Browse Results

Showing 16,026 through 16,050 of 38,719 results

Living with Antiques: A Treasury of Private Homes in America Vol. II (Living with Antiques #2)

by Alice Winchester

IN THIS BOOK we have brought together treasures from the past and a wealth of ideas for their use and enjoyment in the present. Like The ANTIQUES Treasury of Furniture and Other Decorative Arts published in 1959, to which it is a companion, this volume is full of information about antiques, but while the previous volume concerned itself with the collections of seven great American museums, this is devoted to American private homes. It makes no recommendations as to what should be done, but it shows what has actually been done by some of America’s most discriminating collectors to bring beauty and also a sense of stability and continuity into their homes. For to these collectors living with antiques does not mean living in the past: it means preserving and enjoying the best of the past in order to add an extra dimension to the present.

Living with Hitler: Accounts of Hitlers Household Staff

by Karl Wilhelm Krause Herbert Döhring Anna Plaim

This collection paints a picture of Hitler from members of his household in the unique position of being seemingly ever-present, yet totally unconnected to events.The reader is introduced to Hitler's Bodyguard Karl Krause (1934-39), his house administrator Herbert Dhring (1935-43) and chambermaid Anna Plaim (1941-43). From these accounts we get a deeper sense of Hitler in close proximity.These accounts massively add to our understanding of Hitler as a three dimensional character, especially from subjects like Plaim who only knew Hitler's home life, having rarely left Berghof.The series is able to shed light on his likes and dislikes from foods to his hobbies, creating a strange sense of humanity. This collection also provides the reader with fresh anecdotes, observations and portraits of Hitler's entourage and relatives. Plaim's images of Eva Braun come from finding torn fragments in the bin, whilst Dhring sheds light on Martin Bormann's demeanour.

Living with Hitler: Compelling recollections of Hitler's Personal Staff

by Karl Wilhelm Krause Herbert Döhring Anna Plaim Kurt Kuch

This collection paints a picture of Hitler from members of his household in the unique position of being &“seemingly ever-present, yet totally unconnected to events.&” Compelling recollections from Hitler's Bodyguard Karl Krause (1934-39), his house administrator Herbert Döhring (1935-43) and chambermaid Anna Plaim (1941-43). From these accounts we get a deeper sense of Hitler in close proximity. These accounts massively add to our understanding of Hitler as a three dimensional character, especially from subjects like Plaim who only knew Hitler's home life, having rarely left Berghof. The authors shed light on his likes and dislikes from foods to his hobbies, creating a strange sense of humanity. This collection also provides fresh anecdotes, observations and portraits of Hitler's entourage and relatives. Plaim's images of Eva Braun came from finding torn fragments in the bin, whilst Döhring sheds light on Martin Bormann's demeanour.

