Book Description
So says Fox News military analyst Colonel David Hunt in a book that cuts like a buzz saw through the half-measures and half-truths, the dangerous timidity, and the outright stupidity that—if left unchecked—will lead America to lose the War on Terror.
In the hard-hitting On the Hunt, Colonel Hunt draws on his twenty-nine years of active military service and his high-level military and intelligence contacts to give an inside perspective on this global struggle, setting him far apart from the usual pundits and talking heads. Here he presents fifty pages of previously unpublished documents that reveal the chillingly detailed plans of the terrorists and insurgents who target Americans, as well as U.S. tactics to stop our enemies.
From the Department of Homeland Security (“Get rid of it. Scrap it.”) to military leaders who have almost zero combat experience to risk-averse, politically correct strategic decision-making, Colonel Hunt pinpoints dire problems that need to be fixed before it’s too late (which it nearly is). Offering real solutions that most politicians and pundits are too timid to talk about, On the Hunt lays out specific steps to:
• Win the war in Iraq by changing the way we fight—by taking the gloves off and, in doing so, honoring the sacrifices our soldiers are making
• Deal with Iran, North Korea, and other dangerous threats
• Solve the illegal immigration crisis and keep America’s enemies from breaching our borders (both of them)
• Make our towns and cities more secure—not by looking to the federal bureaucracy but by taking responsibility ourselves
• Protect the liberties of American citizens at home
• Ensure that our soldiers are trained and equipped to fight today’s and tomorrow’s wars
As Colonel Hunt’s millions of viewers on Fox News and all the readers of his bestselling book They Just Don’t Get It will expect, he pulls no punches while incisively analyzing a war unlike any other. In On the Hunt, Colonel Hunt reveals exactly how high the stakes really are in the War on Terror. He condemns failed policies and the people who made them (and, yes, he names names). And most important, he clearly identifies the strategies, tactics, and qualities of leadership that we must bring to bear to ensure the survival of the proud and free nation we love.
Customer Reviews:
Hunt for President!.......2007-06-13
...or at least Secretary of Defense. Colonel Hunt doesn't hold back at all in this book, its not your typical academic style book.
I loved his style eg page 8 he says that all that matters is "killing the bad guys and bringing our boys home in 1 piece.F*** the rest" He's prepared to lay the smackdown on terrorists and the hopeless politicians in charge in D.C whom he calls "pantywaists" and says they need to 'grow a pair" ha ha love it! Finally a no BS look at the War and what needs to be done.
Essentially the Colonel says its quite simple:kill the bad guys, it doesn't matter what the politicians think, what the world thinks, how much it costs or who gets the credit. Any leader who can't handle this and is more concerned with their career is a girleyman who needs to be sacked. PC types won't like this book, heck they probably wouldn't be able to pick it up with their limp wrists, the stuff in this book is enough to make Ted Kennedy drive off a(nother) bridge.
The only criticism I would have is that the Colonel also advocates showering baddie countries like North Korea with aid and goodwill in return for them giving up their nukes and support for terrorists. The problem with this is that these baddie countries are unlikely to abide by the terms of such deals, eg North Korea got such a deal from America in 1994 only to reveal in 2002 that they had been cheating on it all along.
All in all a great book that pulls no punches and has the balls to say what needs to be said,its very easy to simply write off the Colonel as a trigger happy cowboy but that's overlooking the serious failings in this war on terrorism and the solutions to fix them, President Bush must read this book and so should you if you don't then you may as well as the Colonel says "bend over and starting praying towards Mecca"
A lesson in character this nation sorely needs.......2007-06-08
When one reads the news, and listens to the expert opinions of "talking heads" on TV, it's all too easy to believe that the free world is facing complex problems that allow for no reasonable or successful solutions. The messages we receive include the following: we face 1.3 billion Muslims who blame us for all the ills of the world, and we should understand that it's their world and not ours; nobody in Europe or Britain loves us any more, so we must be terribly wrong; every time we try and react, we only make things worse; we had our run, and now it's time for us to step aside; western civilization is obsolete and on the way out.
Reading Colonel David Hunt's "On the Hunt" tells us: No, we're still in the game; and now's the time for us to kick some butt, make no excuses, offer no explanations, come back home a victor, and marry the prom queen.
My experience, as just one reader, is that I sleep better when I read Hunt right at bedtime. It makes me feel safe knowing that somebody, somewhere, understands it the way he does. If I become discouraged by current events and find myself starting to whimp out and despair, a couple of pages of Hunt gets me back on track. You may have exactly the opposite reaction, and, if that's the case, I'd suggest you leave it alone because "On The Hunt" is pretty potent stuff, and not everyone can handle it.
Maybe the most reassuring part of "On The Hunt" is the author's attitude: David Hunt simply was not born to die as an enemy collaborator. His prose is personal, conversational, and expressive, and communicates his attitude and feelings as well as his ideas. When "his time comes" I suspect he'll go out a warrior, having never surrendered or submitted. That's a character lesson this country sorely needs.
If we heed Hunt's advice and follow his example, and he is wrong, at least we won't go down whimpering, soiling our drawers, and apologizing.
Much like I thought it would be........2007-06-01
No ground breaking here, just some enlightenment. The best part of the book deals with the kind of leadership we have and the leadership we are sorely missing.
On The Money.......2007-05-12
Col Hunt is right on the money. Until America puts the conduct of the war in the hands of field commanders with combat experience, we will not win. I do not believe in a cut and run philosophy, but politician must remove themselves from the tactical decision making. I recommend this book.
