How Diplomats Make War

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An Insiders View of How WWI Actually Started vs. The Lying Propaganda

Who really caused WWI.

How Diplomats Make War
Francis Neilson
Manufacturer: Noontide Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | United States | Americas | History | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0317532952

Customer Reviews:

An Insiders View of How WWI Actually Started vs. The Lying Propaganda.......2006-08-12

Francis Neilson was a Member of the British Parliament when World War I erupeted in 1914. He was one of the first to articulate an honest view of the origins of this war when he wrote HOW DIPLOMATS MAKE WAR. While Nielson comments on sources and events in Great Britian, this is an important study because of the role the British played in this war.

One of myths that Nielson explodes is the one that supposedly the Germans engaged the British in a naval race. As Nielson clearly proves from documents, not newspapers and lying nonsense, the British authorities and press barons started this myth to provoke British hostility against the Germans. In other words, the Germans had no plan to compete with the size of the British Navy until the British made an issue of non-events.

Another myth that was hoisted on the British was the lie that the British entered WWI due to alleged German violation of Belgium neutrality. The Twenty-Four Articles which the British accepted in 1831 only required to honor Belgium neutrality and not to defend it. When the Germans invaded Belgium, this was the pretext for the British declaration of war. What Neilson and other honest historians reveal is that in 1906, the British Foreign Minister Lord Grey (1906-1916) made a secret alliance with French which committed British armed forces if the French got into a war with the Germans. This agreement was so secret that many in the British Government and Members of Parliament were not aware of it until hostilities erupted. To paraphrase a citation that Neilson used, How many fools does it take to make a democracy.

Neilson also makes mention that British cowardly loud mouths who called for war, blood, and death were not the ones getting wounded and slaughtered on the Western Front. These cowardly war wimps were ranting and raving for war while who preached sanity and peace were imprisoned. Yet, those who did preach sanity and peace were well vindicated when the actual results of the war hit home in Great Britain.

Neilson examines some of the underlying causes of Britain's entry into World War. He notes that German industrialism rivaled and surpassed that of the British. He also notes that the British Empire was too costly, and the German economy was in better condition than that of the British. One must remember that the British economy was seriously affected by the Boer War (1899-1902) which the British won only at great cost of lives and expense.

Readers should note just how stupid Lord Grey's and British policy was. The British allied themselves to the French who were in turn allied to the Russians. The stupidity is that during the second half of the 19th the Russians threatened the British Empire in Persia and India. Yet, the British indirectly allied themselves with the only ones who posed a serious threat to their empire. One must note that after World War I, the British Empire collapsed, and the Soviet Empire expanded.

Neilson wrote a readable account based on documents, not textbook and newspaper nonsense,and he was in a position to know as a Member of the British Parliament. Readers will find this book well written and sane. This reviewer strongly recommends this book.

Who really caused WWI........2003-07-11

In this great book,Francis Neilson,former member of the British Parliment,totally demolishes all the propaganda myths about the origins and outbreak of WWI.It is particularly good at destroying the "naval rivalry" myths such as put forth by Robert Massie in his book "Dreadnought".Neilson reveals that it was the British who started the rivaly and where the driving force behind it,not the Germans as we are always told.The increases in the German Navy was nothing more than a reaction to the British naval expansion and the Entente efforts to surround and isolate Germany.Neilson also exposes the myth of Belgian neutrality as the reason for England entering the war.We need more books like this and fewer of the Massie type propaganda/history books.This is a great book for anyone interested in this period of history.

How to Make War (Fourth Edition): A Comprehensive Guide to Modern Warfare in the Twenty-first Century

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That's certainly NOT a peaceful text...
Dunnigan is the best
Astonishingly comprehensive and well informed
Good for Wargamers - Veterans Need Not Apply
Very good

How to Make War (Fourth Edition): A Comprehensive Guide to Modern Warfare in the Twenty-first Century
James F. Dunnigan
Manufacturer: Harper Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books

Strategy | Military | History | Subjects | Books

Military Science | History | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 006009012X
Release Date: 2003-04-01

Book Description

An indispensable guide to how wars are fought, James F. Dunnigan's classic text has been enormously popular with citizens, professional soldiers, and journalists alike. Now, it's been revised to include a stunning array of new subjects. From the cutting edge of cyberwar to the current concern about terrorism, How to Make War presents a clear picture of complex weapons, armed forces, and tactics.

