This book follows in the footsteps of other Zaloga titles, like "T-72", "Tank war-Central front", or just about anything else he has written. Paranoia of Russian weapons has seemed to be hunting Steven, as BMP is a clear reflection of that. The whole book is quite tilted in all aspects, from beginning to the end, he boasts of Western tank designs at the expense of Russian equipment. Illustrations are sharp, however no special variants are displayed in the drawings, just the standard BMP-1, 2, 3's). In other worlds, you want to have good illustrations of this vehicle for modeling purposes, then perhaps the books is what you need( even though frontal and rear color-plate drawings are scarce, 9 of 12 drawings are straight side-views ), however, if you want this book for educational purposes, my recommendation would be to look for a less biased source to get a fair evaluation. -david

Zaloga has been writing about Soviet hardware for many years for many respectable publications. This New Vanguard series is very informative for a book its size, has a lot of detail & pictures that are helpful to modeler and collector as well.

Zaloga captures well why this series of vehicles has not fared well on the battle scene. Its light armor does not do what it is supposed to do-protect its crew. The BMP1 weapons do not do what it they are intended to do- defeat the enemy. Too many blind spots, restrictions on range, poor sights make the early varients of the BMP1 a piece of junk. In my years as a Tank Commander studying this weapon system, crawling around in it and watching it run at various army posts, we never feared it. The BMP2, was a little better, at least fielding a 30mm automatic cannon that would pose a threat to a Bradley. The BMP3 is a very aggressive (desperate?) attempt to mount something for everyone. 30mm cannon, 100mm cannon, missles, this baby's got it all. But the armor is still too light for its crew and too much in a small package? Time will tell on that.

No book this size can please every reader, but I would definately recommend this one to all as a great primer on the IFV produced in greater numbers than any other, the one first mass produced.

The Book I read was George Bush's War. The Author of this book is Jean Edward Smith. I think that Smith is a very smart man or he's got some inside connections, because he has information on meetings that happened incognito, if you know what I mean. I also thought this book was exceptionally educational. The reason why I felt this book is educational is because it provided me with a different sense of humor than I am used too, while getting some strong information in-bedded in my head. I felt that the main plot in this book is about one person, George bush, rounding up a group of people to rise against Iraq. I feel that the strength of this book is when the U.S walked up on the Iraqi people. It also talks about how Iraq placed Saddam on a pedestal, as a hero and how he was viewed that way by the entire Arab world. This book included "behind the scenes" interviews, and information that had not been released to the public. It had real life interviews. This book contains many details that are irrelevant to my research, but over all I would say this book is good. I feel that this book is good for writing papers or reports, but if you want to learn a lot about the war I would recommend you to another book. Thanks
By Justin

I read George Bush's War by Smith. I liked most of it. The thesis of the book is that George Bush was the sole figure in rallying opposition against Iraq.

The strengths of the book is that the book contains good material on why Saddam was regarded as a hero in the Arab world. He gives a pretty good history of the Middle East. Also, I like some of the "behind the scenes" information of the campaign against Iraq.

The weaknesses of the book are glaring. First, there are too many quotes. I do not really care what the assistant to the US Ambassador to some country that I never heard of says about something that an equally minute representative said about Saddam Hussien, just to give an example. Keep in mind that not ALL quotes were bad. Another thing is that the book STOPS at the bombing of Baghdad. The questions of why did Jordan support Iraq or Did Iraq and Iran mend fences were never mentioned. The major weaknes is that there was not enough historical distance at that time to justify writing a detailed work. In political terms, the book is above average. In military terms, it is pretty weak.

If someone was writing a paper on the Gulf War, I would recommend this book as a starting point. If someone wanted to know about military concerns, this is not the book for you.

I just field tested Rinn's book on a 7-day trip to Salt Spring Island.

The most useful part of the book is the "getting there" section, which is quite informative. Beyond that, it's just a book of lists. The author gives no opinion or rating of the quality of restaurants or lodgings, and shows no price range indicators.

You'd be better off to head straight for the Chamber of Commerce-sponsored traveler information office on your selected island destination. You'll get most all of the information that's included in this guide.