Living with Honor

by Joe Layden Sal Giunta

There was the sound of a single bullet, and then . . . a deafening barrage of gunfire and explosions. There were, literally, thousands of bullets in the air at once, and more tracers streaking across the sky than there were stars overhead. It was a miracle that most of us weren't killed instantly. Staff Sergeant Salvatore, "Sal," Giunta was the first living person to receive the Medal of Honor--the highest honor presented by the U.S. military--since the conclusion of the Vietnam War. In Living with Honor, this hero who maintains he is "just a soldier" tells us the story of the fateful day in Afghanistan that led to his receiving the unique honor. With candor, insight, and humility, Giunta not only recounts the harrowing events leading up to when he and his company fell under siege, but also illustrates the empowering, invaluable lessons he learned. As a seventeen-year-old teen working at Subway, Giunta was like any other kid trying to figure out which step to take next with his life after graduating from high school. When Giunta walked into the local Army recruiting center in his hometown, he just wanted a free T-shirt. But when he walked out, his curiosity had been piqued and he enlisted in the Army. Deployed to Afghanistan, Giunta soon learned from the more seasoned soldiers how "different" this war was compared to others that America had fought. Stationed with the 173rd Airborne Brigade near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border in the Korengal Valley-- also known as the "Valley of Death"--Giunta and his company were ambushed by Taliban insurgents. Giunta went into action after seeing that his squad leader had fallen. Exposing himself to blistering enemy fire, Giunta charged toward his squad leader and administered first aid while he covered him with his own body. Though Giunta was struck by the relentless barrage of bullets, he engaged the enemy and then attempted to reach additional wounded soldiers. When he realized that yet another soldier was separated from his unit, he advanced forward. Discovering two rebels carrying away a U.S. soldier, Giunta killed one insurgent and wounded the other, and immediately provided aid to the injured soldier. More than just a remarkable memoir by a remarkable person, Living with Honor is a powerful testament to the human spirit and all that one can achieve when faced with seemingly impossible obstacles. *** The President clasps the medal around my neck. Applause fills the room. But I know it's not for me alone. I look at my mom and dad. I look at Brennan's parents and I look at Mendoza's. And I try to communicate to Brennan and Mendoza wordlessly: This is for you . . . and for everyone who has fought and died. For everyone who has made the ultimate sacrifice. I am not a hero. I'm just a soldier. --Salvatore A. Giunta, from Living with Honor

Living with Honor: A Memoir

by Joe Layden Salvatore Giunta

There was the sound of a single bullet, and then . . . a deafening barrage of gunfire and explosions. There were, literally, thousands of bullets in the air at once, and more tracers streaking across the sky than there were stars overhead. It was a miracle that most of us weren't killed instantly. Staff Sergeant Salvatore, "Sal," Giunta was the first living person to receive the Medal of Honor--the highest honor presented by the U.S. military--since the conclusion of the Vietnam War. In Living with Honor, this hero who maintains he is "just a soldier" tells us the story of the fateful day in Afghanistan that led to his receiving the unique honor. With candor, insight, and humility, Giunta not only recounts the harrowing events leading up to when he and his company fell under siege, but also illustrates the empowering, invaluable lessons he learned. As a seventeen-year-old teen working at Subway, Giunta was like any other kid trying to figure out which step to take next with his life after graduating from high school. When Giunta walked into the local Army recruiting center in his hometown, he just wanted a free T-shirt. But when he walked out, his curiosity had been piqued and he enlisted in the Army. Deployed to Afghanistan, Giunta soon learned from the more seasoned soldiers how "different" this war was compared to others that America had fought. Stationed with the 173rd Airborne Brigade near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border in the Korengal Valley-- also known as the "Valley of Death"--Giunta and his company were ambushed by Taliban insurgents. Giunta went into action after seeing that his squad leader had fallen. Exposing himself to blistering enemy fire, Giunta charged toward his squad leader and administered first aid while he covered him with his own body. Though Giunta was struck by the relentless barrage of bullets, he engaged the enemy and then attempted to reach additional wounded soldiers. When he realized that yet another soldier was separated from his unit, he advanced forward. Discovering two rebels carrying away a U.S. soldier, Giunta killed one insurgent and wounded the other, and immediately provided aid to the injured soldier. More than just a remarkable memoir by a remarkable person, Living with Honor is a powerful testament to the human spirit and all that one can achieve when faced with seemingly impossible obstacles. *** The President clasps the medal around my neck. Applause fills the room. But I know it's not for me alone. I look at my mom and dad. I look at Brennan's parents and I look at Mendoza's. And I try to communicate to Brennan and Mendoza wordlessly: This is for you . . . and for everyone who has fought and died. For everyone who has made the ultimate sacrifice. I am not a hero. I'm just a soldier. --Salvatore A. Giunta, from Living with Honor

