...

Lie in the Dark and Listen: The Remarkable Expliots of a WWII Bomber Pilot and Great Escaper

by Ken Rees Karen Arrandale

A memoir of a World War II British bomber pilot who was imprisoned by the Nazis and went on to inspire the Steve McQueen character in The Great Escape. By age 21, Ken had already trained to be a pilot officer, flown 56 hair-raising bomber missions by night over Germany, taken part in the siege of Malta, got married, been shot down into a remote Norwegian lake, been captured and interrogated, sent to Stalag Luft III, and survived the Great Escape and the forced March to Bremen. This is truly a real-life adventure story, written with accuracy, pace, and drama. &“Ken Rees had a war career that takes the breath away and he describes it so well one can imagine one was there, experiencing the terror.&” —Frederick Forsyth, #1 New York Times – bestselling author of The Fox and The Day of the Jackal &“In an age obsessed with C-list television celebrities battling it out on [phony] &“reality&” survival shows, Rees and his dwindling band of Great Escapers stand out as the real thing.&” —The Daily Telegraph (UK) &“Written in frank, warm and readable style, this is a very engaging account of a remarkable life.&” —New History &“A brave man&’s memory. Hear the fear yet take [succor] from the courage.&” —North Wales Chronicle (UK)

Liebe gegen den Strich

by Charlie Cochet A. D. Ferencz

Kelly Sutton ist ein ehrgeiziger junger Amerikaner, der als Praktikant bei der Photonic Royal Society in New London arbeitet. Seit über einem Jahr ist er dem Projekt Mars zugeteilt, das so geheim ist, dass selbst Kelly nicht weiß, worum es sich dabei genau handelt. Er weiß nur, dass seine Mitarbeit an dem Projekt zum Wohl der Menschheit ist. Und mehr interessiert ihn auch nicht. Kellys Welt wird auf den Kopf gestellt, als ihn die Sorge um das merkwürdige Verhalten seines Mentors zufällig über ein streng gehütetes, fürchterliches Geheimnis stolpern lässt. Hinter dem Projekt, das offiziell der Verbesserung des menschlichen Lebens dienen soll, verbirgt sich das Potential zu Gewalt und Vernichtung. Diese schreckliche Erkenntnis zwingt Kelly zu einer Entscheidung. Soll er die Augen vor der Wahrheit verschließen und seinen Job behalten, wie er es immer getan hat, oder soll er seine Karriere riskieren und den Mann retten, der ihm das Herz geraubt hat?

Lies My Liberal Teacher Told Me: Debunking the False Narratives Defining America's School Curricula

by Wilfred Reilly

A college professor debunks the myths that have infiltrated America's school curricula.In 1995, James W. Loewen penned the classic work of criticism Lies My Teacher Told Me, a left-leaning corrective that addressed much of what was sanitized and omitted from American history books.But in the decades that followed, false leftist narratives—as wrong as those they supplanted—have come to dominate American academia and education. Now, in the same spirit but updated for 2024, Wilfred Reilly demolishes the scholastic myths propagated by the left, uncovers fresh angles on “established” events, and turns what we think we know about history upside down. Among the popular lies he debunks:“The ‘Red Scare’ was a moral panic that caught no commies”“Native Americans were peaceful people who spent all day dancing”“European colonialism was—empirically—a no-good, terrible, very bad thing” “The racist ‘Southern Strategy’ turned the South Republican”“The Vietnam War was unpopular and pointless”Lies My Liberal Teacher Told Me sets the record straight on many of these myths, explaining that there actually were communists in Hollywood; that many Native American tribes were cannibals, owned slaves and made them march the Trail of Tears with them; and that history, while almost always bad for Black Americans, was much worse for all of us than we tend to think it was. Smart, irreverent, and deeply researched, Lies My Liberal Teacher Told Me will revolutionize your understanding of history and reveal a new and refreshing way to teach and think about the past.

Lieutenant (Dirigent Mercenary Corps Ser. #2)

by Rick Shelley

The year is 2804 AD. Humanity has colonized the universe. But the authority of the Confederation of Human Worlds is spread thin. Where the Army of planet Earth cannot reach, mercenaries must keep the peace--and the Dirigent Mercenary Corps are the best of the best. Kicked out of the prestigious North American Military Academy, Lon Nolan had only a few choices left to him. He chose the hardest one: serving with the Dirigent Mercenary Corps, an elite fighting squad where respect is earned not in the classroom but on the battlefield.Nolan proved himself on the battlefield on Norbank. But now he’s commanding men of his own, and the stakes are higher. He’s going to learn sooner or later that leadership always comes with a cost...The Dirigent Mercenary Corps books are classics of military science fiction. Rick Shelley was himself a veteran of the U.S. Army, and his experience and knowledge shine through on every page.

Lieutenant Birnbaum: A Soldier's Story

by Meyer Birnbaum

Join Meyer Birnbaum as he enlists in the U.S. Army, helps liberate Buchenwald, trains youngsters for Israel's War of Independence, and drives the Mirrer Rosh Yeshivah and countless others daily to the sunrise minyan at the Kosel.

