On War


Book Description







War With No Gains


Book Description

I was ordered to attack a Pakistan’s-very strong defensive position, opposite me on the same night. It made no sense to me, particularly when my entire Brigade Sector was under intense shelling and Pakistan, having the initiative could attack that night. Under the then prevailing circumstances I was certain that lifting of troops from one of my forward infantry battalions would unbalance me and I, therefore, had no option but to refuse the GOCs order. He was livid and very angry and that led to my fighting Maj Gen E’Desouza rather than Pakistan during the fortnight of the War. For all my subsequent offensive actions, he refused to give me any additional troops from his reserve Brigade, which was located in my Sector only and that too without any ground holding responsibility or any other commitment. We, of course, did our best but that was not good enough. My Brigade would have achieved much more, if additional resources had been allotted to me by the GOC for specific tasks. In this bargain the Indian Army and the Nation lost a golden opportunity to capture real estate in POK. —Excerpt from the book This book by Lt Gen KK Nanda serves a good purpose in portraying important aspects of Army life in Operational Areas and during War. It is of value to professionals as well as to the general public, interested in defence issues. War With No Gains by Lt. Gen. K.K. Nanda : "War With No Gains: An Insider's Account" offers a compelling and insightful narrative of warfare from the perspective of Lt. Gen. K.K. Nanda. Drawing from his extensive military experience, the book provides a firsthand account of the realities, complexities, and consequences of armed conflicts. Lt. Gen. Nanda offers valuable insights into the human cost of war and emphasizes the importance of peaceful resolutions to global conflicts. Key Aspects of the Book "War With No Gains: An Insider's Account": Personal Experiences: Lt. Gen. K.K. Nanda shares his personal experiences and encounters on the battlefield, providing readers with a unique perspective on the challenges faced by soldiers and the emotional toll of war. Strategic Analysis: The book goes beyond personal anecdotes and delves into strategic analysis, examining the factors that contribute to the initiation and escalation of conflicts. Lt. Gen. Nanda offers reflections on the impact of geopolitical dynamics and the importance of diplomatic efforts in preventing war. Lessons for Peace: "War With No Gains" highlights the futility of war and underscores the significance of peaceful resolutions. Lt. Gen. Nanda advocates for dialogue, cooperation, and conflict resolution methods to avoid the devastating consequences of armed conflicts. Lt. Gen. K.K. Nanda, a distinguished military officer, brings his extensive firsthand experience to "War With No Gains: An Insider's Account." With a decorated career in the armed forces, Lt. Gen. Nanda witnessed the harsh realities of war and its profound impact on both soldiers and civilians. Through his book, he aims to shed light on the human side of conflicts and advocate for peaceful solutions. Lt. Gen. Nanda's unique perspective and insights provide readers with a deeper understanding of the complexities of war and the urgent need for global efforts to prioritize peace and diplomacy.




War and the Art of Governance


Book Description

Success in war ultimately depends upon the consolidation of political order. Consolidating the new political order is not separate from war, rather Nadia Schadlow argues that governance operations are an essential component of victory. Despite learning this the hard way in past conflicts from the Mexican War through Iraq and Afghanistan, US policymakers and the military have failed to institutionalize lessons about post-conflict governance and political order for future conflicts. War and the Art of Governance distills lessons from fifteen historical cases of US Army military intervention and governance operations from the Mexican War through the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Improving outcomes in the future will require US policymakers and military leaders to accept that the political dimension is indispensable across the full spectrum of war. Plans, timelines, and resources must be shaped to reflect this reality before intervening in a conflict, not after things start to go wrong. The American historical experience suggests that the country's military will be sent abroad again to topple a regime and install a new government. Schadlow provides clear lessons that must be heeded before next time.




No Surrender


Book Description

In the spring of 1974, Second Lieutenant Hiroo Onoda of the Japanese army made world headlines when he emerged from the Philippine jungle after a thirty-year ordeal. Hunted in turn by American troops, the Philippine police, hostile islanders, and successive Japanese search parties, Onoda had skillfully outmaneuvered all his pursuers, convinced that World War II was still being fought and that one day his fellow soldiers would return victorious. This account of those years is an epic tale of the will to survive that offers a rare glimpse of man's invincible spirit, resourcefulness, and ingenuity. A hero to his people, Onoda wrote down his experiences soon after his return to civilization. This book was translated into English the following year and has enjoyed an approving audience ever since.




War Is a Racket


Book Description

War Is a Racket is a famous anti-war book written by retired Major General Smedley Buter. In the book, Butler discusses how businesses profit from conflict.




We Who Dared to Say No to War


Book Description

A compelling collection of speeches, articles, poetry, book excerpts, political cartoons, and more from the American antiwar tradition beginning with the War of 1812 offers the full range of the subject's richness and variety, with contributions from Daniel Webster, Mark Twain, Andrew Carnegie, Patrick Buchanan, and many others. Original.




Congressional Record


Book Description

The Congressional Record is the official record of the proceedings and debates of the United States Congress. It is published daily when Congress is in session. The Congressional Record began publication in 1873. Debates for sessions prior to 1873 are recorded in The Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States (1789-1824), the Register of Debates in Congress (1824-1837), and the Congressional Globe (1833-1873)




Historical Records 史记


Book Description

史记 "Historical Records" was written by Sima Qian, the Western Han Dynasty historian. The biographical history book is the first biographical general history in China, documented on to the ancient legend of the Yellow Emperor era, down to the Han Dynasty between the beginning four years, a total of 3,000 years of history. In 104 B.C., Sima Qian began the creation of a history book called " Tai Shi Gong Shu " which was later called “史记”, or "Historical Records". It took 14 years before and after to complete. The "Historical Records" book includes twelve Origins Volumes recording the emperor's political achievements (“十二本纪”), thirty Family Volumes remembering the vassal state and dynasty princes (“三十世家”), honors and dying, Seventy Fame Verses remembering the deeds of important people (“七十列传”),ten Tables (chronology of major events, “十表”), eight Books remembering various rules and regulations, ritual, music, temperament, calendar, astronomy, meditation, water conservancy, financial use (“八书”), a total of 130 articles, 520 thousand words. The book is translation of full text of Historical Records, covering all contents aforementioned.




Miller Cornfield at Antietam: The Civil War’s Bloodiest Combat


Book Description

On September 17, 1862, the forces of Major General George B. McClellan and his Union Army of the Potomac confronted Robert E. Lee's entire Army of Northern Virginia at the Battle of Antietam in Sharpsburg, Maryland. The Union forces mounted a powerful assault on Lee's left flank in the idyllic Miller Cornfield. It was the single bloodiest day in the history of the Civil War. The elite combat units of the Union's Iron Brigade and the Confederate Texas Brigade held a dramatic showdown and suffered immense losses through vicious attacks and counterattacks sweeping through the cornstalks. Author Phillip Thomas Tucker reveals the triumph and tragedy of the greatest sacrifice of life of any battleground in America.