Asia Books

NOTE: This book is still in print under the title "Shooting at the Moon". That edition also features additional photos and info from the author.

Warner's history of the Laotian conflict from 1960-1975 is an amazing story of a secret war run by secret agents working for a secret agency.

Hidden behind the Vietnam War, the author reveals facts about the "secret war" that was even more critical than Vietnam at top levels of government. This book will change your understanding of modern Southeast Asian history and the magnitude of the challenges the United States faced.

What makes this book engaging, and at times absolutely riveting, is that Warner gained full access to the hidden CIA operative, Mr. William Lair, who laid the foundation for this secret American paramilitary campaign.

December 7th, 1941 is the day Lair's life changed forever. He was a 17 year old student at Texas A&M University when America was attacked. He convinced his mother to allow her only son to join the army so he could defend the ideals he grew up with in America's heartland.

He landed on Omaha Beach in Normandy with the 3rd Armored Division and fought his way to the Elbe River. There, he came face to face with Stalin's troops. He and many of his partners in arms realized that the next war, with a more fearsome enemy, had already begun. Communism was about to become a rising tide that would cover nearly half the planet.

After the war, Lair returned to Texas A&M and completed his degree. A new government agency formed less than three years earlier was on campus interviewing. Lair and his friends had never heard of it. It was called the CIA. He signed up.

In March, 1951, the CIA sent Lair to Bangkok on a seemingly impossible mission reminiscent of the opening scene of Apocalypse Now.

Lair's first and only mission was to fight communist insurgency in Thailand and in surrounding countries. He would travel, alone, to a third world nation with few English speaking people. Once there, he must organize a cadre of local fighters by any means necessary and train them in guerilla warfare. The budget was slim. Some surplus WWII weapons were available.

Lair took the job and Warner takes us on his incredible adventure.

Warner paints a fair picture of the background, situations and players in the Laotian conflict. His
individual portraits ring true but the characters worthy of respect in the book are few and far between.

The "secret war" was filled with bungling bureaucrats, deceptive diplomats, corrupt businessmen, Asian warlords, greedy opportunists and loose cannons. Warner's history of the Laos conflict accurately reads like a train that's out of control. Some mistakes seem obvious but it's hard to see exactly which things could have been done differently to shift the outcomes.

Lair, a quiet, soft spoken man, rises to his challenge to become an American Lawrence of Arabia. He raises a 30,000 man secret army of Laotian and Thai fighters that actually stops the communist war machine. Until decisions at high levels of government in the Soviet Union, Vietnam, China and the United States changed the course of history and the outcome.

Despite the fact that this war ended 30 years ago, Lair's methodology for fighting foreign conflicts holds great potential for America, even in 2005.

This book is a front row seat to an epic conflict that was all but invisible to the American public. Lair is a hidden American hero whose actions will earn your respect.

While the Vietnam war was played out on your television screens a related war in neighboring Laos took place outside the line of vision of most Americans. It was a different kind of war. In Vietnam hundreds of thousands of American soldiers tried to hold ground and kill the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese troops. In Laos, a few American civilians working mostly for the CIA helped the Hmong hill people fight a guerilla war against the North Vietnamese. The ragtag forces of the Hmong kept three top-notch North Vietnamese divisions tied down in Laos for more than a decade.

This unconventional war attracted unconventional people. Chief among them was Vang Pao, the charismatic Hmong general, who ranks with Massoud in Afghanistan as a genius in conducting a war on the cheap against a larger and better-armed force. The Americans helping the Hmong were a colorful lot. First and foremost was Bill Lair, the quiet, competent agent who organized the Hmong forces. Then, "Pop" Buell a middle aged Indiana farmer who came to Laos as an agricultural advisor making $75 per month and became a key figure in the war. Jerry "Hog" Daniels, a swashbucking Montana smokejumper who was Vang Pao's trusted CIA case officer, is reputedly the model for Mel Gibson's "Air America" character. Many other characters of rare quality dot the pages of this book. Laos in the 1960s and 1970s was a war that appealed to those who didn't fit into the conventional military mold.

"Backfire" is the definitive account of the secret war in Laos which ended with the withdrawal of the US -- and some would say the abandonment of the Hmong --in 1975 and the flight of tens of thousands of them to Thailand, and subsequently to the United States. This is one of the essential books on the Indochinese conflict. "Backfire" has also been published under the title "Shooting at the Moon."

