War

This book tells the story of the war between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the Government of Sri Lanka in the context of the wider political conflict which began in 1956, with the introduction of Sinhala as the official language of the island. In January 2008, the FBI ranked the LTTE as the world's deadliest terrorist organization outranking even Al Qaeda. Yet by May 2009, the LTTE military organization lay completely annihilated by President Mahinda Rajapaksha's government. At the center of it all, coordinating the war effort with the armed forces, stood the President's brother and Defence Secretary, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa - soldier turned IT professional turned public servant. This is the story of how a small island nation turned the tide after a 30 year war, with a terrorist organization which not only had armed militants but also an air force and navy wing. It is the first time in recent history where a terrorist organization was eliminated and how it happened.

If you're keen on history, especially that of World War I, "The World Crisis" by Sir Winston Churchill is not to be missed. Churchill, with his direct involvement in the events, offers a perspective that's both authoritative and deeply personal. His narrative weaves together political maneuverings and military tactics, providing an insider's look that not only educates but also fascinates.

This book is a must-read for military personnel and historians who want to understand the challenges of insurgencies and counterinsurgencies. It provides a comprehensive guide to the principles of counterinsurgency warfare that emphasize adaptation, learning, and understanding local politics and customs. The manual also highlights the paradoxical and counterintuitive nature of counterinsurgency operations, making it a valuable tool for those dealing with modern warfare.

For those interested in modern global jihad, this book offers a detailed, day-by-day account of the 1979 siege of Mecca, shedding light on how the events of that time contributed to the rise of al Qaeda. Through interviews with direct participants and secret documents, the author provides a comprehensive, informative, and illuminating account of the siege.

This book is for those who enjoy thought-provoking and unfiltered political commentary. Hitchens presents a unique and unapologetic perspective on international politics and figures, showcasing his unwavering commitment to radical ideals. The book is a must-read for anyone interested in trenchant cultural criticism, opinion essays, and reportage.

This classic work details what happened in France during the year 1789, the first year of the French Revolution. Lefebvre's signature contribution was writing history "from below" -- a Marxist approach -- and his particular specialty was the French Revolution as viewed from the experiences of the peasantry. Placing the "common people" at the center of his analysis, Lefebvre emphasized the class struggles within France and the significant role they played in the coming of the Revolution. First published in 1939 for the sesquicentennial of the Revolution, the book was suppressed by the Vichy government as a piece of revolutionary literature after the outbreak of the Second World War and the subsequent collapse of the Third Republic. R.R. Palmer, a distinguished historian of the French Revolution, translated the book into English in 1947. Although recent historians have reinterpreted the Revolution and disputed Lefebvre's conclusions, The Coming of the French Revolution remains essential reading for anyone interested in the origins of this great turning point in the formation of the modern world.

For a Kentucky rifleman who spent his tour trudging through Vietnam’s Central Highlands, it was Nancy Sinatra’s “These Boots Are Made for Walkin’.” For a “tunnel rat” who blew smoke into the Viet Cong’s underground tunnels, it was Jimi Hendrix’s “Purple Haze.” For a black marine distraught over the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., it was Aretha Franklin’s “Chain of Fools.” And for countless other Vietnam vets, it was ”I Feel Like I’m Fixin’ to Die,” “Who’ll Stop the Rain,” or the song that gives this book its title.In We Gotta Get Out of This Place, Doug Bradley and Craig Werner place popular music at the heart of the American experience in Vietnam. They explore how and why U.S. troops turned to music as a way of connecting to each other and the World back home and of coping with the complexities of the war they had been sent to fight. They also demonstrate that music was important for every group of Vietnam veterans — black and white, Latino and Native American, men and women, officers and “grunts” — whose personal reflections drive the book’s narrative. Many of the voices are those of ordinary soldiers, airmen, seamen, and marines. But there are also “solo” pieces by veterans whose writings have shaped our understanding of the war — Karl Marlantes, Alfredo Vea, Yusef Komunyakaa, Bill Ehrhart, Arthur Flowers — as well as songwriters and performers whose music influenced soldiers’ lives, including Eric Burdon, James Brown, Bruce Springsteen, Country Joe McDonald, and John Fogerty. Together their testimony taps into memories — individual and cultural — that capture a central if often overlooked component of the American war in Vietnam.