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The Official History of North Sea Oil and Gas: Vol. II: Moderating the State’s Role (Government Official History Series)
by Alex KempWritten by the leading expert in the history of UK energy, this study provides new, in-depth analysis of the development of UK petroleum policies towards the North Sea oil and gas industry from the early 1960s to the early 1980s. Following on from volume I (The Growing Dominance of the State) to discuss the more recent history of the North Sea oil and gas industry, here Alex Kemp offers new insights into developments in the industry. The controversial decisions to raise gas prices to consumers and to introduce the Gas Levy are discussed, while the thinking behind the gradual reduction in taxation - including the abolition of SPD (Supplementary Petroleum Duty) and the removal of royalties on new developments - is fully explained. The various options considered to reduce the powers of BNOC (British National Oil Corporation), then privatise its upstream assets, and finally to abolish the state company altogether are fully discussed, as is the thinking leading up to the privatisation of the British Gas Corporation in 1986. This volume also sheds light on the development of policies onshore, particularly the role of the OSO (Offshore Supplies Office), and the response of British industry to the North Sea opportunity. Finally, the evolution of policies relating to health, safety, decommissioning, and the environment over the whole period of the study are examined. The Official History of North Sea Oil and Gas will be of interest to students of North Sea oil and gas, energy economics, business history, and British politics, as well as to petroleum professionals and policymakers.
The Official History of the Falklands Campaign, Volume 1: The Origins of the Falklands War (Government Official History Series)
by Lawrence FreedmanDrawing on a vast range of previously classified government archives as well as interviews with key participants, this first volume of the official history of the Falklands Campaign is the most authoritative account of the origins of the 1982 war. In the first chapters the author analyzes the long history of the dispute between Argentina and Britain over the sovereignty of the Islands, the difficulties faced by successive governments in finding a way to reconcile the opposed interests of the Argentines and the islanders, and the constant struggle to keep the Islands viable. He subsequently gives a complete account of how what started as an apparently trivial incident over an illegal landing by scrap-metal merchants on the island of South Georgia turned into a major crisis. Thanks to his access to classified material, Lawrence Freedman has been able to produce a detailed and authoritative analysis which extends the coverage given by the Franks Committee Report of 1983. This volume is ultimately an extremely readable account of these events, charting the growing realization within the British government of the seriousness of the situation, culminating in the Argentine invasion of the Falkland Islands at the start of April 1982.
The Official History of the Falklands Campaign, Volume 2: War and Diplomacy (Government Official History Series)
by Lawrence FreedmanIn this official history of the Falklands Campaign, Lawrence Freedman provides a detailed and authoritative account of one of the most extraordinary periods in recent British political history and a vivid portrayal of a government at war. After the shock of the Argentine invasion of the Falklands in April 1982, Margaret Thatcher faced the crisis that came to define her premiership as she determined to recover the islands. Freedman covers all aspects of the campaign - economic and diplomatic as well as military - and demonstrates the extent of the gamble that the government took. There are important accounts of the tensions in relations with the United States, concerns among the military commanders about the risks they were expected to take, the problems of dealing with the media and the attempts to reach a negotiated settlement. This definitive account describes in dramatic detail events such as the sinking of the Belgrano, the battle of Goose Green and the final push to Stanley. Special attention is also paid to the aftermath of the war, including the various enquiries, and the eventual restoration of diplomatic relations with Argentina.
The Official History of the UK Strategic Nuclear Deterrent: Volume II: The Labour Government and the Polaris Programme, 1964-1970 (Government Official History Series)
by Matthew JonesVolume II of The Official History of the UK Strategic Nuclear Deterrent provides an authoritative and in-depth examination of the British government’s strategic nuclear policy from 1964 to 1970. Written with full access to the UK documentary record, Volume II examines the controversies that developed over nuclear policy following the arrival in office of a Labour government led by Harold Wilson in October 1964 that openly questioned the independence of the deterrent. Having decided to preserve the Polaris programme, Labour ministers were nevertheless committed not to develop another generation of nuclear weapons beyond those in the pipeline, placing major doubts over the long-term future of the nuclear programme and collaboration with the United States. Defence planners also became increasingly concerned that the deployment of Soviet anti-ballistic missile (ABM) defences around Moscow threatened to undermine the ability of Polaris to fulfil its role as a national strategic nuclear deterrent. During 1967, under heavy pressures to control defence spending, a protracted debate was conducted within Whitehall over the future of Polaris and how to respond to the evolving ABM challenge. The volume concludes with Labour’s defeat at the general election of June 1970, by which time the Royal Navy had assumed the nuclear deterrent role from the RAF, and plans had already been formulated for a UK project to improve Polaris which could both ensure its continuing credibility and rejuvenate the Anglo-American nuclear relationship. This book will be of much interest to students of British politics, Cold War history, nuclear proliferation and international relations.