Smallchief

Buy it, read it, live it. Evenhanded for a change account of a good war -- noble cause, ably fought -- by a very fine writer

Most books about Laos are boring. By contrast, Back Fire is interesting. As I left Laos in late 1974, I asked myself if anyone would ever be able to describe in plain English and lucidity the absurdity and complexity that became the War (between the United States and North Vietnam) in Laos from 1960 to 1975? Will anyone ever explain why the War in Laos should be chronicled in the Encyclopedia of Human Stupidity? Roger Warner comes closer than any other author. His book, Back Fire, traces the incidents and the players after 1960 in a way that is easy to follow and understand. Warner takes neither a pro- nor anti-war position; instead he lays out the chronology with facts and events and also does a very good job laying out the strengths and weaknesses of the chief CIA, State Department, and, Lao, and Hmoung (Meo) leaders. Vietnam Vets will shake their heads after reading this book -- the overall strategy and implementation of the strategy to sacrifice Laos and its people for Vietnam was more imbecilic than previously explained. While there were certainly heroes in the Laos war, Warner shows us the dolts in higher positions too. Forget assassination laws, our nation needs a law that prohibits any member of the State Department, including Ambassadors and chargé d'affaires, from ever commanding military resources. This book is ripe with example. On a personal note, I want to thank Roger Warner for documenting the true story about the 24 foot tape worms - it's free beer for me forever. If you think racial prejudice is unique to the United States, read Warner's true account about the prejudice among white, green, and blue Meo (the color of a woman's tribal dress trim, not skin color). Warner does a fair job explaining the CIA and Hmoung involvement with the opium and heroin trade. There are weaknesses in the book, Warner mentions but doesn't conclude about the road built by the Chinese Army from southern China through northern Laos to an unbridgeable termination at the waterfalls on the Mekong River - the secret of that road remains intact. He also neglects to mention Colonel John P. Cross, British Military Attaché, and his significant contribution between 1972 and 1976. While Americans were flying to and from in Laos, Colonel Cross walked from border to border, village to village, through government and communist controlled territory and gained more intelligence than all the CIA. Cross may have been eccentric, but he was usually right. (see First In, Last Out, An Unconventional British Officer in Indo-China; Cross, J.P.) The writer briefly notes the presence of Army and Air Force Detachment 404, but neglects to explain it's purpose and activities. The same for COMUSMACTHAI (whatever) and communication intelligence. Individuals involved with unconventional warfare (teaching or planning) and students of Laos should read this book, I doubt if many others will care. And by the way, Warner makes it clear that North Vietnam led and controlled the communist Pathet Lao party, not a Laotian.

It is disappointing to learn that Roger Warner's excellent work is now out of print. He and the publisher Simon & Schuster did a national service in producing "Back Fire: The CIA's Secret War in Laos and Its Link to the War in Vietnam." One can only hope that a softcover edition will be forthcoming.

Good history doesn't spring readily into public consciousness, no matter how well researched or written. The Vietnam War and related events still carry too much baggage for the American public to embrace easily ... perhaps in another generation this will change.

When attitudes do change (and they surely will), Warner's efforts to unravel and explain the events that transpired across Vietnam's western border in the 1960s and 1970s will provide a springboard to understanding and future research.

I found that "Back Fire" answered many questions about my own involvement in the war during those troubled times. One instance in particular that Warner recounts was the secret operation of a radar facility on a mountain in northern Laos, from which fighter bombers were vectored to targets in North Vietnam. The installation was destroyed in a desperate fight after outnumbered and unsupported defenders were overwhelmed by North Vietnamese regular troops. Later, not many miles away, a similar radar system was reestablished on a peak in the northern part of South Vietnam near the A Shau Valley. It too came under attack by enemy regulars and its defenders withdrew after a 23-day siege. (See Keith Nolan's "Ripcord: Screaming Eagles Under Siege, Vietnam 1970.")

There are many key individuals that make up this intriguing tale. One of the most interesting is the charismatic Vang Pao, a Humong (or Meo) tribesman who rose from obscurity to lead the only effective Laotian army to fight the communists. Tragically for the Humong, when the U.S. sent combat troops to South Vietnam the CIA lost control of the air war in Laos. Subsequent mismanagement of air assets began the downward spiral of defeat for the tribesmen.

In the end, "Back Fire" is about more than just secrecy. It is about the cruel side of war and about war's illusions. It chronicles the sacrifices of small countries and naive, primitive groups to the hubris of more powerful neighbors and larger countries.

If you can get a copy of "Back Fire," do so. It will be an acquisition the military historian and history buff will not regret.

This is a wonderful book that details every aspect of daily life in Bali, from the morning offerings to mask making. Eiseman is a careful observer who clearly loves Bali, and it's a great guidebook for anyone who wants to get beyond the Lonely Planet descriptions of Balinese culture. This book is on every coffee table in Bali.

A compilation of essays about Balinese religion and culture, author sometimes ends up repeating himself (though he does warn the reader of this, right off the bat). But it's really a wonderful volume for anyone who wants an in-depth understanding of the Balinese.

Eiseman is thorough in his detail, but the style is not at all dry and academic. There are lovely little personal anecdotes, and it really comes from the heart of a man who has spent much of his life in Bali.