Describing a new world order, one with a greater number of equipped players than the "Big Two" (the United States and the former Soviet Union), this updated edition features all the elements of traditional warfare, along with a discussion of terrorist techniques; nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons; and Third World ballistic missiles. Past editions of How to Make War were chillingly accurate in assessing and predicting the outcomes of all the major conflicts in the past two decades. Loaded with expertise and the latest information, this edition is an essential reference for any military library –– and a work that forewarns, and forearms, the Free World for the conflicts ahead.

Customer Reviews:

That's certainly NOT a peaceful text..........2007-10-10

Amazing book. Every "military freak" (or let's say, enthusiast of this topic) must read it! Updated database of all types of modern warfare all over the world. Written in a simple however accurate language with a bit of joke will never get you bored. Dunnigan has collected a detailed knowledge about both the weaponry and strategy or tactics. This book will really make you understand how do people make wars nowadays. Then you can sit down and think WHY do they do it at all.

Dunnigan is the best.......2006-11-04

Not only is it extremely informative, but Dunnigan takes a potentially dry topic and makes it fun. Provocative thinking, excellent writing.

Astonishingly comprehensive and well informed.......2005-10-25

This is just the book I was looking for to get an introduction to modern warfare. It is comprehensive, thoughful, and insightful. Dunnigan is not afraid to provide an educated opinion where precise data is not available.

The book is full of facts and detailed information about weapons and systems, and the various armed forces, but also covers broader issues like leadership and even the effect of military spending on the economy and what is the real source of military strength.

I was blown away by the amount of information and insight packed into just over 600 pages. I have no military experience so I am not in a position to verify the accuracy of everything in the book but in the areas I do know about he was spot on (computers, in the chapter on cyberwar).

Good for Wargamers - Veterans Need Not Apply.......2005-01-04

Mr. Dunnigan is an respected authority on wargames and military simulations, having produced more than one hundred (mostly manual) games between the late 1960's and early 1990's. The rise and complexity of computer and video games has mostly left him behind, however, in producing profitable products in recent years. This book is best suited for a reader interested in wargaming or as a basic introduction to broad military topics. If you already own the Updated Third Edition (1983), very little substance has changed in the Fourth Edition. The post-9/11 war on terrorism and current war in Iraq are not covered in any useful detail. In fact, lessons from the first Gulf War are not explained much at all. The "How to Make War" editions are written very much from the perspective of a wargamer and to a lesser extent a civilian historical and military analyst. Mr. Dunnigan is not a military professional and did not command men and machines in combat as a career soldier, sailor or airmen. His insights are good and in many cases spot on, but an experienced reader will quickly realize that the book superficially covers most topics and never really explains the psychology, politics, and specialization behind the numbers. It portrays an idealized and romantic view, akin to Tom Clancy`s fiction, by simplifying the issues into mathematical analysis and technical explanations of systems. John Keegan's books do a much better job of giving readers a good understanding of men at war and how they win. Mr. Dunnigan's writing style may also put some readers off, as he tends to lecture and ramble. Given his expert stature in the wargaming community, this professor to pupil style is easily understood. In summary, this book makes a good introduction for non-professional military readers and in particular wargamers.

Very good.......2004-12-25

This book is one of the best I've come across on the subject of modern warfare. The chapters are well organized , easily read, and brutally honest on the truths of modern war as it is today and will be in the future. Dunnigan delves not only into tactis and strategy, but also other, often overlooked details of war in the modern world. Among these topics are morale of soldiers, training, equipment and technology, and logistics. Recommended for any student of warfare and current global issues.

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Collected Wit

How to Make War
Napoleon Bonaparte , and Napoleon
Manufacturer: Ediciones La Calavera
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

Military Science | History | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0964228424

Book Description

classic text tr w/an essay by Keith Sanbourn

Customer Reviews:

Collected Wit.......2002-06-12

Napolean is full of bon mots I have often quoted, wondering where to find the source.

This is the source.

Comments about conquering the whole world if only he had enough ribbon and his indictment of commanding generals who blame their superiors for ordering them to lead their armies to disaster. And others.

Perhaps not everyone views the world as a military metaphor but I do and Buonaparte has a lot to say on the subject.

Average customer rating:

surprising weak armor

An excellent book

HOW TO MAKE WAR

Useful not only for the military

packed with info.

