Wars Books

The context and thoughts are in line with most Americans concerned about the War on Terror, but do not post anything but glowing thoughts at his website, or your email and even domain will be banned. Any comments at "eject eject eject" that don't worship the guy are promptly ridiculed. His book is also obviously from the school of secular humanism, and no religion is tolerated. It is subtle, but there nonetheless.

However, I have to admit it is a good book and has great thoughts, although there are many grammatical errors and appears hastily thrown together, especially for a pricetag of 30 bucks.

In 2003 I discovered a Blogger whose thoughts spoke to me as I was evolving in my Political thinking from Liberal to Conservative.

The 1st essay I read was POWER, and what I wrote then still holds up today, and applies to the whole series in this book:

"I am in tears, I am in awe of a massive writing and thinking talent, I am so overwhelmed by the ideas and beliefs and truths tossed about in a piece I have just read that it will take me several more readings to fully digest it all.

There is a battle going on in the world for the hearts and minds of mankind.

Between the forces of Democracy, Freedom, Creativity, Individualism, and Prosperity, and the Minions of Oppression, who want to stifle all attempts at having the above and everything else that goes along with it.

The piece I have just read is the single best writing I've encountered in the Bloggerverse.

This is the standard we all aspire to reach someday.

This is why we blog, and why we read the works of our fellow bloggers.

It stirs the mind, and stirs the soul."

As I said these words apply to the whole collection, in equal measure, but let me continue with something I wrote in Aug. 2004:

At the end of his series Bill wrote a Call to Arms that will serve as my reason for encouraging you to take the time to read this whole collection:

Bill's own words....

"Throughout this collection I have done my best to try and show how deeply my life has been affected by the miracle that is this country and the family that is her people.
We have been doing a lot of arguing lately, this family. Many things have been said in anger. Well, these are critical, dangerous times.we can all agree on that much, at least.

But we are a family, whether we like each other or not. We are in this together. I would never urge any free man or woman to take sides contrary to their principles, and our principles vary as widely as our places of origins, our accents and our skin colors - no two exactly the same.

I am asking you now, as one voice among millions - nothing more - not to cease criticizing the government, the President, or our actions in Iraq. Without the crucible of heated debate among passionate believers we will lose our way.

All I ask is this:

Do not destroy this house. Do not destroy this house to make a point. It is a magnificent house, a grand and sturdy home to us all. Do not let the stains upon her floor cause you to set her aflame. We have fought amongst ourselves for as long as we have been a people; that will never change, and in its own unpleasant, annoying and wonderful way, it should never change.

But for our sake and for those across the oceans: argue about the paint. Argue about the sleeping arrangements. Argue about how best to wash those stains where they appear.

But for the sake of all who have gone before us here, and all who will come after: help me defend this house."

WOW! Even a year, and more, later those words have power.

Now, dear reader, go, read, think, and be PROUD, and UNASHAMED, to call yourself an American Citizen.

Experience the thrill of discovering this work at your own leisure, and savoring every word as you do so.

This is the type of book that CLEARLY states that which I am thinking, but am unable to express nearly as eloquently. Thank you Mr. Whittle!

First let me say that I've never considered myself either "red" or "blue"; I'm what I'd like to call middle-wing, if you will. I wasn't born in this country. I've seen poverty, indifference, fear, injustice, lawlessness, and other stuff that all those "well-meaning", "human-rights-protecting", "justice-seeking" on the far left have only heard about from CNN. When I immigrated into the U.S., I was already too old to be brainwashed, but old enough to see things for what they were, and to think for myself.

That said, I believe that this isn't merely reading material for "reds". This is a must-read for everyone, and especially for those who still retain at least a iota of realism, an ability to keep an open mind, and a human heart. Because I dare you to read this and remain indifferent.

Of course, I do not nurse such hope. I know there are people out there who'll remain not only indifferent but cynical and self-righteous, continuing to spew forth their absurd, idealistic nonsense, which has little to do with reality of this country, or this world for that matter. But I really believe that for some people, people on the brink of not knowing what to believe, this book might come to be the light at the end of the tunnel.

As for all those who'll choose to shrug this off as "right-wing propaganda"... There's a reason this book called "Silent America", you know. It is people like Bill Whittle who represent the majority in this country, the silent but strong majority. Those are the people who see the world for what it IS, not the unrealistic little fairytale that they would PREFER it was. But above all, those are the people who don't feel the need to scream on every corner about their being the majority, because they KNOW IT.

In the words of Bill, himself, "There are millions of us. Millions. And we do not have to go gently into that good night." Ditto.

Whittle's writing is eloquent, with careful analysis of complex subjects such as freedom, the nature of courage, democracy and war in a way that is so eloquent, but he also explains complex ideas with without condescending, in a way that is accessible to an ordinary person. Just brilliant and really witty, too.

