Tag: non-fiction

The Long Roomn at Trinity College,Dublin

Rethinking Terrorism; a reveiw of Open Source Jihad

On By Ramblings of a Distracted MindIn Books, History, Military, Reviews1 Comment

Terrorism and terrorism studies seem to have taken a back seat in the public consciousness of late. At least it appears to have in regards to the subject of National Security. Most governments have shifted focus back to great power confrontations and the desire to escape from the long wars we have been fighting for the last 18 years and focus instead on the more familiar aspect of state on state traditional maneuver warfare. However, terrorist and terrorist attacks still occur and we are likely to see an undercurrent of terrorism studies persist.Open Source Jihad takes a meta-analysis of the academic pursuit. Not looking at terrorism itself but attempting to quantify our attempts to study this phenomenon effectively.

The Long Roomn at Trinity College,Dublin

How we fight? A review of Insurgencies and Counterinsurgencies: National Styles and Strategic Cultures

On By Ramblings of a Distracted MindIn Books, Military, ReviewsLeave a comment

Insurgencies and Counterinsurgencies: National Styles and Strategic Cultures should be taken as a cautionary text by those involved in all aspects of national security; from the tactical level of the Lieutenant in charge of a platoon, through the field grade officer in charge of operational concerns, through to those who create the national strategy followed by all.

The Long Roomn at Trinity College,Dublin

My Review of The Third Chimpanzee: The Evolution & Future of the Human Animal

On By Ramblings of a Distracted MindIn Books, ReviewsLeave a comment

Human beings have always liked to think of themselves as special. So what, exactly, is it that does make us special? Are we, in fact, special at all or our we just another - albeit less harry - chimpanzee? This is the question Jared Diamond asks in The Third Chimpanzee: the Evolution and Future of the Human Animal. He asks it not with metaphysics or theology but with biology, geography and social science. He questions our unique construction, the places we live and how we interact; both interspecies and intraspecies, and which of these key components that can be measured may - or may not - either separately or in combination be the key that makes us human.

Effects of Economic and Conflict Shift on U.S. Military Operations: What Future Conflict May Look Like

On By Ramblings of a Distracted MindIn Military, OpinionLeave a comment

Two forces - the global economy and the nature of conflict changing and shifting - are the most likely aspects of ongoing change that will affect United States joint and multinational military operations. These changes will require the United States military to be a more dynamic and a more flexible force.

The Long Roomn at Trinity College,Dublin

My review of The Art of War

On By Ramblings of a Distracted MindIn Books, Military, Reviews, WritingLeave a comment

Since its discovery by Western scholars The Art of War by Sun Tzu has influenced and shaped military education, strategy, and tactics. Its impact has reached beyond military applications to affect business and social life as well. However, it seems that some of the basic tenets of the book and the lessons it teaches need are seldom accurately remembered and need to be constantly relearned by western leadership. It would serve them well to remember the words of Sun Tzu.