History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

The Devil's Sandbox: With the 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry at War in Iraq

Average customer rating:

An amazing insight into the role of National Guardsmen at war
Great Book, Highly Recommend
Been There, Done That
Superb!
Devil's Sandbox

The Devil's Sandbox: With the 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry at War in Iraq
John R. Bruning
Manufacturer: Zenith Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0760323941

Book Description

The story of the 2nd Battalion of Oregons 162nd Infantry Regiment (2/162) in Iraq, this book gives readers an intimate look at the reality of National Guardsmen at war. Follow the 2/162 from their call-up in summer 2003 to their return home in spring 2005. The Devils Sandbox immerses readers in some of the fiercest fighting of the Iraq war and in some of the most rewarding and forward-looking civil affairs projects aimed at rebuilding this broken nation. It offers rare insight into what this war means for the citizen-soldier at home and abroad.

Customer Reviews:

An amazing insight into the role of National Guardsmen at war.......2007-09-02

I have read several dozen books on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. While I have enjoyed all of these books immensely, they all concentrated on conventional military units or special operations forces. They almost never mentioned anything about the role of National Guard units in these conflicts. For this reason, I was shocked to find out that many of our National Guardsmen are the proverbial "tip of the spear". Due to the fact that these men and women are not full-time soldiers, and hold normal, everyday jobs/careers, I always assumed that they would be located in rear-echelon positions. Perhaps serving in support roles. The reality of their participation couldn't be farther from what I had imagined. Like the squad of Navy SEALs who come across the Oregon National Guardsmen during a major engagement in Iraq, I was very impressed by their fighting skills. These men are going in harm's way as much as the traditional military units like the 82nd Airborne, the 101st Airborne, the 4th ID, and the Marines Expeditionary Units. It is hard to imagine being a working class joe one day, and the next day serving in scouting/direct action positions in Najaf or Fallujah. Thank you to John Bruning for bringing to light the brave, patriotic souls of the U.S. National Guard units. They should be receiving so much more publicity from the American media. It is a travesty that their sacrifice in service is not being acknowledged as much as their full-time military brethren. I am going to recommend this book to all my friends and family. Mr. Bruning is a great author and I can't wait to read his next book.

Great Book, Highly Recommend.......2007-05-14

Must read if you are trying to understand what National Guard Soldiers and other service members endure on deployment to Iraq.

Been There, Done That.......2007-02-12

I was with this unit in OIF-II in the capacity of a Medic. If you want to get a good feel for what Oregon's 2/162 did in Iraq, this is the book to read. I've read a number of military history books and sincerely feel that this is one of the better books I've read. Bruning looks at the overall strategic picture and details the reader from a tactical perspective, as well. Having known the troops in the book, as well as the others, I am extremely grateful to see our efforts noted and appreciated. Thanks John... very well done!

Superb!.......2007-02-12

Having served in three branches of the military, including the Oregon Army National Guard, I am well acquainted with the personalities that John Bruning so deftly brings to the pages of his book. There are some typographical errors that I'm more than willing to overlook simply because this book is a great effort to educate the general public about the realities of being citizen soldiers. Putting civilian lives on hold to travel thousands of miles from home, to be thrown into the jaws of hell, is something that can only be fully understood by being there. Mr. Bruning has done a wonderful job of getting the rest of us just a little bit closer.

Devil's Sandbox.......2007-01-19

This book is about my sons Battalion. After I read it and was drwn into the very moment that was taking place I had my son read it and we discussed it. He said there were a couple of incorrect statements but for the most part it was right on.
It is indepth, correct, compelling and heart renching.

Lonely Soldier: The Memoir of an American in the Israeli Army

Average customer rating:

Best book I have read in awhile
Good story of esprit de corps
Interesting, but not deep
The Lonely Soldier
All Honor and Respect to You

Lonely Soldier: The Memoir of an American in the Israeli Army
Adam Harmon
Manufacturer: Presidio Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0891418741
Release Date: 2006-06-27

Book Description

He is an American citizen–and an Israeli soldier. Now, in a stunning memoir, Adam Harmon recounts his service with one of the most effective and admired fighting forces in the world.

