How Wars are Won and Lost: Vulnerability and Military Power

By John A. Gentry

This provocative book seeks to answer a most crucial--and embarrassing--question concerning the U.S. military: why the United States is so often stymied in military confrontations with seemingly weaker opponents, despite its "superpower" status.

This fascinating book examines a question that continues to puzzle soldiers, statesmen, and scholars: why do major powers--including the ostensible superpower United States--repeatedly perform poorly against seemingly overmatched adversaries? And what can they, and the United States, do to better achieve their military objectives?

How Wars are Won and Lost: Vulnerability and Military Power argues that beyond relying solely on overwhelming military might, the United States needs to focus more on exploiting weaknesses in their adversaries--such as national will, resource mobilization, and strategic miscues--just as opposing forces have done to gain advantage over our military efforts. The author tests the "vulnerability theory" by revisiting six conflicts from the Philippine War of 1899-1902 to the ongoing actions in Iraq and Afghanistan, showing again and again that victory often depends more on outthinking the enemy than outmuscling them.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0313395829
• ISBN13: 9780313395826
• Release Date: November 2011
• Publisher: Praeger
• Length: 328 Pages
• Weight: 1.41 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.1" x 9.3"
• Age Range: 7 to 17 years