The Official U-Boat Commanders Handbook: The Illustrated Edition (Hitler's War Machine)
by Bob CarruthersThis is the complete wartime translation by the U.S. Navy of the 1943 edition of the official handbook given to all U-boat commanders. The original handbook was compiled from combat reports and was regularly updated throughout the war. The handbook was an invaluable reference for every operational U-boat commander. Simply written and highly accessible for a wider audience, the U-boat handbook attempted to anticipate every possible situation and to advise on suitable tactics. This superb war-time primary source is enhanced by a rare series of photographs taken on an actual combat patrol and published during the time of the Third Reich in the book U-Boot Auf Feindfahrt.Together the handbook and these rare photographs provide a fascinating glimpse into the world of the U-boats from a first hand perspective, and is essential reading for anyone interested in World War II from primary sources.
The Official U.S. Army Survival Manual Updated (US Army Survival)
by Peter T. Underwood Department of the ArmyThis comprehensive new edition of U.S. Army Survival Manual, issued by the Department of the Army and thoroughly revised by Colonel Peter T. Underwood USMC (Ret), is ideal for military personnel and all outdoors enthusiasts. From the psychology of survival and basic medicine to personal camouflage and signaling techniques, this essential resource provides all the information you need to survive. Included here is a guide to identifying: • Poisonous snakes and lizards • Edible plants • Cloud formations as foretellers of weather • And more! With detailed photographs and illustrations and an extensive set of appendices, U.S. Army Survival Manual is your ultimate guide to survival in all conditions and environs.
The Ohio and Malta: The Legendary Tanker That Refused to Die
by Michael PearsonDuring the dark days of World War 2, Malta became the lynchpin of the Allied campaign in the Mediterranean and North African theaters and a vital base from which to attack Axis convoys supplying Rommel's Panzer Armee in Libya. Malta was, however, extremely difficult to keep supplied, (particularly with oil), and by the summer of 1942 the Island was close to surrender; the Pedestal convoy of August that year was literally the last chance.On entering the Mediterranean, the convoy was subjected to prolonged ferocious air and submarine attacks and suffered terrific losses both in warship escorts and merchant men. OHIO, being the only tanker, was marked for particular attention, and during the course of her voyage suffered a direct hit from a torpedo, direct bomb hits, any number of near-misses, and was struck by two Luftwaffe aircraft shot down while attacking her. Despite her engines being dead and her hull practically broken in two, she was towed into Grand Harbor by three destroyers and a minesweeper with her vital cargo virtually intact.
The Old Breed... The Complete Story Revealed: A Father, A Son, and How WWII in the Pacific Shaped Their Lives
by W. Henry SledgeForty years after the publication of Eugene Sledge&’s memoir With the Old Breed at Peleliu and Okinawa comes The Old Breed… The Complete Story Revealed by Eugene&’s son, Henry, adding new material and immeasurable depth to his father&’s story.The Old Breed… The Complete Story Revealed brings to life an abundance of new material from the original manuscript of Eugene Sledge&’s classic memoir With the Old Breed at Peleliu and Okinawa. By interspersing his own personal anecdotes throughout, Henry Sledge takes his father&’s work and gives it newfound context, sharing memories of conversations between father and son. The result is a flowing narrative that portrays an intimate look at a WWII veteran and his struggles to adapt to civilian life following the war.
The Old Contemptibles (Routledge Library Editions: Military and Naval History)
by Keith SimpsonThis book, originally published in 1981, tells the story of the regular soldiers and reservists of the British Expeditionary Force (B. E. F.) who fought in the first six months of the First World War on the Western Front. This photographic history of the B. E. F. is unique in that the photographs were taken not by official war photographers, but either by the few press photographers who were able to get near the Front or by members of the B. E. F themselves. Complementing the photographs are many first-hand accounts of their experiences by ‘Old Contemptibles’ and an authoritative text by Keith Simpson.