Cosmology and religion are covered in this volume, such as an explanation of how a home is built with respect to cosmic forces and directions. There is a valuable guide to festivals, complete with calendar. Especially fun is Balinese astrology, and the author writes extensively about this.

A possible approach: read the Lonely Planet cultural section first, then go to Bali, then read Eiseman.

This book covers Balinese religions and culture in ways that are both informative and useful for the serious traveller/tourist or casual student of Bali.

Having spent six months in Bali in the '70's and having read extensively, I am even more enthusiastic about this book.

Volume two covers more limited and esoteric topics.

You should get a good map to accompany this book.

I am Balinese and live in Ubud in the cultural center of Bali.

In the Eighties I used to see Fred Eiseman, with a notebook and pen in his hand, at temple ceremonies all over the island, and in my restaurant, taking voluminous notes. I often wondered what he was up to.

Now I know. He has produced the most detailed descriptions yet of most aspects of Balinese life and culture. He lives down in Jimbaran on the south coast, so many of his descriptions relate particularly to that area - practices change a bit in different places.

He understands the Balinese language, which is not the case with many academics, who visit Bali briefly and write learned treatises, and don't always get it right.

Fred's book is extremely well researched, and my only criticism is the detail (in places) and the repetition. That is because the book is a collection of essays. It does mean, however, that you can dip in and out of any chapter. They are self-contained, and that is useful.

Although it won't tell you where to stay or which restaurant to visit, the book is a great, unpretensious guide to the elaborate daily rituals of the Balinese, written by an American who's developed something of an obsession with Bali. It offers the clearest descriptions available of mask making, Balinese dance, temple rituals and offerings. The book is so good you'll find it on every coffee table in Bali.

I have visited bangkok three times in the past many years... and i recommend this book... you can always use it as a reference and update anything later on the internet or just by meeting people in thailand...

My wife and I are thinking of visiting Thailand, and a friend recommended we read this book. After reading the book, I would love to move there! It is obvious that Hein has spent a great amount of time in Bangkok and other parts of Thailand. His writing skill is excellent and keeps the reader interested and entertained at the same time.

The book is chock-full of practical information (e.g. where you can teach English, who to contact for an apartment, local hospitals, etc...). In addition, the book also offers many vignettes of the friendliness of the Thai people, customs to be aware of, and how to get around the city.

Although the author stresses that the book is mainly for people that plan on living in Bangkok, I would recommend it to anyone that is interested in visiting, or even just knowing a little bit more about the city.

I spent 9 months in Thailand in the Peace Corps many years ago, and visited the LOS again last May. I have started fantasizing about retiring there, so I bought "The Bangkok Survivor's Handbook" to add more fact to my fantasy. Most guidebooks are a struggle for me to read, but this one is such fun that I finished it in one sitting, interrupted only by supper.
It is definitely targeted at individuals who are considering living in Thailand for an extended period, rather than visiting as tourists, and where it is location-specific, it refers primarily to Bangkok, but there is still a wealth of detail on virtually everything one would need to know to move to Thailand for more than just a vacation. And based on my limited experience, RH did not make any claims or statements that I considered to be wrong or inaccurate.
Topics addressed include, but are not limited to, obtaining and renewing visas, finding and renting an apartment, obtaining medical care, work opportunities, shopping, dining, internet service, English-language schools [for English-speaking families with children], banks and transferring money, etc.
The most delightful aspect to TBSH however, is that the writing is very good. It flows smoothly, with a comfortable but not excessive level of humor, and I did not note any sentences that I had to read twice to make sense of them! It is reasonably current, having been published in January of 2003, and includes many web sites and e-mail addresses for those who want to learn more. Best in Class!!

This book was most useful to me in understanding the ins and outs of traveling to and living in Thailand. It is packed with relevant and up-to-date information that anyone planning an extended stay in the Kingdom will appreciate. Although there are two well written first-hand narrative descriptions, most of the book gets right to the point about what you need to know to find housing, communicate, navigate, and enculturate.

I have been studying and reasearching my move to Bangkok for a year and this book gave me more information in one place than any website, book, or article that I have found before or since. I would recommend this book to anyone planning to live or visit for an extended amount of time.

In this and in his previous book, War Plan Orange, Ed Miller takes dull and mundane subjects and flows through their process well. In my opinion, before anyone attempts to understand why Pearl Harbor happened these two works are initial reads. The war plans are complex, and changed much along the way, but with several must do or don't do items. Then, to understand why Japan felt backed into a corner, Miller gives us a study of the eonomic history of the relationship between the two countries. I suggest reading the two books first before plodding into the many publications on Pearl Harbor. Read my work on Admiral J.O. Richardson next to see why the U.S. Fleet was asked to stay at Hawaii, and then jump into the Prange, Goldstein and Dillon productions, Farago's view, and the many other attempts to show what happened. Then, head into the mounds of books on who was at fault. Start with Theobald and Kimmel. End with Stinnett's Day of Deceit. Then, go back and read Miller again! Once completed, the reader can more wonder why 9/11 never received the same attention from the American public!