Raised with a strong Jewish identity in New England, Harmon visited Israel as a teenager in 1984. He immediately knew he wanted to live there. Six years later, the Palestinian Intifida was under way and Iraq had invaded Kuwait. Just out of college, Harmon was back in Israel, joining the military. Without family in the country, he was designated a chayal boded, or lonely soldier.

One of the few nonnatives to become an Israeli paratrooper–and already an “old man” in a country where service is compulsory after high school– Harmon describes the tough training and strict standards that define the Israeli combatant. From the very first push-up to ambushes in Lebanon and operations in the West Bank, readers march alongside Harmon and discover the value of having retsach bi’anigh (murder in your eye) and learn why “time is holy.”

The Israeli military culture surprised Harmon. It was very different from the one he expected to find. As within the U.S. military, Israeli soldiers avoid punishment only by being perfectionists, but the Israeli military has an unusually high regard for individualism. Commanders rely more on achieving consensus than on issuing orders; and every soldier is free to disobey an order he finds immoral.

Over the next thirteen years, Harmon was in the ranks of a military that was adapting to ever-changing threats. In 1990 killing was always used as a last resort, but by 2002 targeted assassinations were employed to “decapitate” terrorist gangs. Harmon’s own wish for a separate Palestinian state never wavered, but his dismay at the increasing violence by Palestinians, desperate to achieve independence, mirrors the growing belief in Israel that a true rapprochement is not on the horizon.

Lonely Soldier, completed as Israel was beginning to disengage from Gaza, is a unique and thrilling glimpse into a revered yet misunderstood institution that is integral to Middle East peace.

Customer Reviews:

Best book I have read in awhile.......2007-07-16

Lonely Soldier: The Memoir of an American in the Israeli Army
I have served in the United States Marine Corp and traveled to Israel. It was with interest that I read this book hoping to gain some insight into the IDF and life in Israel. I found the book to be well written and very interesting. I am not a speed reader but I read Lonely Soldier in less than a week. My wife kept trying to pry it out of my hands but it was difficult to put down.

The author's details regarding training and his personal feelings are fascinating. The discipline of the author and his desire to serve well are an inspiration to anyone traveling through life and seeking a personal mission.

Best of fortune to all and I hope you enjoy the book as much as I did.

Good story of esprit de corps.......2007-01-15

Marechal De Saxe wrote, "The reputation of an organization becomes personal just as soon as it is an honor to belong to it." He was referring to that illusive entity we refer to as esprit de corps. In this memoir we gain an insight into such a noted organization and how men and women are molded to be honored members. It is not an uncommon story type but seeing inside the Israeli defense forces gives it a new exotic twist.

It is not an objective study of middle eastern politics. Soldiers do not have the luxury of political objectivity. The corps is their primary loyalty, acceptance as a fellow soldier by the man or woman at their side their main concern.

This is pure enjoyment treading for those of us who enjoy the comradere and esprit de corps band of brothers story. To enjoy it best, try to ignore the political slant and just enjoy the story for its face value.

Interesting, but not deep.......2007-01-09

This is a nice peak in to the Israeli army, but doesn't really cover any new ground. The writing style is decent, but doesn't keep you interested throughout. Its mostly about the training process and doesn't go very deep in to his thoughts politically or even his changing thoughts about Zionism. I kept feeling like I wanted to know more about his inner thoughts, not just which wadi they were hiking through for a particular mission. While worth reading, it is not inspiring.

If you want an inspiring book about the Israeli military, I recommend either Portrait of a Hero -- about Yoni Netanhayu who led the raid and fell in Entebbe or Alex -- about Alex Singer who fell in battle in Lebanon. Both of which are excerpts from diaries.