How to make war: A comprehensive guide to modern warfare
James F Dunnigan
Manufacturer: Quill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books
Military Science | History | Subjects | Books
History of Technology | Technology | Science | Subjects | Books
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How to Make War (Fourth Edition): A Comprehensive Guide to Modern Warfare in the Twenty-first Century

ASIN: 0688079792

Customer Reviews:

surprising weak armor.......2002-04-14

This book seems to be very complete and the author highly qualified in war technology, strategy, logistics... For that one is easily convinced by almost all his affirmations but one: it's about the tanks: he says them are impressive war machines, but you must don't trust very much on his power: these steel monsters have demonstrated to be very vulnerable and his use are best when infantry have destroyed the main opposition, against residual resistence ¿¿??. Dunnigan trusts much more in war aircraft. I confess these paragraphs are astonishing for me after the Panzer campaigns, and today, in Middle East. As it were one must expect that also there this book must be read and serve for the ceasefire for once.

An excellent book.......2001-02-06

Very thorough. Excellent knowledge of the arms and methods of modern warfare as used around the time of the Gulf War and Cold War. Graphs and charts comparing Western and Russian /Third World armies and arms. Discussion of everything from strategies to morale and the intangibles of modern war. Gives insight into warfare and you understand why anyone who's been there doesn't want to go there again. Yet it gives the necessities and analysis of war. It's got alot of information, which the average reader may find more information than they need or want to know. Yet the readability is good. An excellent book.

HOW TO MAKE WAR.......2000-10-04

Background

1. 'How To Make War' is as the title suggests is aimed to be `a comprehensive guide to modern warfare for the post cold war era'. This, the third in the series of 'How To Make War' books written by the author James Dunnigan is a comprehensively revised edition published in 1995. The author has gone on to gain much acclaim through his later titles including the well-known `How Not to Make War'.

2. After the end of the Cold War, the world has seen major upheavals in the politico-military arena. The emergence of the United States as the only superpower and recent events such as the Gulf War in 1991, have changed the threat perceptions of most countries and as a consequence military policies. This has invariably lead to a rethink in warfare methods and techniques, in addition to the continued advancement in terms of warfare technology. Dunnigan has written this revised edition of 'How To Make War' with special emphasis to the above changes in the post Cold War scenario.

The Book

3. The author begins by acquainting the reader with the universal `principles of war'. The book is structured into four major sections, the first three being the obvious air, land and sea theatres. More importantly however, is Dunnigan's emphasis on the human factor involved in war, which has a section by itself devoted to it in Part Four of the book. In addition there are four other sections dealing with special weapons, numerical warfare, and transportation logistics. The final section is a summary and statistics of the weapons and armed forces of the time. The sections are interspersed with as many as 48 different charts and tables displaying a vast array of data, which help the reader in assimilating the text. The sections on Ground Combat, Air Operations and Naval Operations introduce and discuss the composition, roles, conditions, developments and future trends of their respective components. This helps the reader to understand and comprehend the facts presented subsequently.

4. In the part dealing with ground combat, the author has brought out the changing role of the infantry with the advance in technology. At the same time he clearly brings out it's indispensability with respect to occupation of enemy territory, which continues to be the final determinant of victory. Dunnigan also charts out the material developments in ground battle methods, by providing details of the armory of the major players of today. The tremendous development in artillery weapons is well documented and interesting, while the factual account of the same is fairly precise and informative. This section also has a chapter devoted to the increasing role of the paramilitary forces and reserves.

5. In the section on Air Operations, the author tries to substantiate his theory that the air force is primarily an information gathering service whose warfare role evolved to destroy the enemy air forces. He does dwell on it's emerging importance in softening of enemy targets for the infantry, while contending that this role is being taken up by air support divisions of the latter. He also elaborates at length on the air force's "simple missions" but complex "means". A separate discussion on Air Defence in the following chapter contains a wealth of information and statistics.

6. In the section dealing with the Navy, the author stresses the importance of control of commercial shipping lanes through naval might. The importance of technology upgrades for the US despite the indisputable superiority of its forces is dealt with at length. Submarine warfare and naval air operations are also discussed separately in different chapters.