The book, The Smuggler's Treasure is a very good book. I love the characters, Elisabet Holder and Marie. Marie and Elisabet meet each other in the story and become good friends. They both go to New Orleans together because Marie works at a bakery store and Elisabet's Aunt wanted Elisabet to help Marie. Elisabet has no family but her Aunt and Uncle. This book is a really good book. What I really liked about this book was that the character Elisabet was very bright and intelligent. What I don't like about the story was when her uncle died.

This is one of the best mysteries I have ever read!! It never had a dull moment. And it's great because you learn about some of the history of our country while getting an entertaining read. I HIGHLY reccomend this book and other books in the American Girl series (especially the Addy books)!!

The Smuggler's Treasure, Sarah Masters Buckey

Elisabet Holder, is the main character in the novel, The Smuggler's Treasure. She is sent from Boston to New Orleans to live with Aunt, because her dad was captured by the British. This takes place in 1814, when America was fightening against the British. Elisabet forces herself to find the smuggled treasure to earn her dad's freedom. In my attention was grabbed right from the beginning. As the book progresses Elisabet realizes the treasure has been hidden in her own house. This book is a great book for people who like mysteries. I liked this book because every chapter has a mystery to it. I would recommend this book to girls.

An archetypal prince-to-pauper story, The Smuggler's Treasure acquaints the 10-years-and-older reader with a child protagonist whose financial and emotional security change drastically upon the British capture of her father. Opening with Elisabet voyaging toward New Orleans from New England, the book details not only geographical and historical elements of America in 1814, but throws the protagonist into the discomfort of working as a commoner in her aunt's bakery after living the life of a high-society Northerner. Strangely, the novel rushes Elisabet into quick acceptance of her new financial status after a few token days of refusing to give up wearing her thick, hot, woolen dresses of the North. Soon, the heat takes its toll and Elisabet symbolically attires herself in the thin cottons of the South, and immediately the culture shock and grief disappear-just in time for the author to highlight the adventure of pirates, clues, and treasure. Although unrealistic in its character portrayal, and in its speed in tidying away the parental crisis, the book does effectively engage the reader (juvenile or adult) due to the fast plot movement, tantalizing swamp adventure, and the hovering danger.
As the first in Pleasant Company's History Mystery Series, The Smuggler's Treasure serves to entice young readers thriving on excitement. The publishers picked well when selecting it as the heralding book of the series since The Smuggler's Treasure far excels over the rest in the series due to the provocative excitement of Elisabet's struggle against Pirates and her independent ransoming for the freedom of her father.
Sure to be a positive factor with parents, teachers, and librarians, the book's historical "Looking Back" end-section provides accurate photographs, drawings, and facts about Louisiana, the War of 1812, and Pirate Smugglers. Historical documentation provides a framework for the interested child to weigh the difference between fact and fiction and allows teachers an accessible way to frame discussions on history.
The black ink engravings heading each chapter complement the historical nature of the book while the painterly, color illustrations on the cover, frontispiece, and map attract the eyes due to the atmospheric, dramatic, diagonal compositions. It is, however, unfortunate that cover illustrator, Troy Howell, conveys the frightened, scrambling Elisabet with a zombie-like gaping mouth and staring, vacant eyes. If the reader can successfully look past the first cover-expression, and dive right into the intrigue, mystery, and fast-paced adventure of The Smuggler's Treasure, the boy or girl reader is guaranteed to close the book with renewed curiosity about the real-life drama of pirates and the contented satisfaction of an adventure well written.

This is another in the History Mystery series from American Girl, in which a young American girl is confronted by a mystery that will tax her resolve and her ability. This is the story of eleven-year-old Elisabet Holder, an eleven-year-old girl living in New Orleans in 1814. Her father had been impressed into the British Navy, stolen off his own ship, and when Elisabet learns that her uncle had died leaving behind a hidden treasure map, she begins looking for it, so that she can sell it and buy her father's freedom. But, there's someone else looking for the map, and Elisabet is walking into more trouble than she can imagine!

The final chapter is a bit of a bonus, a look at life in America in 1814. This is an exciting story with everything that you could want - pirates, mystery, ghosts, and friendship. My fourteen-year-old daughter has been a fan of the American Girls stories for years, and both she and I greatly enjoyed this story. If you are looking for a great story for your American girl (or for any reader!), then this is the book for you. My daughter and I both highly recommend this book to you.

Thomas Desjardin has done something I would have thought impossible. He wrote a history book that I found hard to put down! His expanded research included many eye witness accounts of the battle of Little Round Top which serve to give us a clearer picture of what happeded that day. No one or even couple of people can give an accurate accounting. We all have a limited range of vision. When gathering all accounts it may seem that one contradicts the other, but it's really only a matter of perspective. We all see things differenly plus & understand it differently. This book takes nothing away from Chamberlain. It only shows he was not alone up there. I found the book fascinating & well worth reading.

I initially read this book after participating in a staff ride of the Gettysburg battlefield. My knowledge of the battle at that time came largely from Shaara's "The Killer Angels", and the subsequent film "Gettysburg". As both were meant to inspire and entertain rather than inform, I had an unrealistic understanding of the 20th Maine and its place in the struggle at Gettysburg. Thomas Desjardin's book changed that.