The Lonely Soldier.......2006-08-15

This is a timely story of the connections felt by Americans with Israel. I find it interesting that the book came out just as the tensions between the Hezbollah and Israel exploded in Lebanon. Mr. Harmon tells the story truthfully, and the reader is well aware that this is an autobiography. It's as if history is repeating itself over and over, even though many years have passed since Mr. Harmon first began serving in the ISF. However, the actual writing of the book becomes tedious, and after the first half of the text, I had to force myself to continue reading.

All Honor and Respect to You.......2006-08-04

While Adam Harom may not write with the prose of Joyce or Steinbeck, his book The Lonely Soldier captivates you with its emotion. Harmon writes in a very simple, easy to read style, which makes it an enjoyable sunday afternoon read.
In his narrative Adam takes the reader through the details of his service in the IDF (Israeli Defense Force), which I found extremely fascinating. We come to understand Adam's calling back to Israel, and in turn perhaps come to understand Israel in a different light.
In short, if you are looking for a novel that makes litterary allusions to death, or the meaning of life, this book may not be the place to look.
But, in light of recent events in the Middle East, and the ongoing conflict in the Region, I could not recomend more strongly to read this book. Harmon provides a great, captivating, first-hand perspective on the region and into the life of an American who did something unique.

All Roads Lead to Baghdad: Army Special Operations Forces in Iraq

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All Roads Lead to Baghdad: Army Special Operations Forces in Iraq
Charles H. Briscoe
Manufacturer: Dept. of the Army
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0160753643

Book Description

By Charles H. Briscoe, et al. Tells the story of Iraqi Freedom, the second Army Special Operations (ASO) campaign in America's Global War on Terrorism. Shows how the ASO supported a US-led conventional air and ground offensive to collapse the regime of Saddam Hussein and capture Baghdad.

On Point: The United States Army in Operation Iraqi Freedom

Average customer rating:

Useful within limits
On Point: The United States Army in Operation Iraqi Freedom
Fine, Detailed Operational Study of OIF
Great information, but poor quality of printing

On Point: The United States Army in Operation Iraqi Freedom
Gregory Fontenot , E.J. Degen , and David Tohn
Manufacturer: US Naval Institute Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1591142792

Book Description

Foreword by Gen. Tommy R. Franks, USA (Ret.)

This hard-hitting, authoritative account of U.S. Army operations during the Second Gulf War draws on official records and work carried out by the Army's Operation Iraqi Freedom Study Group. The authors cover everything from logistical operations to gunfights at platoon level to help readers understand the complexity, scale, and rigors of the war and what it was like for the solders in the field. As Gen. Tommy Franks says in the foreword, the book is far more than a standard campaign history. It not only puts the Army's story in the context of joint operations in Iraq but also analyzes the operation in admirable detail. Using hundreds of interviews of the troops and scores of detailed maps and illustrations, it provides a user-friendly guide to the Army's first major campaign in more than a decade and ten-years worth of investments in digitalization and interservice operability.

The first part of the book reviews the evolution of the Army since the First Gulf War and establishes the context in which preparation for the second occurred. A narrative of combat operations through 1 May 2003 follows with a focus at the tactical level but set in the context of theater-level operations. The book concludes with suggestions of early implications for the Army and joint forces as they shape future force structure and training. This book is published in cooperation with the Association of the United States Army.

Customer Reviews:

Useful within limits.......2006-11-06

Considering the political and bureaucratic pressure the authors may have faced, it is perhaps unfair to measure this book against "civilian" histories of Operation Iraqi Freedom (which are also horribly limited at this point, thus the temptation to try On Point). Therefore, I preface my comments with the caveat that the authors deserve praise for their service and hard work and my criticisms/comments are designed to help potential readers rather than take the author's to task.

The most glaring difficulty with On Point is in the news on a daily basis. Not so much that the book does not cover the insurgency (in doesn't), as that it does not cover the transition to an insurgency. It was the "conclusion" of OIF that will interest students of the conflict. It's no surprise the authors avoided this topic, but it does make the study much less interesting. I would have thought it better to have tackled this head on and at least set the tone for what promises to be a decades long debate, but clearly for reasons of time or politics the authors avoided this.