Lieutenant Colonel (Dirigent Mercenary Corps #5)

by Rick Shelley

Mercenary Lon Nolan returns in a mind-blowing, far-future military science fiction thriller from the national bestselling author of Major. The year is 2804 AD. Humanity has colonized the universe. But the authority of the Confederation of Human Worlds is spread thin. Where the army of planet Earth cannot reach, mercenaries must keep the peace—and the Dirigent Mercenary Corps are the best of the best.Lon Nolan has distinguished himself at the DMC, and he has the battle scars to prove it. Now, the governor of the isolated mining planet of Bancroft again needs Lon’s help. The Colonial Mining Cartel is terrorizing the planet, and Lon is the only person who can stop it. He’d never thought he’d have to return, and now he’s going back to face a more disciplined adversary than ever before. This time, the responsibility for the Second Battalion falls on him.“Rick Shelley was a soldier at heart, and his books were written from the heart. They carry the real feel of the sweat, blood, and camaraderie of those on the front lines.” —Jack Campbell, New York Times–bestselling author“Rick Shelly knows how to write compelling military science fiction thrillers that are so action packed, readers hardly have a moment for an oxygen break.” —AllReaders.com

Lieutenant Dangerous: A Vietnam War Memoir

by Jeff Danziger

"A must-read war memoir… with zero punches pulled, related by one of the most incisive observers of the American political scene." —KIRKUS (starred review) "Funny, biting, thoughtful and wholly original." —Tim O'Brien, author of The Things They CarriedJeff Danziger, one of the leading political cartoonists of his generation, captures the fear, sorrow, absurdity, and unintended but inevitable consequences of war with dark humor and penetrating moral clarity.If there is any discipline at the start of wars it dissipates as the soldiers themselves become aware of the pointlessness of what they are being told to do. A conversation with a group of today&’s military age men and women about America&’s involvement in Vietnam inspired Jeff Danziger to write about his own wartime experiences: &“War is interesting,&” he reveals, &“if you can avoid getting killed, and don&’t mind loud noises.&” Fans of his cartooning will recognize his mordant humor applied to his own wartime training and combat experiences: &“I learned, and I think most veterans learn, that making people or nations do something by bombing or sending in armed troops usually fails.&” Near the end of his telling, Danziger invites his audience—in particular the young friends who inspired him to write this informative and rollicking memoir—to ponder: &“What would you do? . . . Could you summon the bravery—or the internal resistance—to simply refuse to be part of the whole idiotic theater of the war? . . . Or would you be like me?&”

Lieutenant Fury: a brilliantly engaging and rip-roaring naval adventure set during the French Revolutionary Wars that will keep you hooked!

by G.S. Beard

If you like Hornblower and Sharpe, you will love this all-action nautical page-turner from much loved author G.S.Beard. You'll feel as if you are in the midst of the action!'If you like sea stories, you will enjoy this, and even if you think you don't but enjoy things like Sharpe, it might just convert you' - HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW'Kept me spellbound' -- ***** Reader review'A fun, fast read' -- ***** Reader review'Excellent story and very exciting' -- ***** Reader review*************************************************************1793: the French Revolutionary Wars continue...When HMS Amazon is returning from an arduous duty in the Indian Ocean, she encounters a French frigate in the Atlantic which unexpectedly opens fire - a bloody sea battle ensues resulting in both triumph and personal tragedy for Acting Lieutenant John Fury.A battered Amazon puts into Gibraltar for repairs and newly promoted Fury finds he is to be transferred away from his home on the Amazon and set a new challenge: he will be the fifth lieutenant on the 74-gun-man of war Fortitude.The action never stops in Toulon, where Fury is posted and he eventually finds himself defending a prominent fort ashore as the Republican armies, inspired by a young artillery officer by the name of Napoleon Bonaparte, establish a brutal siege of the port. It is soon clear that Britain and her allies are going to be hard pressed to hold onto their prize.But Fury has more to lose than most - in the maelstrom of the siege he has met and fallen in love with a pretty French girl, Sophie Gourrier.Somehow, as the defence crumbles, he must rescue his men and Sophie from the doomed city.John Fury's adventures started in Mr Midshipman Fury - have you read it?