Well written and fast moving, "Stand Firm Ye Boys From Maine" provides excellent background information on the 20th Maine, identifies members of the Regiment beyond Chamberlain and his brother Tom, and reminds the reader that the 20th Maine's opponents at Little Round Top weren't a nameless mass of rebels, but members of a proud regiment with a strong leader all their own.

Desjardin explains the fight between the 20th Maine and the 15th Alabama in tremendous detail, with accompanying maps that enhance the narrative. More importantly, he describes the post-war growth of the Chamberlain legend, and explains the difference between Chamberlain the Man, and Chamberlain the myth. Desjardin's Chamberlain is not the battlefield intellectual who conceived an unorthodox maneuver in the face of the enemy to win the day, but an ordinary man who led from the front under extraordinary circumstances. I prefer the latter.

Students of Gettysburg will be interested in Desjardin's perspective on familiar events, and those unfamiliar with the battle will find it a great introduction to the subject. While not a history of the overall campaign, it is definitely a great starting place to learning what took place in PA over 140 years ago.

This is a well worked area of the ACW but Thomas A. Desjardin brings a fresh look to the subject. He is an excellent author and scholar, both show in his books. The book contains very good maps, photos and current status of Little Round Top, roster of the 20th Maine, 5 Appendix, notes and index. This is a very well done book that can be used as an introduction or reference.

The defense of Little Round Top by the 20th Maine Regiment on the far left of the Union lines on the second day of the Battle of Gettysburg, July 2, 1863, is perhaps one of the most famous small unit actions in American military history, right up there with Custer's Last Stand - except the latter lost. As the author of STAND FIRM YE BOYS FROM MAINE (SFYBFM) points out, the U.S. Army still uses the actions of the 20th Maine's commander, Col. Joshua Chamberlain, as a model of leadership under hostile fire.

Author Thomas Desjardin picks up the story of the 20th Maine in the aftermath of Chancellorsville on or about June 21 as the regiment marched north along the east slope of the Blue Ridge Mountains while Lee marched his Confederates on the west slope towards Maryland through the Shenandoah Valley. After some skirmishing at Ashby's Gap, the unit arrived in the vicinity of Gettysburg at the end of the battle's first day. Desjardin's focus is, of course, on the 20th Maine's resistance against the assaults of the15th and 47th Alabama regiments against Vincent's Spur on Little Round Top, followed by the 20th's relatively uneventful occupation of Big Round Top before being relieved. Chamberlain's command spent the third day, during Pickett's Charge, in reserve behind the front lines. The next day was spent maneuvering across the Gettysburg battlefield until, after it became apparent that the Army of Northern Virginia had decamped and was headed homeward, a pursuit was mounted through rain and mud to a final skirmish with the Rebels on Sharpsburg Pike on July 10, an event that marked the end of the Gettysburg Campaign for the boys from Maine.

Having finished with the battle itself, Desjardin examines the post-war period, during which, Little Round Top having receded in time but not in the participants' memories, bickering broke out among the survivors as various accounts of that fateful day in July, 1863 had to be reconciled with each other (or not).

I saw the film Gettysburg (Widescreen Edition) on the Big Screen when it was released, and was greatly impressed with the leadership qualities of the Joshua Chamberlain character under fire (as portrayed by Jeff Daniels). Subsequently, I visited the Gettysburg National Military Park and stood in reverence before the monument to the 20th Maine set in the trees now covering Vincent's Spur. Therefore, the final chapter of SFYBFM, "American Legend, American Shrine", in which Desjardin puts the regiment's defense in perspective and deflates some of the mythology surrounding the action, poured a certain amount of cool water upon my adulation. As the author points out, as evidenced by Chamberlain's recollection of the event, the colonel never actually ordered "forward", but only that his men fix bayonets. With that, the Maine troops charged off down the slope on their own and the famous "right wheel" by the 20th's left was more of a ragtag pursuit after already fleeing Rebels instead of the textbook maneuver of mythology. Moreover, the entire Army of the Potomac's line, from left to right of the famous "fish hook", was never in danger of being rolled up. Had the 15th Alabama actually been able to capture and hold Vincent's Spur, it would've had to face the 83rd Pennsylvania, the regiment next to Chamberlain's, as well as the 140th New York that had just come up. Furthermore, there was only room on Little Round Top for perhaps eight artillery pieces to be aimed at the rest of General Meade's army. If all of Longstreet's cannons couldn't dislodge the Federals on Day 3 of the confrontation, eight weren't going to do it on Day 2.