My second comment is more personal, and perhaps wiser minds will eventually disagree, but the too frequent mention of Carl von Clausewitz in the conclusion seemed to validate all my fears about what the military did not learn from the conflict. OIF studied without the insurgency seems to offer a clean validation of the Army just as it is (OK, with a couple minor improvement here and there...). Yet, nothing could be farther from the truth. The compelling lesson of OIF wasn't that "Carl von Clausewitz would find none of this surprising." (p 413) It was that there is no clear on/off switch for war. War, insurgency, peacemaking, terrorism, rebuilding, all seem to go on simultaneously. The day may come when the Army has to once again prepare to fight a clearly defined war, but recent history suggests that this is the exception rather than the rule. Clusewitz's "friction" doesn't cover the multilayered, contingent nature of most conflicts.

Ok, so these are serious issues, but not what everyone wants to read about. Some of us are simply looking for a good war story. The authors certainly weren't given the freedom to write this, so we shouldn't scold them for it. However, if this is what you are looking for, then this isn't the ideal source. The stories are there. Heroism, amazement, technology, you name it. The "problem" with On Point, is that just when the authors start to "get to the good stuff" they switch perspective and move to a new story or event. Again, not their fault. Just something to be aware of before making the choice to read.

On Point: The United States Army in Operation Iraqi Freedom.......2006-08-23

Sensational video feeds and embedded journalist accounts shaped public perception of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the U.S.-led military campaign to topple Saddam Hussein. Accounts by embedded journalists added color but did little to illuminate broader strategy and planning. On Point, the official U.S. Army history of the campaign, is therefore a welcome addition to those accounts. It is a masterful compendium of the planning and operations that ultimately led to the U.S. capture of Baghdad. In addition to chronicling each units' drive forward, the authors add needed perspective. They contextualize the Iraq mission within the history of U.S. military campaigns: with concurrent operations in Afghanistan, the Iraq campaign marked the first time since World War II that U.S. armed forces conducted major campaigns simultaneously in different areas of operation. Not since the Korean war had a combined and joint land component directed all ground operations. The authors place special emphasis on new developments in information-based warfare. Digital linkages and new technology enabled unprecedented air-ground coordination. The authors also describe what lessons influenced military planners. They describe changes in military doctrine in the twelve years between the liberation of Kuwait and the overthrow of Saddam Hussein and include summaries of lessons learned from U.S. operations in Somalia, Haiti, Rwanda, Bosnia, Kosovo, and Afghanistan. Urban combat preoccupied the war planners. On Point describes various seminars, discussions, and exercises to prepare the U.S. Army to fight in Baghdad. Numerous photos, maps, and charts bring the descriptions to life. The authors offer considerable detail, not only of planning--training exercises in Germany, for example--but also describe how the U.S. military managed with very little public note to ready ports, airfields, and other infrastructure in the Middle East needed for its campaign. Subsequent chapters describe the drive north from Kuwait. Various battles are diagrammed and explained. A chapter on the fall of Baghdad gives behind-the-scenes detail on "thunder runs" probing the city, the much-photographed toppling of Saddam's statue in Firdos Square, and the final fighting within the city. On Point stops its narrative with the end of major combat. There is only the briefest discussion of the transition and no discussion of the start of civilian administration and the continuing insurgency. Some fleeting allusions beg more detail. While the authors mention that "the total number of FIF [Free Iraqi Forces, Iraqis trained in Tazsar, Hungary, before the war] was small, their strategic, operational, and tactical impact was significant," but do not elaborate on how or why. It is unfortunate that air force and navy operations remain outside the purview of examination, as some discussion of these would have illustrated force integration and given a better idea of the challenges and operations of modern warfare. While Operation Iraqi Freedom is generally a "good news" story--the authors identify areas for improvement: they argue that, in terms of combat service support and logistics, the army should not emphasize efficiency over effectiveness (when lives are at stake, duplication is sometimes necessary to ensure that missions succeed). Another lesson learned is that every unit should have the ability to fight and win; no longer are support units confined to the rear, out of danger. The capture of Jessica Lynch after the ambush of her 507th Maintenance Company convoy highlighted how speed and mobility precluded rear security. While Central Command headquarters in Qatar enjoyed the latest intelligence, the authors conclude that access to tactical intelligence among commanders in the field was too limited. Brigade leaders often did not have adequate information about the enemy in their immediate vicinity. Lastly, the authors suggest that the operations highlighted difficulties in the mix of active duty and reserve compo nents. On Point provides a major source for military history buffs, strategists, and general readers. Although technical, it should be required reading for every journalist, analyst, and academic who opines on the U.S. military in Iraq.