Jerry Berry
Salida, Colorado
The way it should have been.......2007-05-12
Just finished reading the book and it was a great read and told what should have been done during the Iraq War. It again proves to me that peacetime can be a badtime for the military in that many individuals rise up to leadership positions that are unqualified in the time of war.
Book Description
Extensively revised and expanded to present the state-of-the-art in the field of magnetic design, this third edition presents a practical approach to transformer and inductor design and covers extensively essential topics such as the area product, Ap, and core geometry, Kg. The book provides complete information on magnetic materials and core characteristics using step-by-step design examples and presents all the key components for the design of lightweight, high-frequency aerospace transformers or low-frequency commercial transformers. Written by a specialist with more than 47 years of experience in the field, this volume covers magnetic design theory with all of the relevant formulas.
Customer Reviews:
Transformer and inductor Design Handbook.......2007-07-17
This book supplies explanation clear and exhausting to many problems that every encounter day in the planning of transformers even if lacks many arguments that I'de like to me to deepen, but is a profit point of departure for me.
Great book by Colonel Wm. T. McLyman.......2006-08-15
I wish I had this book many years ago....Since it answers many design problems I have already figured out the hard way, through lots of grind and sweat... At this time I don't really need the book, but intrigued how the Colonel approaches magnetics problems in the same manner I approach them...
The book is written in a clear, no-nonsense straight to the point approach. The way all technical textbooks "should" be written.... Although a solid theoretical understanding is paramount in magnetics, there is no need to re-invent the wheel everytime you approach magnetics, the Colonel shows this, unlike books that start at Maxwell's equations to solve every problem is just an academic excercise to satisfy one's ego...
I did work at JPL briefly and wish I had the oppurtunity to sit down and talk to the Colonel...
I highly recommend this book... Other books to accompany this text would be by Reuben Lee "Electronic Transformers and Circuits" 2nd edition as well as the "Classic" "Magnetic Circuits and Transformers" by M.I.T (Hardcover 1958)
Among the best foundational material for magnetics design........2006-06-21
Wether you are an engineer, technician, or just an interested layman, this book will take you from the grass roots understanding of basic magnetics all the way through to some fairly advanced topics. Among magnetics engineers, I have found it to be one of THE BEST for properly setting up foundational knowledge and theory. Too many engineers have weak or incomplete foundations and quickly hit a plateau where they can't go further until they go back and really understand the basics. If you buy one book, buy this one. The other two books I would recommend of this caliber are no longer in print.
Great Book, Buy it!.......2005-06-13
This is probably the best book on transformer design that I've found. It's geared towards the engineer who actually wants to design a real working transformer. The text is comprehensive, and the discussions are inteligent and easy to follow. There are tons of real word examples. As I was reading this book, there were many times when the lights went on in my head, and subjects that where previously a mystery, became crystal clear. There are so many poorly written books out there on this subject that it is a real pleasure to come across a book so well written.
A very thorough analysis........2002-11-08
I would highly recommend the book. I was able to fairly quickly design a resonant inductor for a 500 watt ballast. The calculations agreed with the test test data very well.
Customer Reviews:
The Colonels.......2007-01-04
W.E.B. Griffen is by far the best military writer I have read. When I finish all his Btotherhood of War books I'll start on his other novels.
Promotion isn't the only thing that's slow.......2004-12-29
The middle book of W.E.B. Griffin's "Brotherhood of War" series, "The Colonels", is a rather slower paced book than the ones from before. It starts immeadiatly after "The Majors' ends at Lt. Greer's funeral, where Major Craig Lowell has proved that helicopters can make a difference in combat. The next hundred and fifty pages covers one New Years Eve party that Lowell, Hanrahan (fresh back from an advisorship in Vietnam), Gen. Black, and other key players involved in the series are attending at Ft. Rucker, Al. The next two hundred pages are concerned with Lowell trying to balance his new projet of arming aircrafts and his affair with his married secretary. Meanwhile Lt. Col. Felter is busy planning the new Special Forces teams' role in the upcoming Bay of Pigs invasion. There really is very little going on in this book; but somehow it is still not a bad book, just rather slower then it's more action packed predecessors (though no one ever accused this series of being Rambo). The theme still seems to be that the men who know how to run an effiecent Army are ignored by establishment officers who are out of touch with the changing dynamics of combat. The up roar over the necessity of Special Forces is a classic example. No one wants them except for Colonel MacMillian who saw them in action in Greece and knows that is where the upcoming war in Vietnam is going to be heading. Also the scandle of the rocket armed aircrafts; none of the older generals have had to use them, so they do not care about their importance and advantage that would give the U.S. in it's role in Cuba and the Far East. Another theme is about how the establshment can wear a man down. Both Lowell and Parker have been past over promotion (Lowell for lieutenant colonel and Parker for major) because they got away with bucking the system years before. But now the stress is wearing on them, and it is starting to show. All in all a good book, just a lot too slow.
Outstanding book!.......2004-07-20
I had found this book used, and I read through it. I've known from previous books of his that I have read that he takes military life down to the smallest detail. I'm an active duty US Marine and its refreshing to see him break down the most mundane things in military life down, because I not only find that kind of stuff funny to be broken down the way he does it, but it really helps me identify with the characters in his books, even if his books that I've read generally cover the WWII era through early Vietnam Era, although I'm sure Vets would appreciate his writing even more than I do. I have about 10 of his books, and it also helps that some of the characters are reused between books as they get promoted and move on with their careers and their interpersonal relationships.