The Old Lie
by Claire G. ColemanShane Daniels and Romany Zetz have been drawn into a war that is not their own. Lives will be destroyed, families will be torn apart. Trust will be broken.When the war is over, some will return to a changed world. Will they discover that glory is a lie?Claire G. Coleman's new novel takes us to a familiar world to ask what we have learned from the past. The Old Lie might not be quite what you expect.**Includes bonus chapters from the bestselling and award-winning Terra Nullius** Praise for Terra Nullius:'surprising and unforgettable' - Publisher's Weekly'moving and original' - Weekend Australian'impossible to ignore' - Books and Publishing'unflinching' - Sydney Review of Books'timely' - Adelaide Review
The Old Man
by Thomas PerryNow an original series from FX starring Jeff Bridges, John Lithgow, and Amy Brenneman: a retired intelligence officer living off the grid is caught in &“[a] harrowing hunt-and-hide adventure&” (The New York Times). To all appearances, Dan Chase is a harmless retiree in Vermont with two big mutts and a grown daughter he keeps in touch with by phone. But most sixty-year-old widowers don&’t have multiple driver&’s licenses, savings stockpiled in banks across the country, or two Beretta Nanos stashed in the spare bedroom closet. Most have not spent decades on the run. Thirty-five years ago, as a young army intelligence hotshot, Chase was sent to Libya to covertly assist a rebel army. When the plan turned sour, Chase acted according to his conscience—and triggered consequences he never could have anticipated. To this day, someone still wants him dead. And just when he thought he was finally safe, Chase is confronted with the history he spent much of his life trying to escape. Edgar Award–winning author Thomas Perry writes thrillers that move &“almost faster than a speeding bullet&” (Wall Street Journal). The Old Man is his latest whip-smart standalone novel, and has been adapted into a critically acclaimed television series starring Jeff Bridges as retired CIA Agent Dan Chase. &“Perry drives deep into Jack Reacher territory in this stand-alone [novel] . . . Swift, unsentimental, and deeply satisfying.&” —Kirkus Reviews
The Old New York Frontier: its Missionary Schools, Pioneers, and Land Titles, 1614-1800
by Francis W. HalseyFrancis W. Halsey’s The Old New York Frontier offers a compelling exploration of the rich and turbulent history of New York's frontier region between 1614 and 1800. Through vivid detail and thorough research, Halsey chronicles the dramatic events and key figures that shaped this pivotal area during a period of intense conflict and transformation.The book delves into the complex relationships between Native American tribes, European settlers, and British loyalists (Tories), shedding light on the wars, treaties, and alliances that defined the region’s early history. Halsey also examines the role of missionary schools in attempting to bridge cultural divides, the challenges faced by pioneering settlers, and the contentious land disputes that arose as communities expanded.Against the backdrop of the Revolutionary War and the broader colonial struggle for independence, The Old New York Frontier captures the hardships and triumphs of a region caught between competing interests and ideologies. Halsey’s meticulous attention to detail and use of historical records make this work an invaluable resource for understanding the complexities of early American life on the frontier.Rich in narrative and historical insight, this book is essential reading for history enthusiasts, particularly those interested in the intersection of Native American, Colonial, and Revolutionary history. It provides a fascinating window into the dynamic forces that shaped one of America’s most historically significant frontiers.
The Old Regime and the French Revolution
by Alexis De Tocqueville Stuart GilbertThe French Revolution is undoubtedly one of the most significant events in world history, one whose repercussions still affect Western society today, two hundred years later.
The Old Woman and the River
by Ismail Fahad IsmailAfter the ceasefire in 1988, the devastation to the landscape of Iraq wrought by the longest war of the twentieth century—the Iran-Iraq War—becomes visible. Eight years of fighting have turned nature upside down, with vast wastelands being left behind. In southeastern Iraq, along the shores of the Shatt al-Arab River, the groves of date palm trees have withered. No longer bearing fruit, their leaves have turned a bright yellow. There, Iraqi forces had blocked the entry points of the river&’s tributaries and streams, preventing water from flowing to the trees and vegetation. Yet, surveying this destruction from the sky, a strip of land bursting with green can be seen. Beginning from the Shatt al-Arab River and reaching to the fringes of the western desert, several kilometers wide, it appears as a lush oasis of some kind. The secret of this fertility, sustaining villages and remaining soldiers, is unclear. But it is said that one old woman is responsible for this lifeline.