The strength of SFYBFM is in the comprehensiveness of Desjardine's research, which encompassed examination of close to eighty accounts of the battle by survivors on both sides. There are twenty-two pages of Notes and a six-page Bibliography. There's a complete roster of the 20th Maine soldiers at Gettysburg, which includes each man's rank, company, hometown, age, marriage status, civilian occupation, height, and post-battle status as applicable (killed, wounded, mortally wounded, captured). In addition, Appendix One enumerates the number of combatants in the three regiments involved. Appendix Three, Four and Five list in greater detail the nature of each casualty for the 20th Maine, 15th Alabama, and 47th Alabama respectively. For example, Private Mansfield Ham of the 20th Maine is noted as having been:

"Wounded severely in side, thumb shot off."

SFYBFM includes a serviceable assortment of photos sprinkled throughout as well as a number of maps, the most useful of which depict the evolving positions of the 20th Maine and 15th Alabama as they engaged.

STAND FIRM YE BOYS FROM MAINE is an exemplary battle history. While it may refute some of the more outlandish claims of the legend, e.g. that the survival of the Union hinged on the 20th Maine's victory, it puts the supreme efforts of both sides on a human scale and not on pedestals, especially as the personalities and civilian lives, both pre- and post-war, of combatants from both sides are described. From this vantage point, the Civil War student, whether casual or serious, can better appreciate the command style of the regimental officers and the heroic fighting qualities of their men. The volume deserves prominent place on any bookshelf dedicated to the American Civil War.

Interesting book, good subject. Some people, with a degree of justification, bemoan the attention given to the 20th Maine, but I'm not one of them. What I would like to see is that same attention given to other deserving regiments as well.

This book has the advantage of being well-documented and, as far as I can tell, accurate. It has the disadvantage of being somewhat superficial in that the regiment is never put into any larger context. There are anecdotes galore, and of course there is a thorough reconstruction of the 20th Maine at Little Round Top. But the substance of the battle around them is lacking; to be fair, this is not supposed to be a book about the battle as a whole.

In short, this is a good supplementary book if you have already read a thorough account of the battle (I recommend Coddington, personally), and it's good for bits of information about the 20th Maine, so it fulfills its purpose. Subjectively, I found it a rather dry account; interesting, informative, clearly written, but somehow lacking flavor.

I have loved this since I was a kid. I only have it on tape (I'm old). Once you get used to the actors and once you stop trying to compare it to the movie, you will like it.

The only scene I hate is the one where Vader is torturing Leia. It is laughable. Actually, you should listen to it because I guarantee you will laugh it is so poorly done.

I remembered listening to this production on NPR when I was a kid and now that my own children have discovered Star Wars I decided to share this version with them on a recent trip to visit grandma. We loved it! The Star Wars story is expanded and the writing and voice acting is so well done that it will keep the kids and adults entertained. Our trip seemed almost too short because we enjoyed listening so much.

Don't waste money on a DVD player in the car. Stories like this one are much more entertaining and leave the special f/x to the imagination.

I recently wrote a review for the Return of the Jedi adaption on NPR which I gave a mere three stars. I cited poor directing, acting and lack of added material.

These complaints cannot be levelled against this, the first of the NPR dramatisations.
The acting is spot on, with Perry King providing a rougher verion of Solo that goes over well, as opposed to the next two adaptions where it begins to grate. Mark Hamil and Anthony Daniels are naturally perfect at the characters that defined them for a decade and more after the original trilogy finished. Bernard Behrens does a surprisingly good Ben Kenobi, and Brock Peters likewise with Vader. They are not Alec Guinness and James Earl Jones, but they're good enough not to cause problems.

The direction is great, and I never found myself noticing the obvious radio 'cues' which tell the listener what is happening. THe music and sound effects are good and the pacing is not rushed, unlike ROTJ.

And as for added material? Deducting front and end credits gives us roughly five and a half hours, nearly triple the length of the film. The vast wealth of extra material is great and never seems out of place.

In all I would recommend this to anyone with an interest in the Star Wars original trilogy.

In 1981, the phenomenally popular movie Star Wars was adapted into a radio drama. The series ran as 13 half-hour episodes. This being about three times as long as the movie, a lot of extra scenes were added, especially back stories for many of the characters. The only actors from the movie that reprised their roles from the movie were Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker and Anthony Daniels as C-3PO, but most of the actors taking over the other roles do a good job. Most Star Wars fans will probably enjoy this.

I have fond memories of myself eagerly awaiting each installment of this fantastic radio drama adaptation of the original "Star Wars" film back when it aired originally in 1981. Brian Daley did an excellent job via his superb scripts giving us more details of the relationships between Luke Skywalker and his Tatooine friend Biggs Darklighter and between Princess Leia and her father on Alderaan. We also learn here how Princess Leia obtained the technical plans for the Death Star. Both Mark Hamill and Anthony Daniels give superb performances of their screen characters, Luke Skywalker and C3PO respectively. However, the rest of the cast is just as fine with a fine - if somewhat restrained - Darth Vader voiced by Brock Peters and Ann Sachs as Princess Leia. Both the sound effects by Ben Burtt and of course the original film score by John Williams are absolutely splendid. This is a spellbinding radio drama that should appeal to diehard fans of "Star Wars".