If your a first time reader of these types of books, welcome to his world, but if you like military books, you'll like this one, especially if you are military, and even more so if you are a veteran.
A Solid Mid-Series Book.......2004-06-06
Following a dozen major characters and twice that many supporting players through an eventful a quarter century is an impressive literary achievement. Griffin's "Brotherhood of War" series does just that: always competently, sometimes brilliantly. The flashes of brilliance are fewer and farther between in _The Colonels_ than they were in _The Lieutenants_ and _The Captains_, but they're definitely *there* in a way that they weren't in _The Majors_.
The action in _The Colonels_ takes place in the late 1950s and early 1960s. The central thread of the plot is the establishment of the Green Berets, and most of the book's best scenes revolve around the shaping of the Green Beret program. The book ends with the disastrous US-backed attempt to overthrow Fidel Castro by landing a force of Cuban exiles at the Bay of Pigs--an operation in which many of the characters play peripheral roles. Griffin keeps old plotlines in play, but also takes the time to service a number of characters who were in danger of slipping out of the story: notably Barbara Bellmon, Paul Jiggs, and Phil Parker IV.
Griffin's ear for soldiers' voices and his familiarity with military routine comes through in many individual scenes: several training exercises, an unauthorized visit to an aircraft graveyard, Mac Macmillan's chance encounter with a young lieutenant, and a running subplot about the Green Berets' distinctive headgear. The bureaucratic guerilla warfare that took up much of _The Majors_ is back, but it works better in _The Colonels_, perhaps because the outcome will affect the lives, not just the careers, of people we care about.
_The Colonels_ ultimately fails, however, to hit the same heights that _The Lieutentants_ and _The Captains_ reached. Part of the problem may be the time frame it covers. _The Lieutenants_ had the shift from WWII to the Cold War; _The Captains_ had Korea; _The Colonels_ has the Bay of Pigs, but not yet Vietnam. Especially when it strays from the "building the Green Berets" thread, it often feels like it's just marking time.
SPC4 USA ARMY 95Bravo MDW.......2004-02-05
Really a fantastic series (this is book 4) that not only entertains the reader with great characters but also walks us through the history of the Army's development from WWII to the present. For those military history buffs or any ex-GI, this is a must read.
Book Description
Written as a companion to Transformer and Inductor Design Handbook (second ed), this work compiles the specifications of over 12,000 industrially available cores and brings them in line with standard units of measurement, simplifying the selection of core configurations for the design of magnetic components.
Customer Reviews:
Equations are not so good from mathematical viewpoint.......2005-08-05
Although there's a lot of information, the equations could be physically correct, in SI system. Right now there are many strange numbers and conversion included, i.e. 4.44 or 10 etc. which make the practical calculations simple, but hides the underlaying physical principles.
Magnetic Core Selection for Transformers and Inductors.......2000-07-19
This book is a must have for anyone serious on the subject. It's the most comprehensive source of information I have ever come across; pays for itself in time saved searching for data, examples are of great practical value and the material is current. EE background recommended.
Book Description
4GW (Fourth Generation Warfare) is the only kind of war America has ever lost. And we have done so three timesin Vietnam, Lebanon, and Somalia. This form of warfare has also defeated the French in Vietnam and Algeria, and the USSR in AfghanistanAs the only Goliath left in the world, we should be worried that the worlds Davids have found a sling and stone that work.Chapter 1, The Sling and the Stone: On War in the 21st Century. The War in Iraq. The War on Terror. These types of asymmetrical warfare are the conflicts of the 21st centuryand show how difficult it is for the worlds remaining superpower to battle insurgents and terrorists who will fight unconventionally in the face of superior military power. This change in military conflict may seem sudden. In The Sling and the Stone: On War in the 21st Century, Thomas X. Hammes, United States Marine Corps, details how Fourth Generation Warfare or 4GW has evolved over decades, with powerful military forces from economically advanced nations being defeated by seemingly weaker opponents.
Customer Reviews:
The 4th Generation of Warfare.......2007-08-24
Colonel Hammes' book is about the 4th generation of warfare (4GW). 4GW differs from the other 3 in that it intends to defeat the enemies' will to fight (hearts and minds) rather than his means to fight (armies, communication and industry). Hammes provides numerous examples of conflicts where 4GW has been used around the globe with varying degrees of success. Where the book loses some focus is in detailing changes necessary to the government and military of the United States to implement 4GW. Very little attention is given to either the Navy or Air Force. The book also does not try to show how a 4GW strategy could have been used effectively by the United States in Vietnam, Afghanistan or Iraq or even if we would have become involved in these conflicts if we knew they would take decades to resolve. Overall the book provides an excellent primer on how superpowers can be defeated and the future of war in general.
A breath of fresh air.......2007-07-08
If you're both confused and annoyed by the endless cacophony since September 11, 2001 by politicians, pundits, columnists, and tv and radio talk show hosts proclaiming to be experts on modern warfare, then this book will come as a real relief. This is a level-headed, unbiased, rational, in-depth, and intellectual tour de force that takes a good hard look at the reality of modern warfare. Unlike so many other commentators on the subject who are so blinded by ideology that they are incapable of making an honest examination, Colonel Hammes sweeps all that aside and delivers a highly credible assessment of the nature of the enemies we face today, why our current military structure is incapable of dealing with it adequately, and what we need to do to correct that situation. I never once got the impression that he was rooting for any particular political party, philosophy, or ideology. Instead, he comes across as truly detached from political debates and concerned solely with doing what is necessary to prepare the United States to deal with the enemies of today and tomorrow.