7. The author has laid great emphasis on the human factors of war. He has dealt elaborately on the psychological, professional, motivational and leadership aspects of this major constituent of warfare. One cannot dispute his contention that "when it comes to fighting, warfare is not waged by numbers, but through the courage, determination, skill, and leadership of individuals. As a part of this section the author has included a brief discussion of the peacetime role and pressures on the armed forces.

8. The discussion on special weapons includes interesting details on electronic warfare and the opening up of space as the new dimension in warfare. The dangers of biological and chemical weapons and the tendency of Third World countries giving in to this low cost option is clearly brought out. The author also raises relevant questions about the viability of Nuclear Weapons and their relation to the conventional options. Dunnigan also raises important issues of economics and the logistics of war. The reader is given a concise picture of the quantum of mobilisaton of supplies and the related costs.

Comments

9. The book as a whole provides a fairly comprehensive picture of the world's weapons and armed forces. It also attempts to give an insight into the tactics employed. The information provided is interesting and educative without going into specifications of armaments and weapon systems. The author's credibility is enhanced by the fact that warfare developments and results of wars, have conformed to his predictions in earlier books. This book should not however be in any way mistaken for a book of reference akin to Jane's. It is more of an educative tool in the hands of a young officer who wishes to improve his understanding and comprehension of the various aspects of warfare.

10. At the same time the reader may be cautioned that the author's viewpoint is primarily based on information and intelligence derived from a majority of US sources. Some of the theories enunciated and assessments are based totally on US perceptions. Additionally the concepts enunciated in 1995, may require some revision in the fast changing world scenario. The length of the book and its text format (622 pages of fine print) does tend deter the prospective reader. However, the book provides the discerning reader (the service officer and the layman alike), an opportunity to expand his horizons, by enabling a fairly in depth insight into all the important aspects of warfare while increasing his knowledge on weapons and systems. 'How To Make War,' undoubtedly needs to be included in any Naval officers `should read' list.

Useful not only for the military.......2000-10-01

Excellent review of how military operations occur. I differ with the other reader below that says that the author assumes only two armies, the US and the USSR. He proposes that two different models exist. In the US/Western model the units are more equiped with the talents required to be self reliant. In the Soviet model the field units use the services of experts in other units because of lack of human resources with the needed skills. This got me thinking about the way we organize our businesses and how one model has proven more effective in the battlefield.

packed with info........2000-05-18

When researching my novel THE SHAPE: A NOVEL OF INTERNATIONAL SUSPENSE (available on this site, incidentally) I used HOW TO MAKE WAR for my research so as to make the ordnance section of my novel authentic. This is a well-written and well-thought-out book, and I highly recommend it.

Average customer rating:

great book

How to Make Wargames Terrain
Dave Andrews , Dave Cross , and Steve Cumiskey
Manufacturer: Games Workshop
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Models | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1872372449

Customer Reviews:

great book.......2005-01-29

this book gives you a good view into making wargames terrain. it covers most of the aspects very well and have some nice illustrations.
a lot the techniques can also be used in modelmaking and modelscenery construction

The lesson of St. Domingo: How to make the war short and the peace rightous. [Signed: Elizur Wright]

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The lesson of St. Domingo: How to make the war short and the peace rightous. [Signed: Elizur Wright]
Michigan Historical Reprint Series
Manufacturer: Scholarly Publishing Office, University of Michigan Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

United States | History | Historical Reproductions | Formats | Books
ASIN: 1418191892
Release Date: 2006-03-31

Product Description

This volume is produced from digital images created through the University of Michigan University LibraryÕs preservation reformatting program.

Average customer rating:

Pretty good reprint...
A classic book on boomerangs
Very baroque, but a fun read for present-day boomerang throwers
Slightly dated, but good information
A fun, do-it-yourself sport/hobby for all ages

Boomerangs: How to Make and Throw Them
Bernard Sterling Mason
Manufacturer: Peter Smith Publisher
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

ASIN: 0844650625

Customer Reviews:

Pretty good reprint..........2007-06-25

I loved this book as a kid so I purchased a copy for my kids.
Everything you need to know to make boomerangs of all types is covered here. The book does show its age some, as do many Dover reprints (you are unlikley to find the wooden sticks used by service stations for checking gas level anymore... use a thick yardstick instead).

A classic book on boomerangs.......2005-11-19

Would you like to make a boomerang? This book will teach you how to do that. And it tells us plenty about all sorts of boomerangs and how to throw them.