There are SO many different posters in this book. There are so many different styles too! Abstract, paintings, puppets, photo manipulation, product ads, world-movie posters; it has everything! I love it. Oh. There's also little descriptions of each poster, however they're a little vague at times... that's the only issue I have with the book. Other than that. Great!

Ok great book with some great poster art in it. Wonderful one sheets and other images. There is very little on spotting bootlegs, however that is a saving grace because the internet has turned things upside down with claims of bootlegs that are just ridiculous! The style A hair on Luke's belt is one of those examples. Apparently alot of people seem to believe that even though there were thousands of these printed off in the late 70's, that none of them would have slight printing differences. Count me in as one of the few who believes this version to be an original one sheet and NOT a bootleg; thats right I said it!! I believe it to simply have come from a different print run during its original printing run. If any of you are confused by now about this let me explain that this one sheet has a small hair line that appears on the poster on Luke's belt. Seriously, if you werent lookin for it, you wouldnt even notice it. These posters were originally meant for advertising and to be unused after use; not as pristine collectors items. On a final note about this particular bootleg claim for this poster. This version, with the hair, was sanctioned by Lucasfilm themselves for their official reprint. I think it highly unlikely that Lucasfilm would hand out a bootleg as a template for their official reprints. Anyway, great book, but never believe all that ya hear.

At the price I got this for and the shape it was in, it was a definate steal!

The artwork in this amazing book speaks for itself! - incredible reference and resource to all the movie posters for this groundbreaking, earthshaking blockbuster that keeps on going into hyper-space year after year.... any collector or artist would LOVE to have this in their collection!

While this book has a ton of Star Wars Posters listed, it's a book for the reader who is not familiar with poster collecting, or the highest level of Star Wars poster collecting. There is no inbetween. The book is basically a giant list with illustrations. But the list includes posters that are so obscure that it's almost not worth putting them in this book (Coca Cola and Burger King advertising posters come to mind.) There is also a few places where they just went overboard; there is one page where they have pictures of about 20 different posters, all from Episode I, all the same poster, just printed in different languages. I would have liked to have seen a little more detail on the things that matter more to collectors like how to spot a bootleg from an original, what the 77/21 means on the bottom right of the Star Wars 1 sheet, details on different poster printers and their posters (Kilian Enterprises for one), etc. I would also like to have seen more information on where to get posters other than "try the internet." Overall an OK book, it just lacks in certain areas of information.

Excellent view on how we worked. Bill & John did and great job! Lurp Teams were the "Eyes and Ears of the Commanding General". We had many tense situations. I personally slept with my M16 on my left side, my radio phone on my right ear and my 45 on my chest- finger on the trigger thumb on the safety. Ed Zapata RTO, Team G. Thanks Bill. Never forget you guys, Bill, Dave and Arthur Bell.

An excellent read. Told in the first person, this book is very informative, interesting, exciting, and free of unnecessary embellishments. The story of the inception and development of the Rangers as told by a man who actually lived it gives one a profound appreciation of the accomplishments our military. For those of us who remember that era of our history, and how relatively primitive the equipment and weaponry of the Viet Nam era was, it underscores the high degree of technological sophistication that our fighting men and women have in these current times. We should all be thankful that America is blessed with people like the men of the Rangers, and all those who have followed.

Excellent view on how we worked. Bill & John did and great job! Lurp Teams were the "Eyes and Ears of the Commanding General". We had many tense situations. I personally slept with my M16 on my left side, my radio phone on my right ear and my 45 on my chest- finger on the trigger & thumb on the safety. Ed Zapata RTO, Team G. Thanks Bill. Never forget you guys, Bill, Dave and Arthur Bell.

This is the true story of Bill Shanahan and his two tours of duty in Vietnam. Bill and his co-author John Brackin have created a book that gives the reader a fox-hole view on a unique kind of warfare. In Vietnam at this period of time, the Army and the Marines were all engaged in large operations with big units going into battles. Meanwhile, small Ranger units began to play by another set of rules with the enemy forces. They would ambush and engage the enemy where and when they chose. Sometimes the NVA and VC had greater numbers but these silent and invisible killing forces were able to pull success after success.

The authors give the reader some rich imagery through their wording and descriptions. This story is well worth telling and it will inspire and entertain. Bill was a real hero as were the men he fought with in his Ranger unit. I believe that this book gives justice to what they did.

A highly recommended book to read; it is given our Top Rating!

I think that Bill Shanahan's is one of the very best first-hand accounts written about LRRP operations. His verbiage is not egotistical, but it does reflect the confidence with which he and his teammates and others in his unit carried out their very speciallized and unique operations. They were a fine unit and this book gives testimony to their memorable combat achievements as part of "The Herd", the 173rd Airborne Bde. This books ranks right up there with the best of Gary Linderer's series of books and other great combat narratives of the Vietnam War. He puts the reader right out there "in the bush" and explains tactics and actions in a manner even those who did not serve in a LRRP or Ranger unit can readily understand. He tells what his unit did, where they did it, how well, and "lessons learned", all in a very candid way. It is particularly good considering that this is apparently his first book. I hope more are forthcoming from him. I speak from first-hand knowlege as a former LRRP in the 1st Infantry Division in Vietnam. I would highly recommend "Stealth Patrol" for a valued place in anyone's library.