Michael Rubin
Middle East Quarterly
Fall 2006

Fine, Detailed Operational Study of OIF.......2005-09-15

To date, most of the published writing about the Second Iraq War has consisted of politcal/moral debates about the "rightness" of the war, or of first-hand accounts by soldiers and especially embedded journalists. Some of this work has been excellent--"Thunder Run" and "The March Up" come to mind-- and some have been self-serving, anti-war diatribes like "In the Company of Soldiers". "On Point" was commissioned by the Army as a history of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) through the fall of Saddam's regime in April, 2003, but despite the "official" stamp, and viewed in the context of the other books about the war, the book provides a refreshingly objective and highly informative analysis of the campaign.
The authors begin by outlining developments in US Army training, doctrine, logistics, and inter-service cooperation from the First Iraq War (Desert Storm) to Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and how these improvements made OIF (at least initially) such a success. The actual campaign description is minutely detailed, with numerous maps, charts and diagrams describing everything from unit manuever schemes and objectives, to logistics routes, even Iraqi deployments and order of battle. Army success and failures are clearly delineated, along with the authors recommendations for the future. Readers familiar with Bob Scales superb official history of Desert Storm will find the format and scope of "On Point" pleasingly famliar.
Unlike the Scales work however, unless the reader is comfortable with professional military writing, the prose of "On Point" may seem a bit intimidating. Sown thick with acronyms and abbreviations, I found the writing to be somewhat dry, and the battle descriptions and analysis almost forensic. The authors did thoughtfully include a complete glossary of military terms and acronyms, as well as the most complete US order of battle for OIF yet published.
Overall, the quality of this otherwise solid and informative work is diminished slightly by substandard priniting quality from the publisher, Naval Institue Press, whose standards are normally quite a bit higher. Hopefully, later editions of the book will correct this flaw.
While "On Point" is clearly intended for a professional miliary audience, the lay-reader willing to make the effort will find a clearer understanding of modern military operations and the institutional "lesson learning" process that make he US Army one of the premier fighting forces in the world.

Great information, but poor quality of printing.......2005-08-20

I've been waiting for a print version of this book to be available for some time, since the online version ( ... ) is hard to collect and read on the go. I was therefore thrilled to see the Naval Institute pick up the title and publish it.

While I am happy with the fact that I now have this report in one, bound copy, the printing of this leaves something to be desired. The entire book is black and white, and not a clear copy as it is, rendering many of the photos difficult to see or interpret. Grey boxes appear as they would on a poor copy machine.

The text is, for the most part, clear, and the story of course is as interesting as ever, but if you expect a high-quality reproduction of the online report, you likely will be disappointed.

Certain Victory: The U.S. Army in the Gulf War (Ausa Institute of Land Warfare Book.)

Average customer rating:

Good Book - Lots of useful information
Bad, bad, bad.
Very informative
HQDA Recommended Reading

Certain Victory: The U.S. Army in the Gulf War (Ausa Institute of Land Warfare Book.)
Robert Scales
Manufacturer: Potomac Books Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1574881361

Book Description

The official U.S. Army account of Army performance in the Gulf War, Certain Victory was originally published by the Office of the Chief of Staff, U.S. Army, in 1993. Brig. Gen. Scales, who headed the Army's Desert Storm Study Project, offers a highly readable and abundantly illustrated chronicle.