Skipper Steely

I do not think that book will appeal to a broad audience.

I have an interest in the Pacific War and the conditions that lead to it, so "Bankrupting the Enemy" was very interesting. I am also interested in the context of events and the social and economic background that it provides was very interesting.

Not much to say except that this book is a must read for everyone who is interested in the origins of the Pacific War or World War II.

Author Miller does an excellent job of depicting Japan's vulnerable economy, desperately needing foreign exchange but being dependent on silk as its mainstay in foreign trade. Japan possessed (& possesses) few natural resources and was forced to import its oil, iron ore, metal scrap, and almost all products needed to grow its economy or carry on a war.

The US played the role of spoiler, attempting to hold Japan's economic survival hostage to its international good behavior (as seen by Roosevelt), and the leaders of Japan could not allow that to continue for many reasons, not the least of which was the belief in Japan's destiny to rule the East. The activities of Acheson under Roosevelt's guidance are fascinating, and the reader is carried along as in a suspense novel leading toward a catastrophic conclusion. The author blends facts and figures with activities and policies with amazing ease.

My only criticism stems from the missing links to external events and the fears and attitudes of others. For example, the freeze of July, 1941, closely followed the invasion of the Soviet Union by Germany, and there is substantial evidence that Roosevelt sought open hostilities with Japan while the Russians were still in the field. By November, 1941, many in Roosevelt's administration felt that Moscow was imperiled and that the Russians could soon collapse, leaving Britain and the US to face Germany alone and the very distinct probability that Japan would then choose to honor the Tripartite Pact and enter the fray at the most opportune moment. Without going into a full discussion of Pearl Harbor, there is nonetheless much evidence that Roosevelt was aware that an attack was coming, but felt the US could weather the blows. This book records the tightening of the screws on Japan until Japan launched its attack before the Soviet Union was defeated (although, of course, it never was) because of economic reasons rather than political ones. One wonders if Roosevelt had not taken the tack he did and begun supplying the Soviet Union with critical items in the winter of 1941, would Germany have prevailed? I think not, but there is no arguing that the assistance of the US to Britain and Russia was vastly more helpful sooner than later.
At any rate, Acheson's activities are more understandable in this light, as is the ever-increasing economic and diplomatic pressure on Japan by the US up to Pearl Harbor.

So in the end, it was the economic situation that caused the Japanese to attack when they did, not the political attitudes or timing due to the other events in World War II. In effect, Roosevelt launched a spoiling attack against Japan using economics that was very effective in changing the timing of events more to the US's advantage. That is the reason this book is so important, and it is recommended to all serious students of World War II.

This book covers in detail the economic relationship between Japan and the U.S. from the Meiji era to the eve of WW2. It shows how Japan used foreign trade to develop and strengthen its economy. As it moves into the 1930's, it clearly shows the devastating effect of Smoot-Hawley on Japan's efforts to diversify and expand trade with the U.S. Many histories gloss over the economic origins of war. Seeing how U.S. trade barriers imposed duties of up to 600% on Japanese products, you can better understand the reasoning behind military expansion of the Greater East Asia Co-prosperity Sphere to secure markets.

Although a complex topic, the book gives a very good explanation of the U.S. attempts to understand the weak points of the Japanese economy and how to leverage that into political pressure. It is particularly interesting to see how high level political objectives of graduated and flexible pressure were transformed by mid-level bureaucrats into a total embargo of crucial materials. This forced Japan to confront the stark choices of total submission or war, leading directly to Pearl Harbor.

This book is highly recommended for anyone who wishes to understand the economic factors that drove the political calculations for both Japan and the U.S. The question that one is left with (and it isn't in the scope of this book) is why the U.S. was so concerned about Japanese actions in China, given the trivial strategic interests of the U.S. in that country. Was it the hangover of Wilsonian moral rectitude, or some higher calculation of how best to get the U.S. into the Second World War?

This book is extremely well researched. In fact it presents a prime example of how all books about history deserve to be researched, one of verry few authors todate that presents his case 'beyond reasonable doubt.'
I give this book a five star.