The Gulf Islands Guide is a really thorough description of Saltspring, Galiano, Mayne, North and South Pender, and Saturna Islands in British Columbia. It is laid out in a clear, easy to follow format that tracks on each of the islands. The ferry information makes it easy to get there with information on both American and Canadian ferries. The maps are clear and easy to follow as well as being bound into the book so they are right there when you need them! The chapter for each island begins with points that particularly stand out for each island - a nice way that helped us choose which islands we wanted to visit. Email addresses and websites are another bonus as well as a thorough index. Lots of good features that make it very user friendly.

"Reflections on Blue Water" is an interesting book. It is not at all what I expected. Most travel book are a chronological account of a journey or an explicit description of a place. Alan Ross's book both, but is more a description of the author's state of mind at the time he visited the Bay of Naples and the Aeolian Islands. Alan Ross first visited the area after service in World War II. Part of his book contains his journals written during these travels. Fifty years later he once again travels to the Bay of Naples and the Aeolian Islands to see how things have changed. He brings with him a number of books written from, on, & about the area. The majority of the book is given over to an aged intellectual's "Reflections" on these books and the era they were written in. Like I said, not a typical travelogue. At first my expectations were disappointed. It took me a while to accept the book for what it was, but once I had I was richly rewarded. I will mine the list of authors Alan Ross quotes from and the books they wrote for quite some time. Near the end of the book we are treated to his 1948 journals and his return to the same locale in 1998. This portion of the book is the most like a traditional travelogue. It is also the most lyrical. Take this passage, written from Porto d'Ischia: "At night, the waterfront crushes out the day's heat on its stone transfer. The sea changes colour as you look at it; houses, losing their daytime stains, acquire a mellow bloom. Girls in the semi-dark become romantic, elusive creatures, turning from peasants into icons. Old age is becoming to the matriarchs on their doorsteps. Every so often a boat slips out, its powerful lamp probing the sea. Lighted windows outline the silhouettes of men playing scopa, the card game that is a day-long ritual of fierce intensity, no laughing matter. Women cool off on steps, worn beauties replete in their seasons." If you are looking for stories and narrative, this is not the book for you. If you are looking for a deeper understanding of the local history, culture & people, this is not the book for you. If you are, on the other hand, interested in the perceptions and preoccupations of a wide variety of visitors, fugitives, and ex-pats, followed by an exquisitely lyrical journal, then by all means read "Reflections on Blue Water."

As a Neapolitan who lives abroad I have deeply appreciated the exquisite description of that part of the world, and I must admit that the author has remarkably fixed both the beauty of the land and the main features of the people who are so lucky to live in it. Even though at the beginning he seems more interested in the analysis of the work of the artists who lived in those islands, he cannot help to be drawn back to the pure contemplation of the landscape that,through his words, becomes poetry. The second part of the book starting with the description of Ischia is the best expression of his lyrism. Finally he leaves the torments of the people who inhabited the places, but who seem to have never really belonged to them, and he focus on the images soothing the reader's soul with the warmth of the sun, the power of nature, the energy of the sea. As in the quoted "Voyage en Italie" by Chateaubriand it is like looking at Haven from Hell. His deep thoughts and sometimes heavy reasonings find their perfect scenario in the beauty of the Tyrrenian Sea. The book takes time to be read, also because a few paragraphs must be read more than once to retain every detail of the description, but when it is over the readers are left with a smile on their face and the heart full of melacholy for not being in such an haven for real.