Living with No Excuses: The Remarkable Rebirth of an American Soldier

by Noah Galloway

Military hero and beloved Dancing with the Stars alum Noah Galloway shares his life story, and how losing his arm and leg in combat forced him to relearn how to live--and live to the fullest.Inspirational, humorous, and thought provoking, Noah Galloway's LIVING WITH NO EXCUSES sheds light on his upbringing in rural Alabama, his military experience, and the battle he faced to overcome losing two limbs during Operation Iraqi Freedom. From reliving the early days of life to his acceptance of his "new normal" after losing his arm and leg in combat, Noah reveals his ambition to succeed against all odds. Noah's gripping story is a shining example that with laughter, and the right amount of perspective, you can tackle anything. Whether it be overcoming injury, conquering the Dancing with the Stars ballroom, or taking the next steps forward in life with his young family - Noah demonstrates how to live life to the fullest, with no excuses.

Living with War: Twentieth-Century Conflict in Canadian and American History and Memory

by Robert Teigrob

Canada and the United States: we think of one as a peaceable kingdom, the other as a warrior nation. But do our expectations about each country's attitudes to war and peace match the realities?In Living with War, Robert Teigrob examines how war is experienced and remembered on both sides of the 49th parallel. Surveying popular and scholarly histories, films and literature, public memorials, and museum exhibits in both countries, he comes to some startling conclusions. Americans may seem more patriotic, even jingoistic, but they are also more willing to debate the pros and cons of their military actions. Canadians, though more diffident in their public displays of patriotism, are more willing than their southern neighbors to accept the official narrative that depicts just wars fought in the service of a righteous cause.A provocative book that complements critiques of contemporary Canadian militarism such as Warrior Nation, Living with War offers an intriguing look at the relationship with the military past on both sides of the border.

Living-Room War

by Michael J. Arlen

This book attempts to figure out exactly what television does to us. This collection of essays provides a poetic look at 1960s television culture, ranging from Vietnam War to Captain Kangaroo, from 1968 Democratic convention to televised sports.

Lizzie's War: A Novel

by Tim Farrington

A family epic laced with authenticity, wit and unforgettable characters. Liz O'Reilly has a husband in Vietnam, 4 kids under the age of 12 (and one on the way), and a burgeoning crush on the family priest. An unconventional love story. It's Summer 1967 and Mike O'Reilly's just shipped out to Vietnam. Liz O'Reilly is trying to keep it all together for their four kids – 6 year old Deb–Deb (who believes she is an otter), 8 year old Angus, Kathie, (who at age 9 helps to integrate the local Blue Bird troop with her best friend Temperance), and 11 year old Danny – the spitting image of Mike. While Mike is off fighting "his" war, Liz struggles with her own desires and yearnings – to pick up the theatre career she abandoned when Danny was born, to care for the four children she loves fiercely yet also occasionally resents, to leave the backdoor unlocked so she always has an escape route. While set during the conflict in Vietnam, Farrington's novel captures the other side of any war – that of the war at home and the careening emotions of the spouses and families left behind.

Lloyd George and the Generals (Military History and Policy)

by David R. Woodward

The frustrating stalemate on the western front with its unprecedented casualties provoked a furious debate in London between the civil and military authorities over the best way to defeat Germany. The passions aroused continued to the present day. The mercurial and dynamic David Lloyd George stood at the centre of this controversy throughout the war. His intervention in military questions and determination to redirect strategy put him at odds with the leading soldiers and admirals of his day.Professor Woodward, a student of the Great War for some four decades, explores the at times Byzantine atmosphere at Whitehall by exhaustive archival research in official and private papers. The focus is on Lloyd George and his adversaries such as Lord Kitchener, General Sir William Robertson, and Field Marshall Sir Douglas Haig. The result is a fresh, compelling and detailed account of the interaction between civil and military authorities in total war.

