This is an outstanding "after action report" of the Gulf War. But perhaps more importantly, Chemical-Biological Defense is also a very cogent and unsparing analysis of U.S. chemical and biological warfare defense. Mr. Mauroni makes an excellent case for beefing up our Chemical Corps, and integrating more fully realistic CB defense doctrine. Describing the kind of materiel and training available before the outbreak of hostilities in 1990-1991, Mauroni provides us with a complete picture of U.S. CB defensive posture--then and now. Neither a Cassandra nor Pollyannish, Mauroni blends the right amount of detailed information and narrative to present his highly-informed analysis. From this very important book, we learn how fortunate the United States military was in not having been attacked with Iraqi CB weapons--and how critical it is to be much better prepared for unconventional warfare in future conflicts.

Gays in the military! Who'd of thunk it??

Actually, I was raised on military bases for much of my younger life, with a career-military father who, when this topic became a big topic in the early 1990s, said to me: 'I don't see what the big issue is with this. They were always there, and we knew that.'

One could have knocked me over, as I was sure my father would have a shoot-'em-all-dead policy (well, maybe not dead, anyway).

Randy Shilts, better known perhaps for his book (later constructed into a telefilm) 'And the Band Played On...', about the AIDS crisis, turned his journalistic eye and talents to one of the last great approved discriminations in America -- that of the institutionalised disapproval of the military (one of the largest economic forces in America, and one of the largest employers and providers of training and benefits) of gay, lesbian, and bisexual people within the ranks.

Shilts begins his discussion historically, looking back over the history of the United States as to how this issue has been dealt with. Actually, there isn't that much information for the longest period (1778-1954), understandably as (as the Victorians would have phrased it), the love that dared not speak its name in fact rarely did. This 750+ page tome devotes a mere 19 pages to this historical period, in which Shilts argues that there was back-and-forth acceptance and rejection of gays in the military. This perhaps is wishful thinking on his part -- one could even argue that 'gay' didn't exist in quite the same way then as now (sociologically speaking), so to address the issue then as now would be difficult to compare.

Throughout the rest of the text, Shilts examines, largely through personal stories and accounts, of how the armed forces viewed, disapproved, and rooted out military personnel suspected of same-sex activity. With an effective ruthlessness (far more effective and sometimes more ruthless than against the foreign enemies of America) the military in all branches served notice to gays and lesbians that they were not welcome in the service. At times, this turned into a witch hunt, and, as that description implies, was often more widespread and sweeping against women than men.

One character whose story serves as a framework and who turns up as an anchor point at several points in the text is Tom Dooley. Tom Dooley was a man who served with skill and dedication, becoming the youngest doctor in Navy history to receive the Legion of Merit; never one to flaunt or even to speak of his sexual preference, knowing that in general such things were not approved of in society. Yet despite his service record, he was forced out of the military for this 'fatal flaw' (he unfortunately tended to be on the effeminate side), having been given a dishonourable discharge despite his exemplary service.

Dooley, in fact, was terminally ill in the late 1950s, at the time this drama was being played out. He worried that his dishonourable discharge would follow him. Dooley in the end did get a reversal of the decision, an honourable discharge, delivered to his bedside as he lay dying, a gesture of good faith, perhaps, in 1961, but hardly worthwhile to Dooley, who most likely never recovered sufficiently to understand, or to the thousands of persecuted gays and lesbians in the military the 40 years hence who are still suffering under various policies designed to placate the majority prejudice.

Shilt's book is full of stories that sound more at home in a KGB-interrogation room than in the 'land of the free': threats and manipulation, internal surveillance and spying, coercion for confession and incrimination. In many cases the military hierarchy turns a blind eye to violence perpetrated against gays and lesbians.

Shilts does not devote much time to arguing the other side -- why should gays and a lesbians be excluded. This is perhaps the one lacking element in this large text. While reasons arise in his commentary and in the personal stories, it is never developed as a coherent theme -- he takes it for granted that the reader will readily understand the objections. There might be more integrity to the text overall if a more complete analysis would be included.

However, this is a record of dishonour, one that many institutions in many countries surely share. Regardless of one's views on homosexuality generally, and homosexual admission into the military, the element of basic human rights has to be upheld, or those violating them (in this case, the US military) lose the right to claim the role of the morally justified.

This book will settle no arguments, but then, it isn't constructed to do that. It is designed to show through direct experience of men and women in the military how the policies affect human lives, both within and outside the military. This provides grist for the mill of debate. In his epilogue, Shilts discusses the ROTC debate about gay admission into the military. 'It seemed clear, watching these University of Minnesota cadets earnestly debating whether they should serve with gays, that whatever happened to the military's antihomosexual policy, even a presidential order to allow gays into the military would not mark the end of the campaign for acceptance of homosexuals in the armed forces; it would only be the beginning.'

I thought this book had a great history of the events from the end of the first Gulf War to start of 2001. The author's detail out each major event and UN resolution and what the Iraq and US did or did not do as a result. It was interesting that many times, basically every time, there was a new resolution Iraq ended up first playing games and then backing down. It almost seamed to be the behavior of a spoiled brat. It was also very interesting where the authors can show that Iraq got close to having the UN stop the sanctions, but each time Saddam would do something dumb and the world would demand that the sanctions be put back in place. What also comes through is the very difficult if almost impossible position the UN is in trying to enforce resolutions when the only power they have is rented / given to them by other countries. What this has created is a situation that only resolutions heavily supported by the US get the US military backing thus have the teeth to be effective.