Hammes begins with a solid (though perhaps too brief) examination of the history of fourth generation warfare (4GW), which I found to be highly enlightening. Not being a military history scholar myself, I learned a lot from that part of the book alone. That history lesson is a very good lead-in for his assessment of the current state of threats around the world, and then finally a discussion of what steps we must take to deal with those threats. What he calls for is nothing short of a revolution in the way our military is structured and the way it operates, from the lowest levels all the way up to the Dept. of Defense and indeed the entire federal government. It's not a simple solution by any means, but that's what makes Hammes' assessment even more credible. In an age when we are constantly inundated with simple-minded "solutions" to complex problems, this book, while quite sobering, is refreshing to read.
I did feel like Hammes probably goes a bit beyond his area of expertise toward the end of the book when he discusses several topics outside the realm of military affairs, but overall this is a solid performance that everyone would benefit from reading.
Essential.......2007-05-07
One can hardly understand the war against terror and the conflict in Iraq without understanding the ideas articulated by Col. Hammes. An essential read.
sling and the stone.......2007-02-26
Very 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.
Put this in each military academy curriculum.......2007-02-16
And in OCS and Officer Basic Course and wherever future military leaders are trained. Then get the policy wonks on the staff of each member of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees to read it. This is the future of war for DOD and Homeland Security and the sooner they recognize that fact and start retooling from the Rumsfeld technocrat philosophy and flatten the hierarchies the better chance our military personnel will not fight another Vietnam or Iraq with pollyanna expectations. If we had gone into Iraq with Col Hammes prescription...well.I believe he was on the advisory staff in the Baghdad and saw close up what was happening. Good book, a little tiresome in detail for a lay reader, but absolutely essential for understanding where we made (and are still making)our mistakes and what we need to do to fix them.
Book Description
Brand-new chapter exclusive to the paperback edition
Colonel David Hunt has dedicated his career to fighting terrorism. A U.S. Army veteran for nearly thirty years, he has helped take out an active terrorist camp, trained the FBI and Special Forces in counterterrorism tactics, and served as security adviser to six different Olympic Games.
And Colonel Hunt is angry. Why? Because even after the attacks on our country and on Americans around the world, the people charged with protecting us—the politicians and the bureaucrats in the military and in intelligence—still aren’t getting the job done. In They Just Don’t Get It, you’ll learn:
• How many of the government’s recent “reforms” are actually counterproductive
• How we can fight this war and still safeguard our civil liberties and the American way of life
• What you can do to keep your family safe
• How to fix the intelligence disaster (and yes, the politicians in D.C. still haven't fixed it)
As politicians posture and pundits bicker, we’re losing sight of the problem: We’re still not equipped to win the war on terror. Hunt shows us there are changes we can make at every level—as individual citizens, as a government, and as a military power—in order to win the war on terror and ensure our survival as a free, proud, and strong nation.
Customer Reviews:
good, common sense-based book.......2007-09-05
Col. David Hunt's book is a good read. He is not the most polished writer around -- the book is written more like an extended conversation -- but he gets his points across. The book tends to get redundant at times, but it remains an interesting book to read which one can easily complete in one evening or two. If even a small fraction of what Hunt alledges is true, Americans should be very concerned about our safety and the glaring lack of leadership in our country.
They Just Don't Get It.......2007-06-12
Of the 30 books I've read over the last year, this is the worst. If I were to equate this with anything written in the last 5 years it would be the last book by Ann Colter. I'm glad I forgot the title of that book. An uneducated person may like books like this, but can come away from the experience with a pedestrian view of history.
Hunt Should Be The Secretary of Defense.......2006-09-14
Col. David Hunt has written a superb plan for fighting the war on terror. It is bold, decisive, and politically incorrect. It is also far better than what we are doing or anyone else is talking about.
The author traces the history of terrorism from the 1972 Munich Olympics through 9/11 and beyond. He shows how our leaders have been ineffective in responding. He is not partisan. He reviews botches by Carter, Reagan, Clinton, and Bush.
He also critiques many problems with our current approach to dealing with terrorists. Some of those include the following: Failing to use the best troops (special ops.) effectively and fully, allowing Pakistan to harbor bin Laden, failing to secure the Iraqi borders allowing the Syrians and Iranians to continue to supply terrorists, continuing to be cozy with the Saudis in spite of their financing of terror, having too much bureaucracy interfering with decision making, and many more.
Along with the problems, the author also presents numerous solutions. Some of those are politically incorrect; Some may seem outrageous. Most are worthwhile and should be pondered and discussed. Some of his ideas (including some highly controversial ones) are as follows: a total reorganization of intelligence with unity of command, de-bureaucratizing the defense and intelligence arenas, creation of a 'Terrorist Killing Agency', mandatory national service (not necessarily military) as a way to overcome personnel shortages, and the elimination of the ill conceived and nonsensical color coding system that the Homeland Security Dept. created. There are many more as well.
While I certainly don't agree with all of his ideas, I do think that every American elected official and voter should read this book. Its ideas should be debated and considered. If several of these were implemented, we would all be much safer.