The Older Woman
by Cheryl ReavisNO GUTS, NO GLORY...Or so paratrooper Captain Cal Doyle believed. But seduce tough-talking Nurse Katherine Meehan, who’d tended to him after his copter crash? Impossible! True, they were now next-door neighbors-yet they were years apart. And while Kate had survived breast cancer, Cal had barely survived hell....So just because Cal caught Kate crying in the rain...and her fussy feline cozied up to him...and the church ladies started matchmaking...and Kate suddenly looked so damn desirable-were those any reasons for a wounded warrior to woo a reluctant older woman? Besides, between Kate’s stubborn defenses and Cal’s mule-headed machismo, could these two survivors...survive each other?
The Olive Branch from Palestine: The Palestinian Declaration of Independence and the Path Out of the Current Impasse
by Jerome M. SegalIsraeli settlements are proliferating in Palestinian territory, and if they are annexed, the possibility of a future Palestinian state is virtually impossible. Could it have been otherwise? Can it still be? These are the questions Jerome M. Segal poses in The Olive Branch from Palestine. Carefully argued and highly informative, this book is centered on an original strategy that Segal devised—a strategy adopted but only partially implemented by Palestinian leadership, leaving its feasibility untested. The first step of this strategy was the issuance in November 1988 of the Palestinian Declaration of Independence. That document, authored by Palestinian national poet Mahmoud Darwish and modeled on Israel's own Declaration, called for a Palestinian state that would live in peace with Israel. In The Olive Branch from Palestine, Segal provides in the first part an analytical and historical study of the 1988 Declaration, a remarkable act of unilateral peacemaking through which the PLO accepted the legitimacy of the 1947 Partition Resolution and thereby redefined Palestinian nationalism. In the second part, he proposes a new strategy based on solutions to the two core issues of 1948: the preservation of a Jewish state, and the rights and circumstances of Palestinian refugees. With The Olive Branch from Palestine, Jerome Segal offers a new narrative of the peace process and details a Palestinian-led strategy that could end the conflict.
The One Impossible Labyrinth: The Brand New Jack West Thriller (Jack West Series)
by Matthew ReillyTHE BRAND NEW JACK WEST THRILLER'THE HOTTEST ACTION WRITER AROUND' EVENING TELEGRAPHTHE END IS HEREJack West Jr has made it to the Supreme Labyrinth.Now he faces one last race - against multiple rivals, against time, against the collapse of the universe itself - a headlong race that will end at a throne inside the fabled labyrinth.AN IMPOSSIBLE MAZEBut the road will be hard. For this is a maze like no other: a maze of mazes. Uncompromising and complex. Demanding and deadly.A CATACLYSMIC CONCLUSIONIt all comes down to this. It ends here - now - in the most lethal and dangerous place Jack has encountered in all of his many adventures. And in the face of this indescribable peril, with everything on the line, there is only one thing he can do.Attempt the impossible.* * * * *PRAISE FOR THE JACK WEST THRILLERS'An action hero worthy of Lee Child' Sydney Morning Herald'Thrilling, action-packed adventure from cover to cover' Guardian'Nobody writes action like Matthew Reilly' Vince Flynn'Get ready for a wild ride' Daily Telegraph'Exciting and entertaining' Chicago Sun-Times* * * * *READERS LOVE THE JACK WEST THRILLERS'Indiana Jones in a book . . . Immensely entertaining''A super duper kick ass soldier''A first class all-action historical thriller''Heart-pounding stuff''Enjoy the rollercoaster ride'
The One Percent Doctrine: Deep Inside America's Pursuit of Its Enemies Since 9/11
by Ron SuskindPulitzer Prize-winning journalist and bestselling author Ron Suskind takes you deep inside America's real battles with violent, unrelenting terrorists -- a game of kill-or-be-killed, from the Oval Office to the streets of Karachi. You may think you know what the "war on terror" is. But to know it truly, you must read this book. Suskind has written a riveting work of narrative nonfiction, filled with exclusive, historically significant disclosures that will echo across America and the world. What is the guiding principle of the world's most powerful nation as it searches for enemies at home and abroad? The One Percent Doctrine is the deeply secretive core of America's real playbook: a default strategy, designed by Dick Cheney, that separates America from its moorings, and has driven everything -- from war in Afghanistan to war in Iraq to the global search for jihadists. The story begins on September 12, 2001, the day America began to gather itself for a response to the unimaginable. Ultimately, that reply would shape the nation's very character. Suskind tells us what actually occurred over the next three years, from the inside out, by tracing the steps of the key actors -- the notables, from the President and Vice President to George Tenet and Condoleezza Rice, who oversee the "war on terror" and report progress to an anxious nation; and the invisibles, the men and women just below the line of sight, left to improvise plans to defeat a new kind of enemy in an hour-by-hour race against disaster. The internal battles between these two teams -- one, under the hot lights; the other, actually fighting the fight -- reveal everything about what America faces, and what it has done, in this age of terror. Who is actually running U. S. foreign policy? Is there an operational cell, armed with WMDs, inside the United States? Have some of the world's most dangerous terrorists -- including leaders of al Qaeda -- been caught and accidentally released? Can America prevail in this struggle against enemies who are patient, ingenious, certain, and have clear tactical advantage?With his unparalleled access to senior officials, past and present, Ron Suskind -- author of The Price of Loyalty, the most revealing book yet written on the Bush administration -- finally answers the questions that keep Americans awake at night. And in this startling book, he reframes the debates that roil the globe.