Examines the roots of an aspect of what is currently being faced in other climes and places. The author is uniquely qualified to write on the subject.

Mr Poole does it again. Another lifesaver for the troops.

Will use it in our training. If you are into tracking; check out the chapter on urban tracking, it's old techniques put in a new environment, might just save your life.

My biggest challenge in reviewing Poole's books is trying to find new ways to say essentially the same things: they are a refreshing, authoritative source of well-documented research and in-depth analysis of modern tactical warfare that are unequivocally the troops' best reference tools and the status quo's greatest threats. This book certainly continues that tradition.

The book was organized into three inter-related parts. In the first part, Poole provided a great, detailed history of the terrorist relationships between Africa and the Middle East, and the increasing influence of Eastern (Chinese) methods and presence in the Middle East. Chapter 4, "Euphrates Pipeline," which read like a detailed intelligence summary of suspected infiltration routes in the Iraq-Syria border area, was the first of three `must-read' chapters for individuals and small units deploying to Iraq.

The second part was an analysis of small unit actions and lessons from many years of African insurgency-counterinsurgency conflicts. I was especially impressed with Chapter 10, the second `must-read' chapter, which highlighted the Rhodesian Selous Scouts. In the final part, Poole shared his experienced perspectives on how to train for and win against the terrorist threats we are likely to be facing for the foreseeable future. This final part includes the final `must-read' chapter, "To Truly Win in a Place Like Iraq," from which the following quote is taken that pre-dated and predicted the kinds of successes that we are starting to see from the surge efforts in Iraq:

"...America's leaders must override their cultural impulse to "think big" and start "thinking small." It will all come down to the basics - basic 4GW [4th Generation Warfare] skills for U.S. troops and basic services for oppressed populations. That means humanitarian light infantrymen instead of infrastructure destroying and jihadist-generating smart bombs. Some squads would anchor neighborhood security through CAP [Combined Action Platoon] platoons, while others mantracked and arrested perpetrators. Only then will the cycle of violence be broken."

I look forward to the challenge of reviewing my next Poole book, but not as much as I look forward to the day when our troops and small-units get the kind of training and leadership that they deserve. Read this book to see what they are facing and how they can be victorious against our terrorist foes.

Future historians will identify John Poole as one of those clairvoyant savants of military art who told us of the threat long before it happened, exactly what we should expect, and how to train to fight it. He will also be remembered as a perceptive author whose books were read and studied by the Soldiers and Marines who fought the wars of the 21st Century but, unfortunately, not read and studied by the generals who led them. In Terrorist Trail, he has again identified the threat, their modus operandi, and where to find them. He has identified why we haven't done very well at finding and eliminating the insurgents because of the lack understanding the threat, the absence of true soldier skills, and the burden of a very heavily laden attrition mind set on the part of most of the senior officer set.

Terrorist Trail is a well researched volume based on keen insights into the Arab mind and culture. Moreover, the Trail follows the flow of foreign fighters right through the valley of the Euphrates and across the borders of Iran. This is more than just insight, it is information - nay, intelligence - from what is happening on the ground based on first hand accounts and observations. It is a detailed account which could be used as a continuity document for units in Iraq to read and understand as they rotate into these areas.

Poole takes us on a tour d' force through successful counterinsurgency (COIN) operations throughout history and in the third world - pointing out lessons that should be learned if we are to ever master COIN ops. It doesn't take a mental giant to understand that this is a primer on "how to", but if unread, the lessons have no chance of being learned. If read, the lessons have to be implemented at a level to be effectively applied. Some of Poole's recommendations might be discerned in the new Army/Marine COIN Manual, FM 3-24/MCWP 3-33.5, December 2006, but these similarities exist in too few areas to think they are more than serendipitous. It would take an entirely different leadership, cultural mind-set, force organization, and training to implement Poole's recommendations, and there is no significant evidence of that in the conventional U.S. Army or Marine Corps.

There is some flavor of Poole's prescriptions in Special Forces, but they too suffer from conventional generals with 2d generation thinking. Poole makes the case for decentralization of training in order to be able to create the type of army that can successfully combat the terrorists. He goes so far as to suggest: "If America's brigade commanders can't figure out how to fight more effectively at short range, they should defer to the collective wisdom of those who do it for a living - their rifle squad leaders." Such an outrageous statement, no matter how true, will provoke more of a defensive reaction by the hierarchy than the more appropriate determination to improve. One suspects that just such a thing is happening as there is now a shortage of his books in the Post and Base Exchanges. As the world situation continues to deteriorate, being good has become far more important than looking good. Poole has developed and tested a new "bottom-up" squad training method. Until more U.S. infantry units adopt it, they will continue to have problems at short range in either conventional or unconventional warfare.