A Must Read To Understand Winning The War On Terror.......2006-08-26
In his mundane, conversational style, Colonel Hunt cites many of the terrorist attacks which have killed innocent citizens, profiles the killers responsible for these atrocities and offers political as well as logistical solutions to combat terrorists in this insurgent style of war.
Detractors will hurl insults at the messenger and his message to complicate his clearly stated, basic premise: This is not a traditional war. We must retaliate against these killers using our special forces, trained to defeat terrorist aggression without bureaucratic interference from politicians and the military hierarchy.
This book is must read for all who understandably feel confused by the doublespeak of our politicians, military leaders and journalists.
Good views expressed poorly........2006-08-23
Much of what Col Hunt has to say is quite interesting and I agree with his views and arguments, however, the book is more like a +200 page rant and rave than a well written book. I felt like he was just complaining most of the time about what's wrong with politicians and he offers "simple" solutions to all of our problems which are entirely unrealistic. It's a good example of why are our government is not run by the military and why we need civilians ultimately in control. A great man, who has served his country with great honor, but in my view is not a very good author. Ultimately, I did not enjoy this book, and struggled to force myself to finish it.
Book Description
No more politics—just the truth about what we can and must do to protect ourselves.
Fox News military analyst Colonel David Hunt has dedicated his career to fighting terrorism. A twenty-nine-year U.S. Army veteran, he has helped take out an active terrorist camp, trained the FBI and Special Forces in counterterrorism tactics, and served as security adviser to six different Olympic Games.
And Colonel Hunt is angry. Why? Because even after the terrorist attacks on our country and on Americans around the world, the people charged with protecting us—the politicians and the bureaucrats in military and intelligence—still aren’t getting the job done.
They Just Don’t Get It provides a much-needed wake-up call to all Americans. As politicians posture and pundits bicker, we’re losing sight of the fundamental problem: We’re still not equipped to win the War on Terror. In fact, the terrorist threat is far worse than we feared, as made frighteningly clear by the fifty pages of documents published here for the first time—including a shocking manual taken from the terrorists themselves.
But instead of just complaining, Colonel Hunt tells us exactly what we must do—without regard to political game-playing—to emerge victorious in the challenge that history has given us. These are changes we can make at every level—as individual citizens, as a government, and as a military power. As he shows in this book, while the government and our military lead the fight to protect us, ordinary citizens can and must contribute.
They Just Don’t Get It reveals:
• What you can do to keep your family safe
• How many of the government’s recent “reforms” are mere window dressing or, worse, counterproductive
• How we can fight this war and still safeguard our civil liberties and the American way of life
• How to fix the intelligence disaster (and yes, the politicians in D.C. still haven’t fixed it)
• How we got into this mess in the first place: it’s mostly because our government let the problem fester for three decades
Colonel Hunt is no cautious bureaucrat or finger-pointer looking for political gain. He is a straight shooter with deep insight into what’s happening in the War on Terror—on the ground and in the government. They Just Don’t Get It lays out in clear and compelling terms the steps we must take—all of us—to win the War on Terror and ensure our survival as a free, proud, and strong nation.
From They Just Don’t Get It
We’re fighting a war for our very survival, so we’d better figure out how to win. That’s why I’m writing this book—to show us how we can win, how we can protect ourselves. As a Fox News military analyst, I’m paid to offer insight into how our armed forces are conducting the fight against our enemies. But this book shows that to win the War on Terror we need to concern ourselves with more than just military tactics.
For one thing, we need to look at what our political leaders are doing. The sad truth is that they still don’t get it.
Then there’s intelligence. You’ve heard about our intelligence failures, but I doubt you know how bad it really is—even after the “reforms.” I’m going to tell you.
And another critical dimension to this story usually gets overlooked—what you can do. The fact is, you can do a lot. Hell, you must do a lot.
A selection of American Compass
Customer Reviews:
The REAL DEAL.......2007-05-12
Great book for those interested in reality, versus the political garbagr being spewed by our "representatives" in Congress and the stories being relayed by the media outlets...Colonel Hunt is correct "They Just Don't Get It"... and neither does the majority ...
Sometimes the truth hurts - Col Hunt beats you over the head with it!!!!.......2007-05-10
This is required reading for those who have doubts about terrorism and our ability to deal with it. This is required reading for those who believe we are doing what is necessary to win. This is required reading for the spineless masses following the "leadership" of this country (from both sides of the aisle) down a path of death, destruction, and failure.
Col Hunt's ability to speak frankly and lay it on the line in this very Non-PC manner really speaks to everyday Americans. It is boldly written, in your face, and so scary that it will leave you shaking your head in disbelief. His resume/qualifications to speak to this topic are above reproach, he's been there, he's seen it first hand, the good and the bad. 10-20 years from now, if things do not change, this man will be looked at as one of those bold enough to say what needed to be said. It will be a shame to allow his words to go unnoticed. READ THIS BOOK!
Required reading for every American.......2006-10-31
Easy to read, full of common sense, this book should be read by every American.
On the mark.......2006-09-11
I think that Col. Hunt has written a superb book of the challenges facing the US regarding the terrorist threats to us all. He writes in a very deliberate and to the point style that I find refreshing.
Fact vs fiction.......2006-04-26
Col Hunt spells out the truth of the war we're in as compared to the bias of the media.