The One Ship Fleet: USS Boise—WWII Naval Legend, 1938–45
by Phillip T. Parkerson"If the doings of the U.S. Navy in World War II are of any interest to you, the book is worth a read." — PowerShipsThe Brooklyn-class light cruiser USS Boise (CL-47) was one of the most famous US combat ships of World War II, already internationally renowned following her participation in the naval battles in the Solomons in 1942. After repairs and modifications, in 1943 the Boise was sent to the Mediterranean theater, there to participate in the invasions of Sicily, Taranto, and Salerno, and enhancing her fame by destroying enemy tanks during armored counterattacks in both Sicily and Salerno. From the Mediterranean, Boise was sent to the Southwest Pacific theater to join the US 7th Fleet for the campaign in New Guinea in 1943–44 and then the invasion of the Philippines. She fought in the battle of Leyte Gulf, notably in the night engagement in the Surigao Strait, where battleships faced off against each other for the last time in maritime history. Boise was credited with helping to sink a Japanese battleship. She also fought off the suicide planes known as kamikazes at Leyte and later at Lingayen Gulf during the invasion of Luzon. MacArthur used her as his flagship for the Luzon attack, thereby adding to her already considerable fame, then after helping retake Corregidor and other islands in the Philippines, Boise carried the general on a triumphant tour of the islands. This tour was interrupted for the invasion of Borneo, but completed when the beach was secured. After MacArthur left the ship in June 1945, she returned to the US for overhaul which was just complete as the war ended, by which time she had been awarded 11 battle stars, more than any other light cruiser in her class. This full account of USS Boise’s war not only gives us an insight into how one ship navigated a global conflict, but also an insight into the experiences of the men who served on her, and a new perspective on the naval campaigns of the war.
The One That Got Away (Pen & Sword Military Classics)
by James Leasor Kendal BurtIn World War II James Leasor was commissioned into the Royal Berkshire Regiment and posted to the 1st Lincolns in Burma and India, where he served for three and a half years. His experiences inspired him to write such books as Boarding Party (filmed as The Sea Wolves). He later became a feature writer and foreign correspondent at the Daily Express. Here he wrote The One that Got Away. As well as non-fiction, Leasor has written novels, including Passport to Oblivion, filmed as Where the Spies Are with David Niven
The One-State Condition: Occupation and Democracy in Israel/Palestine
by Ariella Azoulay Adi OphirSince the start of the occupation of Palestinian territories in 1967, Israel's domination of the Palestinians has deprived an entire population of any political status or protection. But even decades on, most people speak of this rule-both in everyday political discussion and in legal and academic debates-as temporary, as a state of affairs incidental and external to the Israeli regime. InThe One-State Condition, Ariella Azoulay and Adi Ophir directly challenge this belief. Looking closely at the history and contemporary formation of the ruling apparatus-the technologies and operations of the Israeli army, the General Security Services, and the legal system imposed in the Occupied Territories-Azoulay and Ophir outline the one-state condition of Israel/Palestine: the grounding principle of Israeli governance is the perpetuation of differential rule over populations of differing status. Israeli citizenship is shaped through the active denial of Palestinian citizenship and civil rights. Though many Israelis, on both political right and left, agree that the occupation constitutes a problem for Israeli democracy, few ultimately admit that Israel is no democracy or question the very structure of the Israeli regime itself. Too frequently ignored are the lasting effects of the deceptive denial of the events of 1948 and 1967, and the ways in which the resulting occupation has reinforced the sweeping militarization and recent racialization of Israeli society. Azoulay and Ophir show that acknowledgment of the one-stateconditionis not only a prerequisite for considering a one- or two-statesolution; it is a prerequisite for advancing new ideas to move beyond the trap of this false dilemma.