This story, Basho and the River Stones, By Tim Myers, takes place at Fuka River. One day at Fuka River there was a poet named Basho. He shared his cherry tree with foxes. It was peaceful and gorgeous at Fuka River. Then one day a young fox played a trick on the poet. All Japanese foxes have great magic and they are great at changing things and themselves. The fox transformed himself a yamabushi, a monk. Then he got three stones in the river and then turned them into gold coins. Fox walked to Basho's hut, a house. The fox knows Basho was poor, so fox used a great monk voice. Fox came and asked "I will give you coins if you sign a paper and leave the cherry tree to me." "Ok", replied Basho. "Can you put my name on the paper?," asked the fox . Then Fox left laughing to himself. The fox visited Basho again. Basho told fox that at first he was angry, then he loves the river stones. Then Basho told fox his new haiku, a poem. The fox told Basho he tricked him. "Sorry, I learned my lesson, how can I ever repay you?" cried Fox. Then Fox decided to give Basho real gold coins. Fox dug them up and returned to the hut. "Can I tear up the paper?" asked the fox. "NO, NO and NO!" yelled Basho. Fox walked to Fuka River in shame. While fox walked he saw gorgeous river stones. Fox came back to Basho. Then Basho accepted the river stones. At night Basho looked at his three new stones. At the morning Basho woke up. Then Basho stopped and looked at the table. He saw REAL gold coins and not his stones. Then Basho knew Fox tricked him. Basho went outside. Basho saw a letter from Fox on his hut. The letter said "Thank you" from Fox. Then Basho and Fox shared the cherry tree and many more things.

The theme of this book is to share and not trick people. In the beginning they shared a cherry tree with other foxes but Fox did not want to share any more. The fox tricked a poet named Basho by transforming into a monk. The fox tricked Basho by getting river stones and transforming them into gold coins. Fox told Basho that he will give him gold coins if he will sign a paper that says that he will give a cherry tree to the fox himself. Then they shared the cherry tree. Then fox learned a BIG lesson. I like the way that in the end Basho and the fox shared the cherry tree.

By Resmi

I read this to 3rd, 4th and 5th graders in our school library and used the book as a jumping off place for a lesson on haiku. They loved Basho's story and it was fun to watch them "get it" as they gradually understood the clever fox's tricks on the poet. I would recommend this story for 3rd and 4th graders. Although younger kids might enjoy it, I doubt they'd readily understand the twists and turns in the story.

I have given this wondrous book to a number of friends and relatives. It is a trickster tale that is delightful, humane, and highly poetic. The artwork is lovely and vibrant. This is a book to treasure, share and read aloud to people you care about.

One of the things I most love about stories is their ability to present us with simple truths in compelling fashion. That's part of what I tried to do with "Basho and the River Stones." Naturally, I wanted this story to entertain readers (adults and children alike). But my years as a writer and a professional storyteller have taught me that even entertainment is more successful when it carries some resonating truth. In this book, the fox is capable of selfishness and deception--he's quite "human" in that way. But when Basho's shining example is set before him, he's also capable of shame and a determination to do better. We're all like that, I suppose, to whatever degree--I can certainly see both sides of human nature in myself! So I'm uplifted and comforted at the thought that, like the fox, I can learn, grow, come to a new vision of things, deepen my values, realize what's most important--even if it takes a little trickery to set things right. After all, we have to use the gifts we were given, eh? I hope you enjoy my story! May the river stones in your life turn to gold, and the gold to river stones. Regards, Tim Myers

This beautifully illustrated book imagines the 17th century inventor of haiku, Matsuo Basho, and his encounters with the magical foxes of Fukagawa. We first see Basho asleep under a cherry tree, surrounded by a fraternity of suspicious looking foxes clad in Hugh Hefner-esque silk kimonos. Initially, Basho and the foxes shared great "wa," or harmony. (Tim Myers deserves kudos for using the interesting and accurate Japanese words in a kids' book!) One fox, "particularly fond of cherries" wants them all, and so he uses his trickster powers to transform himself into the figure of a "'yamabushi,' a wandering monk." The fox turns three stones into gold, and enters into an exclusive rights-to-the-cherry-tree contract with the money-strapped poet.

The next day the gold reverts to the stones, but they inspire a haiku:

How many years have
These stones loved the river, not
Knowing they were poor?

Basho, ever the poet, tells the fox, "A good poem is worth more than money--and it lasts much longer." The fox admits his deception, and then seeks to make it up to him. In the process, the fox learns much about cultural attitudes towards charity, and, especially, honor. The repentant, wiser fox uses his magic again--this time to procure enough money for Basho to buy food for the long winter ahead.

Oki S. Han delivers some of the best illustrations I've seen recently; her watercolors have both power and grace (a grace found also in Myers' flowing language). We see traditional Japanese dwellings and marvelously colorful, variegated foliage. Even the ornamental designs framing the text are beautiful, sometimes staggeringly so. Han is a master of light and dark, and she uses close-ups, scene-setting panoramas, and overhead views in an incredibly beautiful display of illustrative mastery. The story has a very satisfying ending (which includes the fox writing his own haiku), and Myers' "author's note" talks about Basho, the deeper meanings of haiku (he wrote the two in the book), and his own heartfelt gratitude ("ongaesha") for Basho's inspiration. Very enthusiastically recommended!

