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Posted on Jan 15, 2016 in Books and Movies, Draft, Front Page Features

Outsourcing Security: Private Military Contractors and U.S. Foreign Policy – Book Review

Outsourcing Security: Private Military Contractors and U.S. Foreign Policy – Book Review

Outsourcing Security: Private Military Contractors and U.S. Foreign Policy.  Bruce E. Stanley.  Potomac Books.  238 pages.  Soft cover. $25.00 There are many books published that are simply not intended for the mass market.  These volumes are crafted by authors to be read by a particular readership. When that book also fills a gap in scholarship for that select group of readers then you have a special volume.  This is the case with Bruce Stanley’s outstanding book, Outsourcing Security: Private Military Contractors and U.S. Foreign Policy.   It unquestionably fills an existing niche and greatly adds to the body of knowledge in this area. As the title clearly suggests, Stanley’s focus is on the use of private military contractors (PMCs) by the United States.  Certainly, this is a subject area which can generate some highly emotional debate.  However, the author stays clear of the moral and legal aspects of their use.  Instead, Stanley examines the rise in the use of PMCs by the United States in the past 25 years.  Just as...

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Posted on Jan 3, 2013 in Draft

Pic test

I made a few other changes as well that should be helpful in adding images with the default editor. I automatically  added margins to the .alignleft and .alignright classes that should work with most images. The default of 7 px can be overridden in the advanced settings tab of the image handler. I also added a thin border around the entire caption box rather than just the top and bottom. I can change that back if people don’t like it. So to add images now, all you have to do is add the image using the I made a few other changes as well that should be helpful in adding images with the default editor. I automatically  added margins to the .alignleft and .alignright classes that should work with most images. The default of 7 px can be overridden in the advanced settings tab of the image handler. I also added a thin border around the entire caption box rather than just the top and bottom. I can change...

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Posted on Dec 13, 2012 in Draft

Tactics for test

Adaptation in War “Do not repeat the tactics which have gained you one victory, but let your methods be regulated by the infinite variety of circumstances.” Sun Tzu LAST MONTH In our last article, we focused on the combat raid. For an operation that strives to be as stealthy as possible; it perhaps receives more publicity than any other attack. This is because it is such a high risk/high reward operation. There have been many successful raids in history that have had a huge impact militarily and politically. Conversely, a failed raid can have the same dramatic impact. In our discussion of the raid, we keyed on a few areas. First, we reminisced a bit with a war story from days gone by. Second, we highlighted some of the more famous/infamous raids in military history. Finally, we dissected the planning, preparation, and execution of the raid. THIS MONTH Our article this month will be a little more thought-provoking than normal. We will look at adaption in war. Throughout history,...

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