Lieutenant General Pete Quesada And Generalfeldmarschall Wolfram Von Richthofen What Made Them Great?

by Major Jeremy Kreuder

During World War II, certain air force generals demonstrated an uncommon ability to succeed on the battlefield in spite of considerable obstacles. Whether solving operational issues, developing technical innovations, or devising logistic solutions, these commanders transcended service-centric doctrine and loyalties in order to achieve their objectives. Are there common elements among their personal background, professional education, officer development, and operational experience that helps explain their success? This paper will examine two contemporary tactical airpower commanders, Lieutenant General Elwood "Pete" Quesada and Generalfeldmarschall Wolfram Freiherr Von Richthofen, in an attempt to answer this important question.This study comprises an analysis of two contemporary tactical airpower commanders from World War II, Lieutenant General Elwood "Pete" Quesada and Generalfeldmarschall Wolfram Freiherr Von Richthofen. It attempts to determine how they succeeded where others failed. Whether solving operational issues, developing technical innovations, or devising logistic solutions, these commanders transcended service-centric doctrine and loyalties in order to achieve their objectives. The author searches for common elements among their personal background, professional education, officer development, and operational experience that help explain their uncommon triumphs. The analysis includes both external and internal factors to determine which is dominant. The final section includes five recommendations intended for those who conduct officer accession, professional development, and promotion boards. The ultimate objective is to provide timeless criteria that transcend technological advancements and the changing character of war.

Lieutenant Hornblower (The Hornblower Saga, Book #7)

by C. S. Forester

With interest in nautical adventure stories reaching unprecedented heights -- as evidenced by the success of "The Perfect Storm", Patrick O'Brian's bestselling Aubrey/Maturin novels, the Titanic phenomenon, etc. -- now is the ideal time for readers to rediscover the pleasures and excitement of C. S. Forester's epic saga of turmoil and triumph on the high seas. "The Horatio Hornblower" novels, which recount the thrilling adventures of one of the most daring and resourceful officers in the Royal Navy as he wrestles with his own "accursed unhappy temperament" and as he sails valiantly into battle after battle against Napoleon's forces, have riveted and delighted millions of readers since the series was initiated in 1938.

Lieutenant Ramsey's War

by Edwin P. Ramsey Stephen J. Rivele

Lieutenant Schreiber's Country: The Story of a Forgotten Hero

by Andrei Makine

Jean-Claude Servan-Schreiber enlisted in the French army at the outset of World War II and quickly rose to the rank of lieutenant. Despite his patriotism and courage in defending his country, in which he narrowly escaped death several times, he suffered the bigotry of his fellow soldiers until he was expelled from the army for being Jewish. He sought exile in Spain and was deported and interned in a concentration camp before he managed to join the Allied army in North Africa. He eventually participated in the triumphant liberation of his homeland.His story, almost forgotten, would have remained unknown if not for the efforts of the award-winning and internationally bestselling author Andrei Makine, Retelling Servan-Schreiber's dramatic life with a novelist's skill, he reveals a man who embraced experience in all its joys and sorrows, who knew the pleasures of love amid the savagery of war, and who could forgive the hatred he was subjected to but never forget it. In Servan-Schreiber, who is now nearly a centenarian, Makine celebrates virtues that every citizen should be reminded of: self-sacrifice, honor, love of country, and true heroism.

Life After Life: A Novel

by Kate Atkinson

What if you could live again and again, until you got it right? On a cold and snowy night in 1910, Ursula Todd is born to an English banker and his wife. She dies before she can draw her first breath. On that same cold and snowy night, Ursula Todd is born, lets out a lusty wail, and embarks upon a life that will be, to say the least, unusual. For as she grows, she also dies, repeatedly, in a variety of ways, while the young century marches on towards its second cataclysmic world war. Does Ursula's apparently infinite number of lives give her the power to save the world from its inevitable destiny? And if she can -- will she?Darkly comic, startlingly poignant, and utterly original -- this is Kate Atkinson at her absolute best.

Life After Manzanar

by Naomi Hirahara Heather Lindquist

From the editor of the award-winning Children of Manzanar, Heather C. Lindquist, and Edgar Award winner Naomi Hirahara comes a nuanced account of the “Resettlement”: the relatively unexamined period when ordinary people of Japanese ancestry, having been unjustly imprisoned during World War II, were finally released from custody. Given twenty-five dollars and a one-way bus ticket to make a new life, some ventured east to Denver and Chicago to start over, while others returned to Southern California only to face discrimination and an alarming scarcity of housing and jobs. Hirahara and Lindquist weave new and archival oral histories into an engaging narrative that illuminates the lives of former internees in the postwar era, both in struggle and unlikely triumph. Readers will appreciate the painstaking efforts that rebuilding required, and will feel inspired by the activism that led to redress and restitution—and that built a community that even now speaks out against other racist agendas. Published in collaboration with Manzanar History Association

Life Along the South Manchurian Railroad

by Joshua A. Fogel Ito Takeo

As part of a worldwide movement, nations and multinational groups are trying to reach closure regarding past atrocites and inhumanites, including what happened in Nanking in 1937. The contributors to this book show that these activites are a search for the common causes of human atrocites.

Life Can Be Cruel: The Story of a German P.O.W. in Russia

by H. R. R. Furmanski

Originally published in 1960, this compact book tells the true story of a German soldier: from his early childhood during the First World War, through to his harrowing experiences on the frontline during the Word War II, culminating in his capture by the Red Army on 20 December 1942…An astonishing first-hand account.

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