Jack Sikora and Larry Westin provided an excellent story line as to the formation and operation of the 553rd Air Wing in its important role of air reconnaissance during the Vietnam conflict. A must read about this long safeguarded information on how the Air Wing served to support the ground effort across much of Southeast Asia.

The book has a lot of maps and pictures. A perspective leaning towards the flight crews but does have the page with the prop shop goof. Talks of the places we went off duty. I enjoyed the book and have read twice.

"Batcats" is an extremely well written book about the 553rd Reconnaissance Wing flying out of Korat RTAFB. The authors managed to capture both the essence of the combat and Thai experience in a very informative and entertaining manner. I was stationed at Korat for two and a half years and can vouch for the accuracy of their recollections. Thailand was and still is a very rewarding and unique experience, one that resides deep in the hearts of all veterans that served or visited during their tour in SEA. As I read the book, I was flooded with warm memories of a time long past. A time when all military members came together to ensure successful completion of the mission, and help each other adapt to the culture "shock" of SEA. Bonds were established that have weathered the test of time and formed a brotherhood of men that the authors were able to convey with amazing clarity. Both men humbly downplay the importance of their role in the success of the mission, but I can assure you that both were valuable assets and great patriots. This book is one of those that you love to read, and feel a sense of sadness as you realize you're almost finished with it. Definitely worth a second reading.

When I heard that this book was going to be published, I was very eager to read it, and I was not disappointed. I served in the 553rd Reconnaissance Wing for a year and knew one of the authors; since then, I have been in touch with the other author.

This book focuses primarily on a brief history of the 553rd Wing during the Vietnam War but also includes a close look at Thai culture. Taking one without the other tends to give a narrow view of life at Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, but the authors have done an excellent job in blending the two.

The mission of the 553rd was one of electronic surveillance and reconnaissance for a project that sometimes was referred to as "McNamara's Wall," a nickname for a program whose objective was to interdict the infiltration of personnel and supplies from North Vietnam into South Vietnam and Laos.

If you are interested in learning more about the electronic war effort from the Vietnam War and/or about Thai culture, religion, customs, etc., then I recommend this book.

A very interesting short read on the 553rd. Recon. Wing by members of the squadrons. Little has been written about the 'electronic' war in Vietnam, and their story is very much the beginning of modern combat.

I totally agree with the other 5 star reviews.
Even without a background in military history, it felt like I was there myself. I have seldom read a less sentimental yet emotionally more touching book. Especially the final chapter, the actual conquest of the Old City and Temple Mount had me reach for the tissues. And that famous picture on the cover is just perfect.
It is true, knowing Jerusalem as a tourist does help, and this book takes you there again. I will remember what I read the next time I walk up to the Lions' Gate.
The only thing that bothered me slightly was the rather obvious lack of proper editing. Maybe in a future edition? The book is certainly worth it.
Oh, and a warning: I recommend this strictly to loyal friends of Israel!

Motta délivre une excellente narration minutée des opérations de sa brigade parachutiste. Mais le langage est très technique et ceux qui manquent de connaissances militaires peinreront parfois à suivre. Le livre manque surtout d'une introduction qui situe l'action de la brigade parachutiste au sein des forces du commandement centre et de cartes détaillées.

Mordechai Gur was the commander of the Israeli forces in the battle for Jerusalem in the June 1967 Arab-Israeli war. His account of the war also relates part of the political background of the war, including the decision to take the Old City of Jerusalem only after Israel had been attacked by Jordanian forces. Gur gives a detailed account of the battle including the heroic struggle against the entrenched Jordanian forces in Ammunition Hill, and the dramatic taking of the Old City, the Western Wall and the Temple Mount. It was Gur who in the first rush of excitement electrified the people of Israel with his cry ' The Temple Mount is in our hands'. Gur was a strong, quiet soldier, a heroic person who served his country and people well in a distinguished military career. The taking of Jerusalem was the climax of that career and he tells the story in an accurate, and reliable way without great frills but with a deep and restrained feeling .

Many readers will be familiar with Michael Oren's excellent recent work entitled `Six Days Of War' which relates to the 1967 Arab-Israeli war.

Perhaps the most significant event of that conflict was the actual battle for Jerusalem which saw Israel once again in control of the whole of Jerusalem, including east Jerusalem, the Temple Mount and the Western Wall. Areas so long occupied by Jordan.

Monumental events that have since held intense, international, political and religious significance. Even today Jerusalem is central to the Middle East 'peace process' and the stumbling block to virtually all negotations. The momentous events described here eventually resulting in Jerusalem going on to be officially declared as the eternal and indivisible capital of Israel during August 1980. A fact yet to be recognised by most of the international community.

Israeli Lt. General Mordechai Gur, the first to break through and reach the Temple Mount provides an excellent, firsthand account of the events leading up to, during, and following the 1967 battle for Jerusalem and the actual taking of the Temple Mount during the conflict.