The premise of this book is that Sadaam Hussein obtains atomic bombs and decides to nuke the US. OK, I can accept this premise. However, the book concentrates on Hussein's personal animosity to Bill Clinton-because Clinton has been soooooo tough on him-going so far as to waste one of his three nukes to hit Clinton's boyhood home of Hope, Arkansas. Huh? First, Clinton has gone out of his way to discontinue UN inspections of Iraq and ease sanctions. Secondly, Hot Springs, Ark, not Hope, is Bill Clinton's boyhood home. Thirdly, those of us who have passed through Hope, Ark realize that it could easily be missed if you blink-it's simply not the place for a terrorist attack when there are so many population centers around this country. If George Bush had been the target, this story would be more easily believed. Aside from that, terrorists just mosy up to the space shuttle and blow it up. There's quite good security around Cape Canaveral and clowns like those in this story would have been taken out long before they had a chance to do damage. While there are a few god action scenes in this book, it's really contrived and not all that exciting.

an exciting book from start to finish. i have become a pineiro fan after i have read this book.pineiro surpasses tom clancy on the excitement level. this book was well worth the money that i spent on it. this book is what you would call a page turner. buy it.

Absolutely hilarious. Propaganda that may as well have come straight from Saddam himself. Complete nonsense brought to you by those guilty white liberals who, for reasons I will never understand, seem only comfortable and happy protesting on the behalf of totalitarian governments.

A capturing of the true nature of U.S. imperialism's bloody massacre of 100's of thousands of Iraqi people (mostly children). A necessary analysis for even the most rudimentary understanding of the current situation in the Middle East. What is made especially clear is that the U.S. assault was no more than an attempt to cripple Iraq's blossoming status as the only military and economic power in the Mid-East that could rival Isreal (a permanent U.S. aircraft carrier and military base at the beckon call of international imperialism). This piece makes clear the need not only for a national opposition movement to the war but for a united defense of the right to self-determination for all nations of the world

I have read exerpts of this book, and it is said to have been banned in Oman, for the comments and allusions to the government there.

Although this book is now out-of-date, I found it funny, fascinating and informative. The author says not to try to take this book into the Gulf countries, and why. If you are considering going to the Gulf to work, READ THIS! I am a librarian looking for work there and have read extensively on this topic and find that the best books are by women. Ms. Camenson's book has a completeness and practicality that others lack, including warnings and stories to make you pause. Would that she would update it for the Internet age!

This book is part of a series, all by the same author, which altogether covers the military situation of the Arabian peninsula (excluding Yemen). This particular volume is divided in sections by country, and covers history, the current military situation, and internal security issues (i.e., police, internal intelligence agencies, and likelihood of domestic unrest). It's in the style of a technical report; few people would find it to be "fun reading," nor was it intended to be. I was disappointed that on the topic of UAE internal security, the seven emirates of the UAE were lumped together; it would have been interesting to learn more about the differences in policing and internal security among the various UAE jurisdictions. Nevertheless, this volume covers the minor countries of the Gulf Region with a thoroughness and degree of detail that is not equaled by anything else that's in print.

There is a problem with one of the conclusions made by the author. I discuss it in a review essay in the British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies, Nov. 1998. In the same essay I also review Fighting World War Three from the Middle East: Allied Contingency Plans, 1945-1954.

Ramsey Clark led the "extragovernmental" opposition to the Iraq War of 2003. Enamored with the idea that pacifist ideals should rule the day, Clark and his followers insisted force must not be used. His ilk predicted extravagant numbers of civilian and military casualties.

When the Iraqi government was dispatched with in something around three weeks, Clark changed tactics. He then decided the war, though successful and heralded as a "liberation" by most Iraqis, was "illegal". Clark acknowledged Congress' "greenlight" to the war in October of 2002, but said President Bush violated the agreement by not giving sufficient time to the United Nations process. (After a November 2002 Resolution, Bush did not go to war with Iraq until 6+ months later.)

The claim of War Crimes by Clark is unsubstantiated and this book only seems to be an attempt to re-write what is widely accepted as a tremendous victory for the United States and the Iraqi people.

WOW - what a load from the WWP anti-Global

This book is essential for anybody who wants to have a different perspective on the first Iraqi conflict. Much of the information directly reflects on the current conflict as well. The book is composed of a series of essays by various authors involved in Ramsey Clark's project to document and prosecute war crimes committed by the United States and the coalition forces in the first Persian Gulf war. Although, it can be repetative at points, it is well worth the price. This book is ESSENTIAL for anybody who chooses to have an opinion about Iraq. A great support for those who oppose US actions, and a great source of arguments that need to be overcome by those who support US actions.