Book Description
Wednesday 22 January 1879 was one of the most dramatic days in the long and distinguished history of the British Army. At noon a massive Zulu host attacked the 24th Regiment in its encampment at the foot of the mountain of Isandlwana, a distinctive feature that bore an eerie resemblance to the Sphinx badge of the outnumbered redcoats. Disaster ensued. Later that afternoon the victorious Zulus would strike the tiny British garrison at Rorke's Drift. How Can Man Die Better is a unique analysis of Isandlwana v of the weapons, tactics, ground, and the intriguing characters who made the key military decisions. Because the fatal loss was so high on the British side there is still much that is unknown about the battle v until now. Mike Snook is the first military professional to scrutinize the battle in print since 1879. He has an unparalleled grasp of the nuances of the ground at Isandlwana and of their implications in practical military terms. Most compellingly he has an instinctive feel for the characters who forged this supremely dramatic history, for this is µfamily' history v the battle was fought by soldiers of the author's own regiment. This is a work of unparalleled depth, which eschews the commonly held perception that the British collapse was sudden and that the 24th Regiment was quickly overwhelmed. Rather, there was a protracted and heroic defence against a determined and equally heroic foe. The author reconstructs the final phase of the battle in a way that has never been attempted before. It was to become the stuff of legend, which the author brings to life so vividly that one can almost sense the fear and smell the blood. How Can Man Die Better is essential reading for anyone interested in Isandlwana, the wider Anglo-Zulu War or the Victorian Army.
Customer Reviews:
The new standard for Isandlwana.......2007-08-24
Been reading about this battle since the 70s. Starting with Morris and moving through Knight, we have evolved to this highly detailed and scholarly analysis based on evidence and professional insight. I was sorry when the book ended! Savor every word. This will be hard to top.
Great Battle Anlaysis.......2006-11-12
This is the best battle analysis of Isandlwana I have ever read! I have been a long time student of the Zulu War, in particular Rorke's Drift and Isandlwana. I was lucky enough last year to visit both battlefields and spent hours walking the field. I am a West Point graduate and former armor officer, so I do understand the nuiances of terrain and the disposition of troops. Lt Col Snook gets it right. Many of the histories I have read fall apart when you're on the battlefield. Why did Pulleine push his companies so far out, because he had to in order to see over the intervisibility lines present. Otherwise, he couldn't see into or shoot into the dead space on the other sides. I've always questioned the theories that the camp was simply overrun by sheer force of numbers. Men, no matter how aggressive, simply cannot charge into the face of disciplined fire and survive. Lt Col Snook's narrative agrees well with my own and follows a basic understanding of human bahavior, terrain analysis, and 19th century British doctrine. The British failed to laager the camp; that is known. If all #3 Column was in camp during the time of the battle, I believe, as Snook does, that the battle would have turned out differently. As it was, the camp had only half the numbers it needed to defend the frontages it had and was ultimately defeated in a double envelopement.
Based on this book, I am now looking forward to read Snook's book on Rorke's Drift.
From a Soldier's Practiced Eye.......2006-10-11
Col. Snook provides an in depth view of the battle at Isandlwana largely from a British/European perspective and does it masterfully. I am adding my review to others on Amazon and will not belabor the points well made by other reviewers. If you are interested in the Zulu wars from a tactical perspective (thus from a soldier's perspective), THIS IS THE BOOK TO BUY. I know Donald Morris and respect his work, THE WASHING OF THE SPEARS. Donald is not perfect and he made mistakes in his account of the battle and his drum has been beaten by others in their accounts. Col. Snook sets things straight. I attribute this to Col. Snook's soldier's eye for terrain and logical battlefield progressions. Col. Snook was a soldier and Donald Morris was a member of the American Intelligence Community. It's telling in their writings. ---oh, just buy the book!
WOW!.......2006-07-28
This is everything a military history book should be. This fantastic book, written by a serving British officer, Lt. Col. Mike Snook, tells the story of the battle of Islandlwana. Col. Snook calls on a plethora of sources, including his own training and experience, to tell the story of the opening battle in the Zulu war where the British lost 1200 men in an utter defeat.
The battle is laid out in great detail based on original sources, with some interpretation & re-interpretation from Col. Snook, until the point at which all the possible witnesses, except Zulu warriors, are gone. From that point on, Col. Snook goes into a forensic military mode, determining movements & positions of units from their origin points to the place where their corpses were found. This leads to a more thorough and complete story, founded on evidence if not eye witness testimony, that tells a lost portion of the battle. He also pops hoary old myths like the quartermaster who won't distribute ammunition or the ammo boxes no one can open as well as others.
It makes for a fantastic read. I can't wait to get on to "Like Wolves On The Fold", the second book by Col. Snook, which tells the story of Rorke's Drift. I hope we'll see lots more books from Col. Snook. His first is destined to become a classic.
Solid analysis from a military professional.......2006-01-30
Lt. Col. Mike Snook's account of Isandlwana stands as a solidly researched, solidly written reconstruction of one of the most famous battles of the Victorian British Army. "The Secrets of Isaldlwana Revealed" subtitle is perhaps a publisher's effort to generate cover interest, as Snook's book really does not say much startlingly new about the battle. It might be called a Post-Revisionist history, rejecting those works of recent years that questioned the courage and competence of the British soldiers who fought and died at Isandlwana (Snook is particularly disdainful of those writers who challenge the appropriateness of the award of the Victoria Cross to Lieutenants Melvill and Coghill for their effort to save the battalion colors.) Although Snook certainly gives the Zulus credit for their bravery and skill, he assigns chief blame for the disaster to Lord Chelmsford (for setting up the whole situation) and to Lt. Col. Durnford (for tactical errors and poor leadership). It might be argued that Snook's service in the successor regiment to the 24th has led him to give a "free pass" to Col. Pulleine, as the author seems to find nothing remiss in that officer's handling of the battle, and in fact Snook vigorously defends Pulleine's actions. And Snook has nothing but praise for the men and officers of the 24th and the way they fought.