You start with a stick. You round the top side to a roughly convex shape while the bottom remains flat. And you bend the ends slightly towards the convex side. If you do it really well, it may already be a boomerang (called a "tumblestick"). You can try it. But it is better to make two of them and attach them to make a "cross-stick" boomerang. These tend to work very well indeed, unless they get caught in a wind. You can even put three of these sticks together, to get a "pinwheel" boomerang. And Mason describes a bunch of variations on all these designs.

Of the variations, the most interesting are the "boomabirds," which look like birds. There is some fascinating material on how to make them.

The book also includes a section on Australian boomerangs. There are two types. One is called the "return" boomerang. When thrown vertically, it makes an arc and returns (unless it hits something). The other is misleadingly called the "non-return" boomerang. When thrown horizontally, it returns. But when thrown vertically, it just keeps going until it lands. Australian boomerangs are weapons, and birds (which generally do not realize that they need to avoid them) are the prime targets.

I enjoyed reading this book, and I recommend it.

Very baroque, but a fun read for present-day boomerang throwers.......2005-07-11

I'd like to state that this is definitely not the book you should read if you want to make or throw a contemporary sports boomerang. The instructions Mason offers really scare me: he proposes multi-bladed boomerangs with a diameter of 36 inches with a 5 inch metal screw poking out on the back for easy one handed catching - give me a break! Two-bladed boomerangs only occupy a small bit of the book.

On the other hand, it's a nice historical view on a certain stage in the evolution of sports boomerangs (the book is from 1937 originally), and it contains the only description I know (including the web as known to Google) of one-bladed boomerangs, so-called tumblesticks.

Slightly dated, but good information.......1999-12-01

The book concentrates mostly on crosswing boomerangs and those built along the same lines. These are a lot of fun to make and fly but if you really want to get into the real thing (sport booms, not "hunting") there are better, more informative books available.

A fun, do-it-yourself sport/hobby for all ages.......1998-09-03

Mason tells how to build and throw an assortment of throwing objects besides the boomerangs, built out of wood or cardboard. As well, he suggests forms of competitions and judging. He puts a big emphasis on safety -- boomerangs and throwing sticks were designed to bring down small game, or even enemy warriors, so they require care in use. This would be a great addition to the after-school or summer fun program of your park, club, or school. It's also fine to do by yourself during the hours the playground is empty.

The Corporation Game: How to Win the War with the Organization and Make Them Love It

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The Corporation Game: How to Win the War with the Organization and Make Them Love It
Jerry W. Koehler
Manufacturer: MacMillan Publishing Co., Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Business Life | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

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How Diplomats Make War
Francis Neilson
Manufacturer: B.W. Huebsch, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000P67RVO

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How Germany Makes War
Bernhardi, Friedrich von
Manufacturer: George H. Doran Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000K7OPQ8

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Reading the Global Past: Volume Two: 1500 to the Present
Lanny B. Fields , Russell J. Barber , and Cheryl A. Riggs
Manufacturer: Bedford/St. Martin's
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | World | History | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0312171927

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Science Activities: Science with Light and Mirrors / Science with Water / Science with Magnets (Science Activities)
Helen Edom , and Kate Woodward
Manufacturer: Usborne Publishing Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Science, Nature & How It Works | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
General | Science | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0746011857

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Journal of Property Management, published by Institute of Real Estate Management on May 1, 1994. The length of the article is 3558 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

From the supplier: The sagging resort property market is starting to recover. Since the late 1980s, the industry, closely associated with fun and magic, has been having anything but a wonderful time. Hotel failures have jumped from 350 in 1988 to 500 in 1992, while properties have been selling for as low as a quarter of their original value. The national upscale resort market finally began to pick up in 1993, with demand rising to 66% from 64% in 1992. While the improvement in market demand does not inspire euphoria, property managers are 'cautiously optimistic' about the future. They predict a growth in the resort property market in 1994. Such optimism among property managers is now accompanied by intensifying pressure from resort owners. There is a growing trend for managers to share some of the responsibility for the resort's bottom line. They are compelled to streamline their operations and pay closer attention to the market.

Citation Details
Title: Paradise recovers its luster. (resort properties)
Author: Katherine Anderson
Publication: Journal of Property Management (Refereed)
Date: May 1, 1994
Publisher: Institute of Real Estate Management
Volume: v59 Issue: n3 Page: p22(4)

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