War

by Codevilla, Angelo

• ISBN13: 9781574886108
• ISBN10: 157488610X
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-07-01
• Publisher: Potomac Books Inc

Summary

This book explores the causes, operations, endings, and justifications of war. In the process, it demolishes many currently fashionable illusions, such as that peace is always preferable to war, that wars occur because of accidents or misunderstandings, and that technology changes the nature of war. Abundant historical and contemporary examples show, the authors contend, that all wars are deliberate political choices, that military operations follow timeless principles, and that, as Aristotle taught, the natural aim of war is victory. This new edition of the book that Eugene Rostow called 'œa gem,' Michael Howard called 'œshrewd and trenchant,' and Library Journalcalled 'œpersuasive' devotes substantial attention to the wars of the post'Cold War period, including 'œthe war on terrorism.'

Table of Contents

Preface	vii
Introduction	1	(22)
PART I How Wars Start
The Meaning of War and Peace	23	(10)
The Causes of War	33	(26)
PART II How Wars Are Fought
The Fog of Wars	59	(16)
The Political Conditions of Battle	75	(20)
The Material Conditions of Battle	95	(18)
Winning the Battle: Land, Sea, and Air	113	(18)
Military Operations in the Nuclear Age	131	(20)
Political Warfare	151	(22)
Indirect Warfare and Terror	173	(22)
Intelligence	195	(30)
Just War	225	(26)
PART III How Wars End
Making Peace	251	(30)
PART IV Wars of Our Time
Our Small Wars	281	(18)
The Gulf War of 1990--91	299	(20)
Terror and Iraq	319	(28)
Notes	347	(14)
Bibliography	361	(6)
Index	367	(14)
About the Author	381