Although "How Can Man Die Better" may be too much a professional military man's book to fully engage the general reader, I certainly think highly enough of it to look forward to the publication of Snook's companion volume about Rorke's Drift.
Amazon.com
Lovers of Victorian-style mystery are no doubt familiar with Anne Perry's two series of novels set in 1880s London. These set the standards of the period piece genre, wooing readers with their precisely calibrated mixture of grubby urban realism (read murder) and the tea and gossip of refined drawing rooms. With The Death of Colonel Mann, the first installment in her new Beacon Hill series, Cynthia Peale takes her own stab at that combination, but on the other side of the Atlantic.
When Colonel William D'Arcy Mann is found shot to death in his Boston hotel, few Brahmins mourn his passing. The Colonel had published far too many of Boston's highest caste's indiscretions in his gossip rag; those who had escaped such public ignominy had paid an equally high price, for Mann was not averse to a spot of genteel blackmail. The cast of suspects is large, and Peale's team of amateur sleuths is perfectly placed to ferret out the murderer. Addington Ames and his sister Caroline can trace their blue-blooded lineage back to the Ark, although their social standing teeters precariously when Addington is so gauche as to actually discover the Colonel's body. And unless Addington and Caroline can solve the crime, their beautiful young cousin Val's engagement (the ne plus ultra for a proper young Victorian woman) will be at risk---her future mama-in-law has a decided aversion to scandal.
Addington and Caroline are an amiable pair, as is their boarder, Dr. John MacKenzie, who plays Watson to Addington's Sherlock when he isn't wondering how to court his hostess. Peale falls short of Perry's narrative mastery, however: where Perry effortlessly blends historical detail, evocative descriptions of the London cityscape, and plot, Peale's setting seems awkwardly contrived; her Boston cobblestones do more to trip up the narrative than to smooth its passage. Despite these flaws, Victorian Boston may yet yield fans for Peale, currently at work on the second Beacon Hill mystery. --Kelly Flynn
Book Description
Victorian Boston is the splendid setting for a deliciously scandalous murder in this seductive historical mystery.
When Colonel William D'Arcy Mann is found shot dead in his Boston hotel suite, there are few to mourn him but many who will feel the repercussions of his untimely demise.
Mann was the publisher of a scurrilous gossip rag in which he exposed the indiscretions, great and small, of Boston's highest caste--unless they paid the hush money he demanded.
By discovering the body, Addington Ames, a resident of Louisburg Square, Beacon Hill, has violated at least two tenets of the Boston Brahmin code of behavior to which he was born--his name has appeared in the newspapers, and he has been questioned by the police. But it's his reason for visiting Colonel Mann in the first place that is by far Ames's greatest concern.
His orphaned young cousin, Valentine, has made a most desirable match, but she has unfortunately been indiscreet, and the love letters she wrote during a failed summer romance have somehow fallen into Colonel Mann's hands. If her fiancé were to discover her indiscretion, he would break their engagement, so Ames must recover the letters to save Val from social ostracism. But the missives in question are not to be found in the inconveniently dead blackmailer's hotel room. Only by finding the killer will he be able to prevent Val's heartbreak and disgrace.
Cynthia Peale, in this first book of her new mystery series, deftly evokes a richly textured portrait of Victorian Boston's high and low society. And she has created a memorable cast of characters. In addition to the dastardly colonel himself, there is the perfectly matched team of amateur sleuths--Addington Ames and his endearing strong-willed sister, Caroline--who are joined by their boarder and friend, Dr. John MacKenzie, an amiable and sharp-witted outsider (with a secret yearning for Caroline) who acts as Addington's Watson.
The Death of Colonel Mann is a tale of passion and terror, a blend of charm, mystery, and suspense in a setting readers will want to return to again and again.
Cynthia Peale, in this first book of her new mystery series, deftly evokes the atmosphere, both physical and social, of Victorian Boston's high and low society--the clatter of carriage traffic on fog-shrouded cobblestone streets, the venerable town houses of Beacon Hill, the conviviality and exclusivity of the private clubs, the strict codes of proper behavior. And she has created a perfectly matched team of amateur sleuths--Addington and his sister, Caroline Ames, whose impeccable pedigree allows them to live in reduced circumstances in their parents' Beacon Hill house without losing a bit of their social acceptance, and Dr. John MacKenzie, an amiable and sharp-witted outsider, who sees far more than he lets on and acts as Addington's Watson. -->
Customer Reviews:
Very nice for a first time reader of mysteries........2005-09-22
I normally don't go for such books, but I'm especially glad this was my first. I read it in a short amount of time and am looking forward to the next by Ms. Peale.
Engaging plot, rich characterizations, atmospheric..........2003-08-17
I really felt I was in Beacon Hill at the turn of the century, and I enjoyed the book tremendously. Very good mystery - reminds me a little of Detective Pitt & his wife Charlotte of the Anne Perry novels, only set in Boston USA! I look forward to reading the rest in the series. It kept my interest throughout the evenings of an exciting vacation. I very much enjoyed the details about the characters involved in the story. So much so that I could read a mystery set in Dr. Mckenzie's background in the military right now!