Thank you, John Poole, for doing some serious research and thinking on tactics, operations, and strategy and translating that into this newest great book, Terrorist Trail.

Terrorist Trail by LTC John Poole (USMC-Ret) is one of the great books explaining how operations should be run in Iraq (and Afghanistan) to minimize damage to the local civilian population, while downgrading the ability of the insurgents to re-supply & operate. The book explains irregular warfare at it's best. How to assist the local population without having to destroy it! Unfortunately the GameBoy Generals of the Pentagon do not understand that all that glitzy billion dollar weaponry they love so much causes more damage in the long run to the war effort than it helps. They like to use a sledge-hammer to pick-off a flea.

Instead of relying on massive firepower from the air or artillery, the US military needs to go back to training troops how to become excellent at small unit infantry skills. Let the Platoon & Squad leaders with eyes on the target, knowing his unit's capability, make the decision on how to attack a positon or control a target location. Instead of investing more billions in "real time" micro-managed command & control from CentCom, invest millions in highly effective light infantry training (*See the other works by John Poole regarding infantry training) on how to ID & target insurgent controlled areas while enlisting the help of the local population.
Tracking is one of man's oldest survival skills. Early man tracked to find food & when he "evolved" tracked other men to kill them. This skill is as old as it gets for survival - except for running. The fastest man survived, the slowest was dinner. If the US military wants to survive & even thrive in an asymmetric 4th GW environment it has to evolve & change it's methodology of warfare in the coming years. Terrorist Trail explains beautifully the "how to" methodology of fighting the insurgents and winning in Iraq & in other back waters of the world. Will our current military leadership look at this work as sage advice? Highly un-likely. Most senior military leadership is looking to retire & move on to high paying jobs in the military-industrial complex (better know as Beltway Bandits)& down & dirty combat tactics just won't get them a hi-tech job!

John Poole explains very clearly in Terrorist Trail who the insurgents are & where they come from, who & how are they supplied. The US military can acquire the intelligence to effectively fight & defeat the Jihadists. If you can ID the insurgent, know his mentality & fighting methodology, you can defeat him using the tactics & techniques recommended by LTC Poole in this book.
I highly recommend this book to anyone going in harm's way overseas & to anyone who wants to understand the dynamics of defeating the insurgents at their own game.

It is unfortunate that facts/ knowledge of The Thousand Mile War had to be learned outside the class room. What is even more sad, is the fact that this book was never checked out since 2003 (at least), from the University of Alaska (Juneau), of all places.

Perhaps more than any other theater of war, the Alaska/Aleutians campaign may be the least known and most misunderstood series of battles in WWII among both the general public and many history aficionados. Japanese troops on American territorial soil in and of itself is a shocker for many readers. Brian Garfield created a classic with this book first published in 1969 and periodically republished. Well written and researched, Garfield manages to keep the reader avidly engaged through all 400 plus pages. He is particularly effective at conveying the horrible weather conditions across a continent sized battlefield faced by ill-prepared troops with inadequate supplies and protective gear, grinding away on a daily basis. Brutal weather was accompanied by brutal combat both at sea and on land. Fierce fighting was the norm and both sides took heavy casualties. Still the best book of this part of WWII.
Steven Bustin, Author: How The USS Nashville CL43 Fought WWII.
Humble Heroes: How the USS Nashville CL43 Fought WWII

For many military history buffs, it is the pieces of history that remain laregely untold (or at least unheard) that hold the most appeal. Brian Garfield's dramatic--yet detailed--account of the American/Japanese chess match in the Aleutians is one of the best-written accounts of an overshadowed campaign I have yet to come across. Garfield's attention to detail, honesty, and even-handedness results in the type of read rarely found in modern military history volumes. From the mundane life of a soldier on the uninhabitable Alaskan islands to the overwhelmingly costly combat that occured on, around, and above U.S. soil, the story of the Aleutian campaign is anything but forgettable. A must-read!

Very good book! Having spent three years living in the Alutians (Adak)in the early 90's, I can't imagine the living conditions there 40 years earlier. One summer day in 1991 stands out in my memory. We were blessed with both a clear day, which are very few, and far, far between, and a Reeves Aleutian Airline's pilot that took us on a sight-seeing tour on our way out to Shemya, before heading towards Anchorage. He flew low over several islands allowing us to see the reamins of an old airstrip, a ship that had been sunk near another island, whales in the Bering sea, and gave me some memories of things not a lot of people will never see. Having read the book before this flight, it gave me an odd feeling knowing of some of the events that had taken place there years before. I think you'll enjoy reading this book,

Having served in the Aleutians durning the Cold War and part of the Vietnam War, my interest was heightened. Also, having a dear friend who was actually there from 1940 through 1945 and hearing him tell of the characters in the book was enlightening. The book was well written, well researched and gripping in its "real life" portrayal. I recommend this book to all who like to read about actual events and see their realationship to the bigger picture.