Lobbying For Defense

by Matthew R. Kambrod

This one-of-a-kind user's guide to successful lobbying for defense appropriation draws on Matthew R. Kambrod's forty-plus years of experience both in the Pentagon as a military officer and on Capitol Hill as a lobbyist. The book presents step-by-step instructions for the lobbyist along with detailed information that only someone with the author's background could provide. He understands how the system works and shows how, when lobbying is conducted within the boundaries of propriety, the process can efficiently benefit lawmakers and defense officials as well as industry.A former Deputy for Aviation to the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Research, Development, and Acquisition and a current lobbyist for the defense industry, Colonel Kambrod leads the reader through the annual lobbying process, explaining how the armed services establish their requirements for defense programs and how the annual budget is formulated. He also addresses the all-important distinction between "funded" and "unfunded" requirements; defines the roles played by the military, industry, and Congress; and lists the steps to be taken to develop arguments in the pursuit of congressional funding. Topics of general interest, such as campaign contributions, abuse of power, and possible lobbying reforms, are included along with a practical list of lessons learned and an appendix filled with samples of useful documents.In demystifying the process of lobbying for defense dollars, the author provides an essential tool for everyone interested in the subject both lobbyists and all those who must interact with them.

Lobos Rebeldes

by James Quinn

Es conocido como el maestro. Espía, agente doble y asesino independiente, ha estado en la cima de su juego durante décadas. El Maestro ha trabajado para nazis, comunistas, agencias de inteligencia y terroristas por igual. Nadie conoce su verdadera identidad. Ahora, el asesino más reservado del mundo ha desaparecido, y varias redes de inteligencia quieren que sea capturado, interrogado y "censurado". Jack Grant, ahora un agente contractual para el Servicio Secreto francés, está asignado para rastrear al Maestro. Le pisa los talones a un mortal y hermoso cazarrecompensas de la CIA que es más que capaz de cazarlos a ambos. Pero el Maestro tiene una agenda propia, y está listo para comenzar una guerra que los envolverá a todos.

Local Dimensions of the Second World War in Southeastern Europe (Mass Violence in Modern History)

by Xavier Bougarel Hannes Grandits Marija Vulesica

This book deals with the Second World War in Southeastern Europe from the perspective of conditions on the ground during the conflict. The focus is on the reshaping of ethnic and religious groups in wartime, on the "top-down" and "bottom-up" dynamics of mass violence, and on the local dimensions of the Holocaust. The approach breaks with the national narratives and "top-down" political and military histories that continue to be the predominant paradigms for the Second World War in this part of Europe.

Locked Down with the Army Doc: Locked Down With The Army Doc / The Brooding Surgeon's Baby Bombshell (Mills And Boon Medical Ser.)

by Scarlet Wilson

There’s a crisis in paradise! But is her heart at risk…? When Dr. Amber Berkeley met ruggedly handsome Jack at a conference in Hawaii, she never imagined they’d end up locked down together in the middle of a hurricane! Army doc Jack’s take-charge attitude pushes straight-talking Amber’s buttons—until their sparks ignite into a fierce attraction! Amber has a “no doctors” dating rule for good reason, but amid disaster rules are meant to be broken…

Locked On (Jack Ryan Jr. #3)

by Tom Clancy Mark Greaney

Though his father had been reluctant to become a heroic field operative, Jack Ryan, Jr. wants nothing more...<P> Privately training with special forces, he's honing his combat skills to continue his work within the Campus, hunting down and eliminating terrorists wherever he can--even as Jack Ryan, Sr. campaigns to become President of the United States again. <P> But what neither father nor son knows is that the political and personal have just become equally dangerous. A devout enemy of Jack, Sr. launches a privately-funded vendetta to discredit him and connect him to a mysterious killing in his longtime ally John Clark's past. All they have to do is catch him. <P> With Clark on the run, it's up to Jack, Jr. to stop a growing threat emerging in the Middle East, where a corrupt Pakistani general has entered into a deadly pact with a fanatical terrorist to procure four nuclear warheads they can use to blackmail any world power into submission--or face annihilation.

