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The Thin Blue Line: How Humanitarianism Went to War   Written by: Conor Foley,  Verso, New York and London, 2008,  ISBN 9781844672899, 266pp   Reviewed by: Tristan Moss, Australian National University Since the end of the Cold War the world has seen the significant growth in the profile and importance of humanitarian aid. Running parallel to this is the increasing currency of the concept of ‘humanitarian intervention’, an idea often used as a justification for government action in foreign crisis zones. …

The Science of War: Defence Budgeting, Military Technology, Logistics, and Combat Outcomes   Written by: Michael E O’Hanlon,  Princeton University Press, 2009, ISBN 9781400830930, 280pp Reviewed by: Mark Thomson, Australian Strategic Policy Institute Michael O’Hanlon is a prominent figure in the US national security debate. As senior author of the Brooking Institution’s Iraq Index and its Afghanistan and Pakistan variants, he has done as much as anyone to promote an evidence-based discussion of ongoing US …

Diggers and Greeks: The Australian campaigns in Greece and Crete   Written by: Maria Hill, UNSW Press, Sydney, 2010,  ISBN 9781742230146, 496pp   Reviewed by: Karl James, Australian War Memorial After its successful campaign in the Libyan desert at the start of the year, in late March and early April 1941, the Australian 6th Division was sent to mainland Greece with other British and New Zealand troops. The British had promised the Greeks military assistance if Greece was attacked. When the anticipated …

Counterinsurgency   Written by: David Kilcullen,  Scribe, Melbourne, 2010, ISBN 9781921640346, 264pp   Reviewed by: Peter Leahy, University of Canberra David Kilcullen has already earned a well deserved reputation as a practitioner, advisor and author in the field of counterinsurgency. In his latest book he substantially adds to his reputation. The book is a must-read for those struggling with counterinsurgency today and for those with an eye on the future of insurgency and terrorism. Although initially …

The Broken Years: Australian Soldiers in the Great War,     Written by: Bill Gammage,  Melbourne University Publishing, 2010, ISBN 9780522854947, 336pp   Reviewed by: Peter Stanley, National Museum of Australia Almost exactly fifty years ago a teenaged schoolboy from Wagga Wagga visited Canberra with his family. At the Australian War Memorial his mother confidently disregarded old ornate wood-and-glass doors marked ‘Staff Only’ and they found themselves in the former library. There they met staff member …

Abstract Adaptive Campaigning – Army’s Future Land Operations Concept is a wake up call for the Army and ADF as a whole, as it seeks to generate effects in the modern complex operational environment. A core element of the concept is the requirement to recognise and utilise the global information environment to support operations. While the concept in various versions has been available for some time, Army has yet to fully embrace the capabilities already resident within its organisation to focus on winning …

Abstract This article argues that, while the nine core behaviours are an excellent base for our soldiers, it is perhaps time to consider enhancing their skills to ensure they are better prepared for the dual factors of an operationally busy Army and competitive enemies. This article proposes the Enterprising Soldier model, to provide the Australian Army and the Land Force with a capability edge over known and anticipated enemies, which takes the Australian soldier beyond Army’s nine core behaviours. This …

Abstract John Boyd is a military theorist who achieved significant influence on military thought with his renowned OODA Loop. His thoughts evolved during the Cold War, but he did consider guerrilla and irregular warfare. The majority of his work dealt with this security environment as his frame of reference. The author believes that Boyd’s work remains relevant to the contemporary security environment. Boyd’s approach to strategy is articulated and then discussed using the 9/11 Commission Report as a tool …

Abstract This article reviews the 2006 US Army/Marine Corps Counterinsurgency Field Manual along with two major historical works on counterinsurgency. The author does not seek to present a precis of each work. Instead selected threads from each work are drawn out to pose the question: Are these works milestones that further our understanding of counterinsurgency or millstones that place impossible burdens on us? While other books and operational experiences have contributed significantly to the corpus of …

Abstract In the second half of 2009, two Australian officers served at the Headquarters of the United States Marine Corps 2d Marine Expeditionary Brigade (2d MEB) in Southern Helmand Province, Afghanistan. During this period the 2d MEB conducted significant offensive and counterinsurgency operations. This article focuses on one of these operations—EASTERN RESOLVE II—to act as a snapshot of 2d MEB activities and to draw lessons from the USMC experience for Australian Army audiences. In August 2009 the 2d …