The one downside of the book was the chapter long discussion on what coercion meant the definition and how the word should correctly be used. Nice info for a high school reader but it just slowed the book down for the rest of us. Overall I liked the book, it was a bit dry and could have been a bit more detailed, but it was a nice review of the past ten years. The real value is putting some facts behind what has been so talked about over the past year and what was the Iraqi position as it related to the UN resolutions. If you have been interested in this situation over the past year then you will probably enjoy this book.

The info in this book is very good, if just a bit out of date. Since this deals mainly with things that don't change much, being a few years old is not a big drawback.

Of the areas I am familar with, this is right-on, so I expect the same to be true of the rest of the book... I am anxious to use it for more exploration.

This much-needed guide provide a wealth of useful information for the cruising sailor. Written in an enthusiastic and readable style, the author invites the reader to explore the varied cruising grounds of Western Florida. Of great value in this coastline of difficult channels is the detailed information given for each approach, including low water depths in shoal channels. Another feature is a listing of the charts (by number) to cover each area. Photographs and non-navigational charts are also shown throughout the book. Altogether, an informative and useful guide.

Mine warfare is a field not much written about in popular histories of naval conflict. There seems to be a kind of distaste for these sneaky, patient weapons that prevents gentlemen historians from tackling the subject. Fortunately, James T. Hewitt, a Canadian mine warfare expert is not a historian, but a Gulf War vet who mined (pardon the pun) his own diary for this book.
Hewitt was attached to American naval forces during the Gulf War in 1991. Although Canada had sent three warships to the Gulf, none were mine hunters, and Hewitt's expertise was needed elsewhere. He was aboard the USS Tarawa when it hit an Iraqi mine off the coast of Kuwait, and warned off other American ships that risked standing into danger by wandering into the same minefield. Shortly after Tarawa hit a mine, so did the powerful missile cruiser USS Princeton. Both ships survived, but the mines laid by the Iraqis did more damage to the Gulf allies navies than any other form of weaponry employed. Hewitt also mentions the Silkworm missile attack on venerable battleship USS Missouri (a near miss) and his own adventures ashore in Kuwait after the war ended.
Desert Sailor was a treat to read. It takes on a subject that is little discussed and treats it both with respect and some irreverence. Hewitt's style is breezy, humourous and self-deprecating and altogether enjoyable. My only complaint is that I wish it could have been longer, especially his rundown on the history of mine warfare, which is, nonetheless, well written and informative. For people wanting info on a little-known aspect of naval conflict and the Gulf War, this is a damned good start.

While this book may not be the most complete guide for fishes in this area it is unlikely that a layperson will encounter a fish not covered. Dr. Shipp has spent a lot of time studying fish and he brings much of his more general knowledge to this book. What it lacks in scientific information it makes up for in entertainment value and facts more usefull to the SCUBA diver or fisherman.

Dr. Jackman is a well-known entomologist/naturalist at Texas A&M University. This handbook is a well-researched guide to its subject and he enlisted the help of leading authorities (including W. David Sissom for the scorpion section) for information in areas in which he is not familiar. The book lacks in several areas, such as in the Orders Mygalomorphae, Pseudoscorpiones and Solifugae, but this is due in part to a general lack of literature and knowledge in that field for Texas. The full-color photographs, mostly by the author, are excellent, yet small. A great addition to the Texas Monthly Field Guide Series!

The Old Man was in exile. When he died in his son's arms, he made him promise to return to the revolution, and take back his country. But, he also told his son to "Take a fighting man.." and keep him close, for without one he would never succeed.

So, the old exiles sent the Indians, with no money, to hire a fighting man.. They found Gordon Benjamin Brown. Gord agreed to join them, for no pay, because it had been a long time since anyone had asked. But there would be a bill to pay for services. The exiles had to promise to follow Gord's directions, for 7 days, and Gord promised to take back what had been lost. The only problem was, civilians never seem to realize how hard it can be, to be a solder for a week.

Those looking for a serious analysis of the history and reasons fratricide occurs will be dissappointed with this work, which fails to live up to its ambitious sub-title: 'Accidents in Battle from Ancient Greece to the Gulf War'. That is, the breadth simply is not there. In addition, Bickers very often substitutes 'ad hominem' for more substantive reasons fratricide incidents occur. No doubt, studipity and other human frailties and foolishness are at fault in many cases, but Bickers does not offer those who fired the ill-fated shots of fratricide the possibility for rejoinder. Hence, one of his main problems is historiographical. In addition, Bickers digresses too much to stories which, although interesting, would be well-suited in books of another topic. Such a digression to peripheral commentary adds little, if anything, to the discussion of fratricide and why it occurs. This factor impairs the usefulness of the work, which proves to be a book out of focus. Despite these overall impairments, the book does have something to commend it. Bickers highlights many cases of fratricide which occured in World War Two, which many readers are probably unaware of. At the end of the book he includes a list of why fratricide incidents are likely to occur in the future. As it turns out, these reasons correlate well with current professional literature on the subject. Hence, I would recommend the book to be included in a study of the subject of fratricide, but it is certainly not the definitive source.