This is a highly personal, intense account of the actual fighting. You feel as if you are there with the troops on the ground. Those familiar with the streets and environs of Jerusalem & the Old City will be even more so.

The progress of the actual battle against the well-armed and well-trained Jordanian forces is documented throughout and the momentous sentiment expressed towards the end when suddenly at the Western Wall is almost palpable.

An exceedingly well written, moving account which proceeds at a rapid pace hardly pausing for breath from once incident to another. Highly recommended.

This is a very entertaining book about the desperate battle for Jerusalem during the Six Day War of 1967. The author was overall Israeli commander of this battle and his style of writing gives the reader a you-are-there feeling as the battle is planned and fought. If you like alot of action, you will enjoy this book. There is not a dull page. What I really appreciate about this narrative is the way it brings out the reality of combat. Seldom does anything go as planned. Mistakes are made and confusion is usually present. Among the bullets and bombs almost every human emotion is presented. War is terrible, but there is a time for glory.
Basically, the battle is in stages. Various strategic points must be taken by the Israelis from the Jordanians in a precise order. The reader is taken from one point to the next and is introduced to the major Israeli combat units and leaders in the process. A nice map of Jerusalem at the time of the battle is at the front of the book, so the reader can easily follow the flow of action.

This is a detailed account of the Taiwanese response to colonization under the Japanese. Liu adroitly illustrates the monumental changes afoot in Taiwan of the early 20th Century and builds a strong case to support the idea of a Taiwanese identity seperate from China. Liu follows the steps colonialization drive that can later be seen in the Chinese colonization under the KMT. At times the language bogs down in anthropological terms of art, but is no less a valueable addition to the pool of information available on Taiwan.

The Taiwanese is once a part of Japanese,but now we are the Taiwanese,uneaqual to China. China is not eaqual to Japan,so how could China be eaqual to Taiwan? To say Taiwanese = Chinese is just China's excuse to occupy Taiwan,for China feel well-developed Taiwan is a BIG FAT SHEEP for them to eat.

Actually,I can say Chinese know nothing about Taiwanese traits and personailty. China would never be willing to understand it and communicate with us Taiwan,for Chinese is very self-focus arrogant people. So,to be nearset neighbor with China is the sadest fate for Taiwan. The book revealed the differences of Taiwanese and Chinese,focus on what is the life-experiecnce(historical)reasons of forming the "Taiwanese" identity. Readers can sense the logic a little from this book.

I think it's a good book.It gave us(chinese,especially taiwanese) a lot of infromation about the history of taiwan,and the relationship between the japan and taiwan(china).It let us know more,it make us understand more.

A great book drawing on postcolonial and postmodern thought that analyzes Japanese colonial rhetoric about Taiwan as well as different stages of Taiwanese identity-formation under colonization. Includes an analysis of Japanese representations of aborigines, a group that is often glossed over or ignored in books on Taiwan.

This study is an excellent examination of Japanese colonialism in Taiwan and its consequences for the contemporary formation of national identity. Through examining not only the particular circumstances of Japan in Taiwan but also the nature of colonialism in general, Ching shows how colonialism is a social transformation which produces people of mixed identities. He draws upon "The Orphan of Asia" by Wu Zhuo-Liu as an example of this understanding. Ching also sets forth an interesting critique of postmodernism's hesitancy to draw judgments across cultural boundaries. The "miracle" of postwar Japan, essentially an almost immediate turn from complete external orientation to complete internal orientation and subjectivity, was made possible by the United States' appropriation of Japan's colonies and Japan's immediate alliance with the U.S. in the Cold War. Because of these factors, Japan never had to go through the harsh but important process of decolonization, and Ching shows how this failure affects the identity crisis of Taiwan today. Ultimately the book is oriented around "the politics of identity formation" in which Taiwan must come to hold a national identity which embraces the diversity of elements (Japanese, Chinese, Taiwanese, Hakka, aboriginal, etc.) that have formed the ontology of Taiwan through history.

This book not only talks about the Yanze river and three gorges dam but it also gives a very interesting lesson on the history of China. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in China.

A superb book. Drawing from her life experience, the author gives vivid picture of people's life along China's Yangtze River. The construction of the super-dam will greatly alter people's life there. We should thank the author for recording, thus preserving the past that will be gone forever. Scholars, especially scholars of China Studies would get detailed description of the daily life of Chinese people. Travellers would also find the book useful. The author was among the first group of foreigners who worked and travelled in China after 1976. Thus, her story is really invaluable since not many foreigners had the chance to witness China around 1980. Overall, the book is informative and insightful. Wonderful work.

December, 2, 2002. I just returned from my first trip to China which included 4 days cruising through the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River. My good fortune was having this wonderfully and scholarly written book by Ms Chetham.

