This recollection of combat nightmares is dedicated to those who "stand ready to deploy, engage, and destroy the enemies of the United States of America in close combat."
A little more than a century ago, my great-great-grandfather Backsight...
Volume I of II, this volume provides in abbreviated form socio-cultural, economic, political and historical background material for a study of the Islamic World from the time of Muhammad to the eve of the first World war. It sets the stage for a...
The international community intervened repeatedly in Somalia since the central government fell in 1991. These interventions failed to produce a stable, elected government. Instead, over the last 20 years Somalis faced famine, terrorism, sexual...
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia performs a key role in the war on Islamic extremism and terrorism. The Kingdom maintains the distinction of being the birthplace of Islam and its government is the epitome of Islamic rule in the region. The Kingdom's...
This monograph investigates culture and society in Afghanistan and recommends an operational approach leveraging a blend of formal and traditional institutions, working with the propensity of the Afghan system, and building capacity and legitimacy...
Following the fall of the Taliban government in Afghanistan in late 2001, members of the former regime and Al-Qaeda found refuge in Waziristan. Waziristan is a tribal area in Pakistan located along the border with Afghanistan whose majority ethnic...
As the United States (U.S.) sustains the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) and the prospect of invading Iraq looms imminent, there remains a pressing need for viable intermediate staging bases (ISB) in the Middle East to conduct decisive military...
This document defines a way US military leaders can prepare for and conduct military operations through the lens of cultural awareness. It provides a method for helping military commanders, staffs, and trainers engage successfully in any type of...
The United States is committed to on-going involvement with Iraq to rebuild the country. Marines, who deploy to Iraq or are involved with Iraqis, need a basic knowledge of the country, its culture, history and present-day state of affairs. This...
With United States involvement in Afghanistan, knowledge of the country is imperative. This "handbook explains a number of basic issues that should be in the knowledge" toolbox of a Marine working with Afghanis or deployed to the country.
Serving on the military transition team (MiTT) assigned to the Iraqi Ground Forces Command (IGFC) from January 2006 through January 2007, Lieutenant Colonel Matt Whitney was originally slated to be the C5 advisor. This, however, was an "ill-advised...
This study examines whether the UN Operation in Somalia could have succeeded with a different approach or application. Somalia plunged into catastrophic humanitarian crises amidst brutality by the repressive regime and the civil war that followed...