I enjoyed reading Urdin on many levels. Firstly, it provided my mind with an intriguing story that the author - Parvaiz, unfolds articulately and at a fast pace. Secondly, Parvaiz' effective use of imagery transported me into the rich world of Urdin. I felt that I experienced the events first hand! All I had to do was let my imagination run with the words. Furthermore, I enjoyed Parvaiz' use of symbolism which added yet another dimension to the book.
Wherase Urdin is of great entertainment value, it offers the reader with more than just fun filled pages. Woven into the intrigue and adventure of the book, are themes such as friendship, family, religion and politics - all gently touched upon in a way that is very pertinent to contemporary life. The story coaxed me to examine my thoughts about the world I live in.
I highly recommend Urdin and eagerly look forward to the next book by Parvaiz.

A wonderfully versatile work! This book can be read for entertainment as Parvaiz takes you on an amazing journey with vivid details, or can be utilized to explore universal truths. The reader finds himself/herself in the center of an adventure so enthralling, you can't put it down. Upon closer examination, however, the reader discovers the author raising deep philosophical questions, encouraging the reader to engage in an internal dialogue with his/her beliefs. I thoroughly enjoyed the book! And would recommend it to anyone seeking an entertaining tale and/or thought-provoking work.

A wonderfully versatile work! This book can be read for entertainment as Parvaiz takes you on an amazing journey with vivid details, or can be utilized to explore universal truths. The reader finds himself/herself in the center of an adventure so enthralling, you can't put it down. Upon closer examination, however, the reader discovers the author raising deep philosophical questions, encouraging the reader to engage in an internal dialogue with his/her beliefs. I thoroughly enjoyed the book! And would recommend it to anyone seeking an entertaining tale and/or thought-provoking work.

I was really impressed by how this novel deals with some really deep issues, yet keeps the story moving along at a rapid pace. I found myself thinking about philosophical ideas (God vs. No God), yet also found myself thoroughly engrossed in the happenings of the novel. The characters are wonderfully complex and occupy their world so convincingly that one can't help but feel sympathetic toward them.

Well done. Thanks for writing a novel on deep ideas without self indulging.

I enjoyed Urdin, and thought that the plot was very well laid out. The conflict between two friends from rival houses, sparked by ideological differences sets up the novel nicely and drives it toward a convincing and satisfying climax. The characters are also well developed, and through their thoughts, the reader is challenged to think and sometime question one's own reality. Joshua, the "protagonist," (depends on your religious beliefs) is one of the more complex and haunting characters I've come across in quite a while.

Yet, I felt that the author could have focused more on the details of this new world he's created. Urdin, the world, is believable, and created nicely (very visual), but there are details that the author chooses to ignore. As a Tolkien fan I hoped to learn more about the world, its origins etc. I wanted to see more about the Stymphalian birds, about the Kalabaash mountains and especially about the "beacon" city, Nanak. There is so much in this novel that the author could have focused on. I'd like to emphasise that there are no loop holes, just more opportunity. A part of me was glad that he chooses to focus on the plot and the characters, but a part of me was curious about the little details, as I've mentioned above.

Regardless, a fast paced novel, with deep themes, ideas, and a central conflict worthy of classic greek mythology. The final conflict, between the "modern," hero, Joshua, and the "classic" hero, Stone, is one not just between two men, but between two time periods - between traditionalism and modernism. Give it a look, if you're interested in mythology, philosophy, etc.

A delightful chronicle of an odyssey back to VietNam, by two unlikely travel-mates. An engaging, funny, at times disturbing account of war, memories of war, and the personal costs of relationships in wartime. Hard to put down, I loved the writing style that seemed to blend Jack Kerouac and Hunter S. Thompson.

Educational, Emotional, Entertaining....like spending an evening with a good friend with a great story to tell. Hopefully this is a first of many for this talented writer.

Jim Fallon has an amazing way with words. His writing illustrated his jouney to Vietnam in a way that was clear to the reader.

I must say I did not expect to laugh as much as I did while reading Virga Tears. It is clear the writing has a unique way of telling the truths of his serious jouney, at the same time seeing the humor in traveling in a third world. If you have traveled the world, you will laugh with understanding, if you have not, you will laugh at the reality of his words.

The hard truth of life in Vietnam, then and now was not lost in humor. It was very human.

Great book.

I was surprised to find tears of laughter from a book on Vietnam. This is one that I will read over and over and send to friends for the Holidays.

A new twist and a story not previously told about the war. What a trip what an adventure.

Vigra tears is a delightful story of two men who visit Vietnam 30 years after the war. The author and his brother-in-law, different as night and day, share a most memorable experience in their journey and it gives you a different perspective of the war.
This book is worth reading, very witty and well written. I especially liked the chapter titles and how they related to the text of the book. It is easy reading for those that don't have a lot of time. The events that take place are interesting and informative and give you a sense of the country and people. The author makes you feel like you are right there with them. I didn't want it to end.