ePub The Sling and the Stone: On War in the 21st Century (Zenith Military Classics) by Thomas X. Hammes USMC in History

Review

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Quick and easy answers are desired while the situations call for patienceBy Christopher ZellEven if you disagree with things in this book; it serves as a starting point to understand why the foreign/military policies of the US are dismal failures - and why they will continue to be. They can bomb anyone but can't end most insurgencies. Quick and easy answers are desired while the situations call for patience; wisdom and diplomacy.4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. sling and the stoneBy bubblesVery informative book by a former USMC officer. Provides insight into long term insurgent plans in the middle east; and reasons for the neccessity of continued persistence. Begins with a short review of the evolution of modern warfare into forth generation war; and the adaptation of 4GW in the twentieth century by various revolutionary groups. Also gives a brief but very good history of the Jewish and Palestinian conflict. If you think its time to just get out of the middle east this book might change your way of thinking. The book gets a little boggy toward the end; but overall an excellent read.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Sensible ThoughtBy JonesThe crux of this book; in a nutshell is that we need to look closely at the way we think about doing battle; about how we do battle. Mr Hammes brings that point to the forefront and I commend him highly for doing so. Our military; our country has been manipulated by well meaning; but mis guided folks that seem to think that everyone in the world will attempt to stand toe to toe with us and embrace the ensuing slaughter. We could reduce the bloated defense budget with a little common sense; and focus on what would allow us to kindly defeat our adversaries. Failure to embrace new techniques of warfare are one of the reasons that we are a free country today. They stood up and and we hid behind trees; they lost the colonies; we became a soveriegn nation. Now our adversaries are throwing the entire toolshed at us; along with the kitchen sink; and all that we seem to be able to do is try and determine why they do not drop to thier knees and relent.We need to look at the culture of warfare; the culture of military personnel and take a radical approach at correcting it before we become insignificant.You can't hit what you can't see; brings new meaning to modern warfare. More of us with the capability to change the military need to read this and take some of the change on board; at least personally; and professionally.