Locked, Loaded and SEALed: Drury Locked, Loaded And Sealed Sheik's Rule (Red, White and Built #1)

by Carol Ericson

A Navy SEAL must protect the mentee of a high-profile doctor from dangerous terrorists in this romantic suspense adventure.The SEAL’s secret assignment had been to protect a certain important doctor. But when the man is murdered, Austin Foley’s mission changes. The Navy sniper must now protect the doctor’s protégé, the irresistible Sophia Grant, at any cost. For Sophia has information that could endanger the entire country. There’s only one problem: Sophia has no idea what those secrets are. With lethal terrorists on their heels, Austin and Sophia must embark on a covert operation. But it will mean placing Sophia even more in harm’s way—a sacrifice not even the steel-hearted SEAL may be able to make. Praise for Locked, Loaded, and SEALed“A riveting thrill ride from start to finish.” —Caitlyn Lynch, author of the Rescue Rangers series

Lockheed A-12

by Adam Tooby Paul Crickmore

During the early years of the Cold War, the most effective way to gather strategic intelligence about the Soviet Union and its allies was manned overflight. Lockheed's U-2 was spectacularly successful in this role. Much to the concern of President Eisenhower, its shape meant that it could be tracked on Russian radars. Given the highly sensitive nature of such flights, the President insisted that every effort should be made to reduce to zero the U-2's radar cross section (RCS), thereby making the aircraft "invisible." When this was proven to be impossible, the stage was set for a U-2 replacement. Following a competition between Lockheed and Convair, the former was declared the winner and the result was the A-12. Designed to incorporate 'stealth' features before the term was even coined, the A-12 has to date proven to be the fastest, highest flying jet aircraft ever built, and is operated exclusively by the Central Intelligence Agency. This book will also cover a two-seat variation of the design built as an advanced interceptor - the YF-12. In addition, the D-21 drone programme, known as Tagboard will also be covered.

Lockheed Constellation: A History

by Graham M Simons

This illustrated history &“recounts the unusual and sometimes dramatic development and operational career of one of the twentieth century&’s most iconic airliners&” (Aviation History Magazine). Clarence &“Kelly&” Johnson&’s design for the Lockheed Constellation, known affectionately as the Connie, produced one of the world&’s most iconic airliners. Lockheed had been working on the L-044 Excalibur, a four-engine, pressurized airliner, since 1937. In 1939, Trans World Airlines, at the instigation of major stockholder Howard Hughes, requested a forty-passenger transcontinental aircraft with a range of 3,500 miles, well beyond the capabilities of the Excalibur design. TWA&’s requirements led to the L-049 Constellation, designed by Lockheed engineers including Kelly Johnson and Hall Hibbard. Between 1943 and 1958, Lockheed built 856 Constellations in numerous models at its Burbank, California, factory—all with the same distinctive and immediately recognizable triple-tail design and dolphin-shaped fuselage. The Constellation was used as a civil airliner and as a military and civilian air transport, seeing service in the Berlin and the Biafran airlifts. Three of them served as the presidential aircraft for Dwight D. Eisenhower. After World War II, TWA&’s transatlantic service began on February 6, 1946 with a New York-Paris flight in a Constellation. Then, on June 17, 1947, Pan Am opened the first-ever scheduled round-the-world service with their L-749 Clipper America. With revealing insight into the Lockheed Constellation, the renowned aviation historian Graham M. Simons examines its design, development, and service, both military and civil. In doing so, he reveals the story of a design which, as the first pressurized airliner in widespread use, helped to usher in affordable and comfortable air travel around the world. &“Simons makes good use of black-and-white and color photographs of Constellations in various airline markings and includes colorful airline brochures and marketing posters featuring the aircraft.&” —Air Power History

