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by Bernard Lewis This timely book examines
the historical roots of the resentments that dominate the Islamic world and
that all too often have manifested themselves in acts of terrorism. Expanded
from an award-winning New Yorker article, The Crisis of Islam
looks at the theological origins of political Islam and takes the
reader through the rise of militant Islam in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Iran,
examining the impact of radical Wahhabi proselytizing, and Saudi oil money,
on the rest of the Islamic world. The Crisis of Islam ranges widely
across 13 centuries of history, but in particular it charts the key events
of the 20th century leading up to the violent confrontations of today: the
creation of the state of Israel, the Cold War, the Iranian revolution, the
defeat of the Soviet Union in Afghanistan, the Gulf War, and 9/11. While
hostility toward the West has a long and varied history in the lands of
Islam, its current concentration on America is new. So too is the cult of
the suicide bomber. Brilliantly disentangling the crosscurrents of Middle
Eastern history from the rhetoric of its manipulators, author Bernard Lewis
helps the reader understand the increasingly dogmatic rejection of modernity
by many in the Muslim world in favor of a return to a sacred past. The
Crisis of Islam is essential reading for anyone who wants to know what
Osama bin Laden represents and why his murderous message resonates so widely
in the Islamic world.
For getting into the mind of the radical Islamist, for achieving a
greater cultural understanding of an insidious and relentless foe, this
concise, eye-opening book is a must-read in the post-9/11 world.
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by LT Joel Holwitt, USN This Essential
category Operate Forward book was written by active duty Submarine Warfare
Officer, LT Joel Holwitt. Less than five hours after the Japanese attack on
Pearl Harbor, a telegram from the U.S. Chief of Naval Operations ordered,
Execute against Japan unrestricted air and submarine warfare. Mere hours
after the attack, the U.S. abandoned its longstanding adherence to freedom
of the seas, under which commercial vessels were immune from attack. From
that moment, the American war effort in the Pacific would target not only
military assets but all Japanese shipping. This surprising shift in U.S.
policy expanded the limits of warfare in the Pacific. Execute Against
Japan offers a new understanding of U.S. military policy during World
War II. This book offers valuable lessons on the interplay of law,
diplomacy, politics, and military doctrine and strategy in the conduct of
war.
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by Robert Kaplan This Essential category
Operate Forward book offers a pivotal examination of the countries known as
Monsoon Asia which include India, Pakistan, China, Indonesia, Burma, Oman,
Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Tanzania. Bestselling author Robert D. Kaplan
shows how crucial this dynamic area has become to American power. It is here
that the fight for democracy, energy independence, and religious freedom
will be lost or won, and it is here that American foreign policy must be
concentrated if the United States is to remain relevant in an ever-changing
world. From the Horn of Africa to the Indonesian archipelago and beyond,
Kaplan exposes the effects of population growth, climate change, and
extremist politics on this unstable region, demonstrating why Americans can
no longer afford to ignore this important area of the world. This
informative and engaging book truly is essential professional reading for
those serving in the 21st century U.S. Navy.
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by James D. Hornfischer This Essential
category, Operate Forward book is the most epic and intimate account ever
written of the contest for control of the seaways of the Solomon Islands.
Those who enjoyed The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors, on the previous
edition of the CNO Professional Reading Program, will find Neptunes
Inferno equally impressive. Neptunes Inferno details the
grim, protracted campaign for Guadalcanal that has long been heralded as a
Marine victory. Now, with his powerful portrait of the Navys sacrifice
three sailors died at sea for every man lost ashore Hornfischer tells for
the first time the full story of the Navy men who fought in the deadly
waters of Ironbottom Sound. In addition to the rich Navy history and
heritage that is contained in this book, there are many insightful lessons
on leadership and the high cost of tactical failures in combat. This
gripping book offers valuable lessons for Sailors and Officers of all pay
grades.
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by Toshi Yoshihara and James Holmes This
Essential category, Operate Forward book assesses how the rise of Chinese
sea power will affect U.S. maritime strategy in Asia. Combining a close
knowledge of Asia and an ability to tap Chinese-language sources with naval
combat experience and expertise in sea-power theory, the authors argue that
China is laying the groundwork for a sustained challenge to American primacy
in maritime Asia. To defend this hypothesis they look back to Alfred Thayer
Mahans sea-power theories, now popular with the Chinese. The book considers
how strategic thought about the sea shapes Beijing s deliberations and
compares China s geostrategic predicament to that of the Kaiser s Germany a
century ago. It examines the Chinese navy s operational concepts, tactics,
and capabilities and appraises China s ballistic-missile submarine fleet.
The authors conclude that unless Washington adapts, China will present a
challenge to America s strategic position in Asia. This selection supports
Department of Defense and U.S. Navy priorities for increased focus on the
Pacific Rim. Rich with historical examples and superb scholarship, Red
Star Over the Pacific is a thoughtful and informative analysis on the
rise of Chinese naval power.
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by Catherine Collins and Douglas Frantz In
this Essential category, Operate Forward book, investigative journalists
Douglas Frantz and Catherine Collins tell an alarming tale of international
intrigue through the eyes of the European and American officials who had
suspicions about Pakistani nuclear scientist A.Q. Khan, tracked him, and
ultimately shut him down, but only after the nuclear genie was out of the
bottle. This well-researched book tells the story of how Khan managed to
steal enough nuclear secrets to give Pakistan atomic weapons and then to go
into business selling atomic secrets to Libya, Iraq, Iran, North Korea and
others. The Man From Pakistan provides an excellent foundation of
knowledge for one of the greatest threats confronting the United States in
the 21st century. It explains the origin of the emerging nuclear
proliferation threats in North Korea and Iran as well as technical
descriptions of the process of manufacturing nuclear materials into
weapons-grade materials. It offers valuable lessons for Navy personnel who
must confront this threat as they operate forward in an increasingly
dangerous environment.
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