Customer Reviews:

Good Book - Lots of useful information.......2005-12-03

This book was required reading for a class I took on the Gulf War. It has a lot of good information written in an easy to understand format. It begins with a brief history of the U.S. military since Vietnam and explains the evolution in training, equipment, and doctrine since Vietnam.

The book also keeps you entertained with accounts of different battles at the begining of each chapter. This is a good book for those interested in getting a history of the Gulf War from the perspective of the US Army.

Bad, bad, bad........2004-04-13

Certain Victory, The Offical US Account of the the first gulf war, is a long treatise on the support and command and control efforts that went into the war, sprinkled with details of the combat operations. The book, written by Brigadier General Robert H. Scales and his staff is a poorly written, but well intentioned, attempt to convey the meaning of the work and planning that went into the war. Robert H. Scales planning and staff details are interesting, if not informative, however given the immense amount of history crammed into the first few chapters, this book does have some value to those interested in one mans perspective on the evolution of the modern army. If Robert Scales other books are anything like this one I would only recommend them to someone who is not looking for a good read but mearly searching for a book on a military reading list to tire through, this book could have been written in about a hundred and fifty pages, it is filled with drab and unexciting language. For anyone looking for an unbiased and factual history of the first Persian Gulf War I would recommend they skip this staff propaganda and instead read Rick Atkinson's Crusade, The Untold Story of the Persian Gulf War . By contrast it is a thoughtful and accurate account written by a distinguished author, unbiased by the reaction of others to his work. Not only is this book more accurate and insightful, it is also fun to read.

Very informative.......2002-09-20

Scales' book holds very true to it's title: The U.S. Army in the Gulf War. The contributions of other services are analyzed (and criticized) only in relation to their support of the US Army. I think anyone studying the Gulf War should read this book, but should also supplement it with other works.

HQDA Recommended Reading.......2000-09-21

This book is on the HQDA Recommended Reading list! Enjoy!

Iron Soldiers: How America's 1st Armored Division Crushed Iraq's Elite Republican Guard

Average customer rating:

Real world experience. Better than fiction.
iron soldiers
Not bad
Iron Soldiers is hard hitting, very true with accurate facts
Informative, especially for the novice

Iron Soldiers: How America's 1st Armored Division Crushed Iraq's Elite Republican Guard
Tom Carhart
Manufacturer: Pocket
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Middle East | History | Subjects | Books

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General | World | History | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

The Eyes of Orion: Five Tank Lieutenants in the Persian Gulf War

ASIN: 0671791656

Customer Reviews:

Real world experience. Better than fiction........2002-09-11

This is a great account of the Gulf War. The most fought part of the ground war, yet the least covered. Everyone hears about 73 easting (2ACR) and the 7th Cav debacle with 1 Cavalry Division, but this unit (1AD) fought the largest tank battle since World War II without combat losses. Yes I was there.

iron soldiers.......2002-01-12

was with 6-6 inf. as a brad. commander in c. co. found the book very accurate, right down to the detail of the falling out between iron mike and col. meigs who is now the cinc in usaeur. very good book and very accurate as to the battles we fought.

Not bad.......2000-09-07

While I was looking for a story on ground combat during the Gulf War, I was a bit dissapointed to see much of the book spent on the preparations in Germany before the division shipped out. Not a bad book, but not what I was looking for.

Iron Soldiers is hard hitting, very true with accurate facts.......1999-01-19

Iron soldiers is intersting reading that tells the true story of the First Armored Division in combat with Iraq's Republican Guards. Tom Carhart writes as if he was there during the combat misssions. He has exact information and details that describe many personal events about the prepration, deployment, and battles. He highlights and explains the fear and concerns of some of the leaders as they prepare to leave Germany. I almost relive the Gulf War when I read Iron Soldiers. I was a First Sergeant with the Alpha Company 54th Engineer Bn at Wildflecken Germany and my company was attached to the 2nd Brigade 1AD during the Gulf war. Any soldier who was in the ground war should read this book. I believe that they will relate to it and get satisfaction in knowing that we did our job well. First Sergeant William E. Miller (Retired)

Informative, especially for the novice.......1998-08-01

Considering the price, this book is a great buy that provides a good overview of life in a tank battalion. Tactics, training and armaments are well covered, though there is too much time spent on the familes back home. Some of the stories may be embellished, but they are accurate enough for the average reader.