Lockheed Constellation: A Legends of Flight Illustrated History

by Wolfgang Borgmann

A concise illustrated history of the Lockheed Constellation, Super Constellation and Starliner The Lockheed Constellation is the definitive postwar prop airliner. The type was developed during the Second World War by a talented and famous development team, which included Howard Hughes and Kelly Johnson. This book provides a colorful illustrated history of the type. Readers will enjoy several hundred vintage photographs featuring aircraft and airlines from all over the world. There is ample coverage for all three major commercial variants of the aircraft: the Constellation, the Super Constellation, and the Starliner. Wartime service by military versions is also described. She was affectionally named "Mona Lisa of the Skies" by her fans, and the Constellation's graceful lines were the epitome of elegance and beauty in the "golden age" of air transport. One chapter is dedicated to the special features and extra comforts provided by luxury carriers. Freighter models and conversions are also detailed in their own chapter.

Lockheed F-104 Starfighter: Interceptor, Strike, Reconnaissance Fighter (Profiles of Flight)

by Martin W. Bowman Dave Windle

The Starfighter was once described as a delight to fly, but one mistake and it will kill you. It is one of the worlds fastest fighters with a top speed of Mach 2.2 and a service ceiling of 58,000 feet. First delivered to the USAF in 1958 it was also sold to the German, Greek, Italian, Turkish and Italian Air Forces. It could carry a variety of air to air, and air to surface missiles and was powered by a single General Electric J79 turbojet that developed 17,900lbs of thrust with afterburner. The Italian Air Force continued to fly it into the 21st Century.This book contains the world famous color profiles created by Dave Windle of the type in different operational modes, configurations and color schemes. Martin Bowman has written detailed descriptions and photographs to create the perfect enthusiasts' reference.

Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk Stealth Fighter

by Adam Tooby Paul Crickmore

From its questionable debut over Panama, the shoot-down of a Nighthawk during Operation Allied Force over the former Yugoslavia, to the mind-boggling successes enjoyed by the type in the two Gulf Wars, this is the story of another 'Skunk Works' icon that took aircraft design and operational capabilities to previously unprecedented levels.Even from the earliest days of 'dog-fighting', when pilots attempted to attack their advisories with the sun on their backs, one adage has held true - "you can't destroy what you can't see". Even with the advent of radar the precept remains valid, however, the "But how?" conundrum had perplexed aircraft design engineers since the Second World War. Although designers and engineers had a number of tools available to help reduce an aircraft's Radar Cross Section (RCS), ranging from its physical shape, to the use of Radar Absorbent Materials (RAM) - as seen in the A-12/SR-71, any reductions achieved by the mid 1970's were at best modest and certainly not enough to gain "an explicit operational advantage". The magnitude of the problem faced is demonstrated by the radar equation "detection range is proportional to the fourth root of the radar cross-section." That is to say, in order to reduce the detection range by a factor of 10 in number, it is necessary to reduce the target aircraft's RCS by a factor of 10,000 or 40 dBs!However utilising the unrivalled talent available within the legendary Lockheed 'Skunk Works' and what was at the time, ground-breaking computer technology, project 'Have Blue' validated the concept of stealth and evolved into the highly classified 'Senior Trend' (F-117A) programme.

Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird

by Paul Crickmore

The SR-71 has come to represent the very pinnacle of Cold War aircraft design - indeed, it has become an icon. Together with its predecessor, the A-12, the Blackbird was a giant leap into the technical unknown as the design employed many forms of new technology made necessary by the excesses of speed, altitude and temperature to which the aircraft was subjected. Throughout its 34-year Air Force career, the SR-71 proved itself to be the world's fastest and highest flying operational manned aircraft. It set a number of world records for altitude and speed, including an absolute altitude record of 85,069ft on 28 July 1974, and an absolute speed record of 2,193.2mph the same day. This truly was a unique and ground-breaking aircraft, whose fascinating design history is explored here in full and illuminated with photographs and detailed technical illustrations.

