How Wars are Won and Lost: Vulnerability and Military Power (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9780313395826)

This provocative book seeks to answer a most crucial--and embarrassing--question concerning the U.S. military: why the United States is so often stymied in military confrontations with seemingly weaker opponents, despite its "superpower" status.

This fascinating book examines a question that continues to puzzle soldiers, statesmen, and scholars: why do major powers--including the ostensible superpower United States--repeatedly perform poorly against seemingly overmatched adversaries? And what can they, and the United States, do to better achieve their military objectives?

How Wars are Won and Lost: Vulnerability and Military Power argues that beyond relying solely on overwhelming military might, the United States needs to focus more on exploiting weaknesses in their adversaries--such as national will, resource mobilization, and strategic miscues--just as opposing forces have done to gain advantage over our military efforts. The author tests the "vulnerability theory" by revisiting six conflicts from the Philippine War of 1899-1902 to the ongoing actions in Iraq and Afghanistan, showing again and again that victory often depends more on outthinking the enemy than outmuscling them.

Author: John A. Gentry
ISBN-10: 0313395829
ISBN-13: 9780313395826
Publisher: Praeger
Language: English
Published: 11/10/2011
Pages: 328
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 1.41lbs
Size: 9.30h x 6.10w x 1.10d

Review Citation(s):
Reference and Research Bk News 04/01/2012 pg. 290