From the Fulda Gap to Kuwait : The U.S. Army, Europe, and the Gulf War'

Average customer rating:

From the Fulda Gap to Kuwait : The U.S. Army, Europe, and the Gulf War'
Stephen P. Gehring
Manufacturer: Dept. of the Army
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Middle East | History | Subjects | Books

Kuwait | Middle East | History | Subjects | Books

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Book Description

CMH Publication 70-56. Describes how the United States Army, Europe (USAREUR), assembled, prepared and deployed the powerful forces it contributed to the coalition effort in the Persian Gulf and how USAREUR accomplished these challenging missions while maintaining its continuing security responsibilities on the Continent and preparing to execute its program of force reductions. Discusses the complicated planning for the deployment and the rapid-fire implementation of those plans. L.C. card 97-39460.

Average customer rating:

Pictures don't hurt as much, but they should
Compelling B&W images of U.S. Persian Gulf War

Just Another War
Kenneth Jarecke , and Exene Cervenka
Manufacturer: 2 13 61
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Collections, Catalogues & Exhibitions | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

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Customer Reviews:

Pictures don't hurt as much, but they should.......2001-11-25

This book is not for the faint of heart. Nor is it a book for anyone that will close their eyes to the atrocities of war. Throughout this book are images that never made it into the newspapers: pictures of barbarians that have no respect for the culture and customs of the people they are supposedly fighting for, picutures that recall the images of the Nazi SS and the hatred they showed to the Russian people on their march of destruction to Moscow. This book is filled with pictures not of Saddam and his armies, but of American servicemen exhibiting the sickening characteristics of the proverbial "Ugly American."

This book does not contain pictures of heroes. It contains pictures of American soldiers that will shock and disgust. Mr. Jarecke was there. The camera does not hide the horrible truth that our servicemen acted no better than the monster they sought to depose.

For some, the images contained with the pages of this book will be a new experience--for me it was painful reminder of my time in the service.

Compelling B&W images of U.S. Persian Gulf War.......1998-11-14

Jarecke's poignant images combined with Cervenka's offbeat poetry and artistic doodlings make for an interesting visual experience. Jarecke was the only major photojournalist to attempt to work "off-the-beaten-path" and outside of the U.S. military's scripted press coverage of the Desert Storm conflict.

It should be noted that this book is not for the lighthearted. There are many gruesome images of disfigured and often charred humans. These powerful images tend to get repetitious by the end of the book and lose their overall impact that I'm sure both authors were attempting to make.

If you're interested in seeing what U.S. soldiers saw from their "Hummers" after U.S. forces decimated the Iraqy militia or are interested in what you "didn't" see from the U.S. and world media, this book is for you.

Book Description

A detailed, expert history of U.S. Reserve and National Guard Forces, with a look forward at how they should be used in the future.

Customer Reviews:

Thoughtful analysis........1997-08-12

Duncan, an Annapolis graduate and Vietnam veteran, was the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs during Desert Shield/Desert Storm, and so uniquely positioned to observe the deployment and performance of the National Guard and Reserve units so vital to our efforts in the Gulf.
He examines the Reserves as essential to the All-Volunteer Total Force, and in the context of politics, outside of which the policies cannot be understood. Of particular note is his discussion of the unfortunate roundout brigades, which were activated but not deployed for the Gulf War, and the implications for future operations.
Finally, the author provides some observations, cautions, and recommendations, and concludes "Only if we are wise in our reliance upon our citizen warriors,can we be assured that in the future, as in the past, they will immediately respond to the war tocsin when new dangers arrive".
(Yhe numerical rating above is a default setting within Amazon's format. This reviewer does not employ numerical ratings.)

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