Wonderful New Historical Series!.......2003-08-14
I am a great fan of Anne Perry so imagine my delight when I found this author and this book. The era is the same as Ms. Perry, but the setting is in Boston, not England. Ms. Peale delineates Victorian Boston very well, and her characterizations are quite good. The proprieties and social consciousness are the same as Ms. Perry, and the evils are just as vivid. This book deals with the death of Colonel Mann who we never meet in the story, but we certainly hear enough about him. He wrote scandal sheets and used information that he gleaned from his many informants to blackmail various people in society. The kind of character that has many people who are happy at his death, but the murder needs to be solved anyway because Addington's nearest and dearest were affected by everything and in danger. I look forward to more Beacon Hill mysteries.
Victorian Ice.......2003-03-13
The Death of Coloney Mann captures the very soul of Victorian Society. Stepping outside of what was considered "proper conduct" would lead to disgrace and risking total outcast by friends and family. Cynthia Peale has depicted this reality so very clearly while weaving an intriguing Mystery! It's a great read!
Mildly entertaining, poorly written mystery........2001-12-19
As someone who works in Boston, I really enjoyed the setting of Peale's book. Also, the character of Addington Ames and his sister Carolyn are fairly well drawn. It is too bad then that the mystery itself isn't more intriguing or the writing better conceived. Although Peale has clearly done some research on 1890s Boston Brahmin social and city life, it almost seems as if she never completely integrated the information into the mystery, making it little more than just a superficial, guided tour of Victorian Boston. The writing was frequently awkward and some of the dialogue jarring. Also, there are many scenes where the POV shifts from one character to the next; something that I have been told by a writing instructor is a definite "no-no" in fiction writing. All in all, I really did want to like this book and it is still diverting enough to be read quickly. However, it does seem to me that it could have been a lot better.
Book Description
During the course of his military career, Bud Day won every available combat medal, escaped death on no less than seven occasions, and spent 67 months as a POW in the infamous Hanoi Hilton, along with John McCain. Despite sustained torture, Day would not break. He became a hero to POWs everywhere--a man who fought without pause, not a prisoner of war, but a prisoner at war.Upon his return, passed over for promotion to Brigadier General, Day retired. But years later, with his children grown and a lifetime of service to his country behind him, he would engage in another battle, this one against an opponent he never had expected: his own country. On his side would be the hundreds of thousands of veterans who had fought for America only to be betrayed. And what would happen next would make Bud Day an even greater legend.
Customer Reviews:
Heroes, not losers.......2007-10-01
This will help you remember how this country was founded by heroes, not losers. The beginning was a little slow, but the time in Hanoi was just riveting, and I had to stop to cry more than once. It should be required reading for liberals, so that they can remember how the peace movement is seen by enemy nations.
American Patriot Stands Tall.......2007-08-13
As a former Misty FAC I thought I knew Bud Day, but after reading American Patriot I realized I was dead wrong. Robert Coram's book profiles a man with a seemingly inexhaustible reservoir of courage and an unimpeachable sense of honor---all of which he gladly placed at the disposal of his country throughout his life. The book is carefully detailed and written in a manner that even the "great unwashed" who were not fighter pilots can understand. The descriptive scenes involving his torture as a POW are painful to read at times, yet I know that they were not exaggerated---and that's what makes them all the more disturbing.
The words "honor", "integrity" and "heroes" have been trivialized in our society to the extent that few people know or care what they mean any more. In an ideal world these subjects would be addressed in school, or at least discussed at home. But we do not live in a perfect world, therefore, I suggest that American Hero be required reading in every high school and college in America. A profound and moving book.
Viet Nam veteran and book lover.......2007-07-24
This book belongs in a catagory by itself. It confirms what I aready suspected about the main stream media. It introduced me to a new Americian hero. God Bless Colonel Bud Day, his wife, and God Bless America
American Patriot.......2007-07-17
Superb...this book should be required reading for all those in high schools and Military Academies. The book really details the character of this wonderful American and shows how a man ... with God's help...can endure and prevail under the most trying of circumstances.
Thank You Mr. Coram.......2007-07-07
This book should be required reading for all Americans. A copy is ready for my 3 year old son to read when he's able to.
Why didn't I know about Bud Day before this book? The man is a hero and legend and yet I've never seen a glowing profile of this man in our mainstream media. Children in this country should learn about Bud Day and men like him as part of their curriculum.
I hope Mr. Coram is inspiring writers to follow in his footsteps. I also hope Mr. Coram has some books left in his clip. "Boyd" is a tremendous book in its own right and this book just has me wanting to read more about the people who have done far more for their country than ever imagined.
While some may point to the fact that Mr. Coram does not get into macro-political issues that overshadowed Col Day's life I think most readers understand that is not the point of this book. This book is about educating all of us about what a hero looks like, talks like and acts like.
This book will grab you and demand your attention. Thank you Colonel Day. You are an inspiration Sir.
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They Just Don't Get It: How Washington Is Still Compromising Your Safety--and What You Can Do About It
Crazies to the Left of Me, Wimps to the Right: How One Side Lost Its Mind and the Other Lost Its Nerve
Outrage: How Illegal Immigration, the United Nations, Congressional Ripoffs, Student Loan Overcharges, Tobacco Companies, Trade Protection, and Drug Companies Are Ripping Us Off . . . And
They Just Don't Get It: How Washington Is Still Compromising Your Safety--and What You Can Do About It
If Democrats Had Any Brains, They'd Be Republicans