The Ones We Let Down: Toxic Leadership Culture and Gender Integration in the Canadian Forces (Human Dimensions in Foreign Policy, Military Studies, and Security Studies)
by Charlotte Duval-LantoineIn 2021, a sexual misconduct scandal struck the Canadian military, leading to a profound crisis in leadership. While some more recent allegations came to light before the #MeToo movement, these latest revelations have historical roots in the 1990s, an era known to service members as the “decade of darkness.”Due to drastic budget cuts and allegations of serious crimes perpetrated by its members, the last decade of the twentieth century was a tumultuous time for the Canadian Armed Forces. Amid this period, a human rights tribunal ordered the military to open its combat positions to women and reach full gender integration by 1999. Yet by 2021, women made up only 16.3 per cent of personnel; women and LGBTQ+ service members continue to face sexual harassment and abuse at all levels. In The Ones We Let Down Charlotte Duval-Lantoine looks at failed efforts to achieve gender parity during the 1990s. She reveals an organization unwilling and unable to change, and attitudes held by military leaders that fed a destructive dynamic and cost lives.As the military grapples with its failure to address cultural misconduct and change its culture, The Ones We Let Down reflects on whether the right lessons were learned from the decade of darkness.
The Ones We Trust (Mira Ser.)
by Kimberly BelleFrom the internationally bestselling author of The Marriage Lie comes a riveting exploration of grief and guilt in the wake of one family&’s shocking loss.When former DC journalist Abigail Wolff attempts to rehabilitate her career, she finds herself at the heart of a shocking conspiracy involving the death of a soldier in Afghanistan. This loss has unspeakable emotional consequences for the family and as news of what happened comes to light, Abigail will stop at nothing to write the story.As she stumbles upon more and more evidence in the case, it seems there are fewer and fewer people she can trust…including her own father, a retired army general. Stunned by the revelations, she is equally surprised to find herself falling for the slain soldier&’s brother, Gabe, a bitter man struggling to hold his family together. Her investigation eventually leads her to an impossible choice, one of unrelenting sacrifice to protect those she loves.Beyond the buried truths and betrayals, questions of family loyalty and redemption, Abigail&’s search is, most of all, a desperate grasp to carry on—and seek hope in the impossible. In this emotionally gripping story, Kimberly Belle has penned an unforgettable narrative and a true testament to the meaning of trust.Originally published in 2015.Don't miss bestselling author Kimberly Belle's next deeply addictive thriller, The Personal Assistant—where she explores the dark side of the digital world when a mommy-blogger&’s assistant goes missing!Look for these other pulse-pounding thrillers by Kimberly Belle: The Marriage Lie The Last Breath Stranger in the Lake My Darling Husband Three Days Missing Dear Wife
The Ongoing Insurgency in Southern Thailand: Trends in Violence, Counterinsurgency Operations, and the Impact of National Politics
by Zachary Abuza National Defense UniversitySince January 2004, a Malay-Muslim–based insurgency has engulfed the three southernmost provinces in Thailand. More than 4,500 people have been killed and over 9,000 wounded, making it the most lethal conflict in Southeast Asia. Now in its 8th year, the insurgency has settled into a low-level stalemate. Violence is down significantly from its mid-2007 peak, but it has been steadily climbing since 2008. On average, 32 people are being killed and 58 wounded every month. Most casualties are from drive-by shootings, but there are also about 12 improvised explosive device (IED) attacks a month. The insurgency is now characterized by less indiscriminate violence and more retaliatory attacks. Insurgents continue to target security forces, government officials, and Muslim moderates who seek accommodation with the Thai state as part of efforts to make the region ungovernable by limiting provision of social services and driving Buddhists from the south. The overall level of violence may be influenced more by insurgent calculations about the optimum amount of violence needed to advance their political goals than by improved capabilities of the security forces. Despite better coordination, Thai counterinsurgency operations are still hampered by bureaucratic infighting and a lack of professionalism. Human rights abuses by security services with blanket immunity under the Emergency Decree continue to instill mistrust among the local population.