This book was invaluable to me because it gave me a full perspective of China, it's people, it's culture, and it's economic development. With this book as my traveling companion along with 43 good friends from San Francisco our group visited Beijing, Xian, Chongching,350 miles of the Yangtze River, Wuhan, Shanghai, & Souzhou. In each locale we had english speaking guides who were born and raised in the area. The combination of the local input, our observations, and readings from this book created a "trip of a lifetime" for me.

If you plan to visit China this book is a must.

Found this book very readable. Thought it was fascinating as an introduction to how the Yangtze shaped China. Gave me a good overview of the the area around the river basins.

This book encompasses the history of the Yangtze, as a history major I enjoyed learning about the history pertaining the Yangtze. Moreover, it discusses the political motives behind the construction of the dam. Also, this book addresses the social as well as environmental costs of TGD. It is a great book for students, travelers, environmentalists, historians, and those who have an interest in China.

Niall Murtagh gives us an understanding of the real(hone) underbelly of Japanese corporate life. The book is well written entertaining and accurate. I have the same roots as the author and like him have endured 14 years in a large Japanese corporation. So I can verify his accuracy. He deals with the frustrating an oppressive aspects of salaryman Japan life in a very Irish way - he uses humour. He tries hard to fit-in but soon learns that foreigners, even Japanese fluent ones with a Phd., never fit in. or become totally accepted. He could have expanded on the psychological impact of salaryman life on foreigners. For those with a work link to Japan, read this book.

Content is accurate, well-observed, and recounted with sensitivity and balance; happily, it's very well-written and flows beautifully. Certainly worthwhile reading for foreigners working with (or for) the Japanese. Hopefully, this work will appear in a Japanese edition as well, and I'll bet it would be a best-seller in Japan. Like the author, I have worked in a large Japanese company, married a Japanese national, and make my home in Japan.

From the first opening sentence, this book is a page turner. The writer provides a simple but deep insight on working in a major Japanese company. The events presented are sometime caricatural, looks too bad/good to be true, but I can attest from my own experience they're quite real.
A must reading material for people thinking of working at a major traditional Japanese company.

Niall Murtagh is an Irishman who came to Japan to study the language. He ended up working for the Mitsubishi corporation for 14 years. Murtagh was a world traveler who did not stay in any one place for to long. So how is it he stayed with one company, a japanese company at that, for 14 years? This book attempts to answer that perplexing question. Though Murtagh has led a varied life, he devotes most of his book to his 14 years with the Mitsubishi Company as a Japanese kaishain, or salaryman.

Murtagh rose to a middle-manager position, almost unheard of for any gaijin (foreigner) in a Japanese corporation. He was always the only gaijin in the room. Because his Japanese was flawless he was always looked at askance. The Japanese feel that their language is to difficult for gaijin to learn let alone speak fluently. He tells of his daily commute to work on a bicycle, his unpaid overtime, company uniforms and he even the company song.

He says little of his personal life. His courtship and marriage to Miyuki is a good example of this. He sums up this chapter of his life by saying Miyuki's parents approved of their marriage because of his Mitsubishi credentials.

Murtagh keeps the story moving in a conversational style. He has an eye for the irony of the cultural differences between the west and the east.

I have a friend in Tokyo who is also a salaryman. I got this book for that reason. I wanted to see some of the things that he had to go through. He said that many of the experiences that Murtagh went through are quite common for a gaijin salaryman.

It is an entertaining book and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who has friends or family working in Japan. And for those of you who don't, it is still an interesting read to compare the cultures.

"The Blue-eyed Salaryman" is a book written by Niall Murtagh, an Irishman, and is based on his real life experience as a salaryman at Mitsubishi Corporation in Japan.

The story starts when he joins the R&D department at Mitsubishi in the early 1990. At the beginning he was a contract worker, but eventually he became a normal lifetime salaryman. He was also the first foreigner to be promoted to management level in Mitsubishi in Japan.

His book is very interesting, because it is based on his experience over a period of more than 10 years. So he really got to understand deeply about Mitsubishi's culture and way of working. He also experienced the end of the bubble area, and the following crisis years.

Later on, Murtagh-san was transferred to Osaka, which allowed him to compare between Osaka and Tokyo working culture. His finding was that people in Tokyo cared about big visionary research projects, whereas in Osaka all research needs to have a practical application to get accepted. He did enjoy living in the Osaka area, and eventually enjoyed working here.

The final conclusion of his book is that for foreigners, as change agents, it is not meaningful to join traditional Japanese companies from the bottom; because the only way to drive fundamental change in large Japanese traditional corporations is top down. According to Niall, Carlos Ghosn would never have been able to impact to Nissan if he had joined them from the bottom...

Working as a foreigner in a large Japanese corporation in Japan, I really identified strongly with Niall's writing. It gave me a sense of comfort, making me believe that I still haven't lost my common sense....