Lockheed SR-71 Operations in the Far East

by Chris Davey Paul Crickmore

Even before the first operational flight of the legendary Lockheed U-2 spy plane, aircraft design genius Kelly Johnson began work with his team at the company's "Skunk Works" plant on the type's replacement. The result was the SR-71. First deployed on March 9, 1968, this tri-sonic 'hotrod' flew its first operational sortie over North Vietnam just 12 days later. On that debut mission, the Blackbird overflew surface-to-air missile sites with complete impunity, collecting the detailed intelligence that led directly to the end of the siege of Khe Sanh in the process. Thereafter, the SR-71 roamed freely over areas previously denied to the vulnerable U-2, capturing photographic, radar and electronic intelligence. This book examines the immense impact this revolutionary aircraft had, not only on North Vietnam (Vietnam War, 1955-1975) but during the Cold War (1946-1991) as a whole, gathering information about the Soviet nuclear submarine fleet based in Vladivostok as well as the port's defenses, monitoring the actions of North Korea and flying four 11-hour, non-stop sorties into the Persian Gulf during the Iran-Iraq War in the late 1980s.

Logics Of Hierarchy: The Organization of Empires, States, and Military Occupations

by Alexander Cooley

Political science has had trouble generating models that unify the study of the formation and consolidation of various types of states and empires. The business-administration literature, however, has long experience in observing organizations. According to a dominant model in this field, business firms generally take one of two forms: unitary (U) or multidivisional (M). The U-form organizes its various elements along the lines of administrative functions, whereas the M-form governs its periphery according to geography and territory. In Logics of Hierarchy, Alexander Cooley applies this model to political hierarchies across different cultures, geographical settings, and historical eras to explain a variety of seemingly disparate processes: state formation, imperial governance, and territorial occupation. Cooley illustrates the power of this formal distinction with detailed accounts of the experiences of Central Asian republics in the Soviet and post-Soviet eras, and compares them to developments in the former Yugoslavia, the governance of modern European empires, Korea during and after Japanese occupation, and the recent U. S. occupation of Iraq. In applying this model, Logics of Hierarchy reveals the varying organizational ability of powerful states to promote institutional transformation in their political peripheries and the consequences of these formations in determining pathways of postimperial extrication and state-building. Its focus on the common organizational problems of hierarchical polities challenges much of the received wisdom about imperialism and postimperialism.

Logics of War: Explanations for Limited and Unlimited Conflicts

by Alex Weisiger

Most wars between countries end quickly and at relatively low cost. The few in which high-intensity fighting continues for years bring about a disproportionate amount of death and suffering. What separates these few unusually long and intense wars from the many conflicts that are far less destructive? In Logics of War, Alex Weisiger tests three explanations for a nation's decision to go to war and continue fighting regardless of the costs. He combines sharp statistical analysis of interstate wars over the past two centuries with nine narrative case studies. He examines both well-known conflicts like World War II and the Persian Gulf War, as well as unfamiliar ones such as the 1864-1870 Paraguayan War (or the War of the Triple Alliance), which proportionally caused more deaths than any other war in modern history. When leaders go to war expecting easy victory, events usually correct their misperceptions quickly and with fairly low casualties, thereby setting the stage for a negotiated agreement. A second explanation involves motives born of domestic politics; as war becomes more intense, however, leaders are increasingly constrained in their ability to continue the fighting. Particularly destructive wars instead arise from mistrust of an opponent's intentions. Countries that launch preventive wars to forestall expected decline tend to have particularly ambitious war aims that they hold to even when fighting goes poorly. Moreover, in some cases, their opponents interpret the preventive attack as evidence of a dispositional commitment to aggression, resulting in the rejection of any form of negotiation and a demand for unconditional surrender. Weisiger's treatment of a topic of central concern to scholars of major wars will also be read with great interest by military historians, political psychologists, and sociologists.

Refine Search

Showing 16,026 through 16,050 of 38,719 results