Conflict: A Military History of the Evolution of Warfare from 1945 to Gaza

Russia made a mistake invading Ukraine. They have destroyed their own country and their future. No one will forgive them.

The book is a systemic, chronology, progression, describing counter-insurgency, warfare over a period from 1945- the present. In each of these historical vignettes the authors reveal the evolution of warfare with much of the material derived from “ Army Counterinsurgency Field Manual FM 3-24 of 206 also authored by General Petraeus (see Appendix B). Much of this material took place under the conscious RADAR of the average human life during this time period.Although I have tremendous regard for Dr. Petraeus, I feel this very well done work is an extension of his doctoral thesis, he obtained from Princeton University. The product is essentially a tutorial on the concept of “ Clear & Hold Strategy” to replace overwhelming force as provided in the first half of the 20th Century wars with emphasis on civilian welfare. The authors’ arguments are very convincing and backed by references and real-life examples.The authors provide compelling descriptions and analysis for major conflicts during this period providing valuable observations and analysis to the future commanders for future conflicts. Hence, valuable reasoning backed by hard facts propel this work into War College present-day study. In fact, particularly present day situations play into the 1967 and Yom Kjippur Israel/Arab conflicts.The book is worth the price just to have General Petraeus personally provide the “Blow-by Blow” account of the Afghanistan War in chapter seven. Here on page 240 I remember the 19th of October US Army raid on Kandahar Airport, where I witnessed SECDEF defend the action to CNN reporters inside the DOD, HQ Pentagon weekly briefing. He then continues to review policy, manpower, politics, Afghan people, and their culture with insight and critique of how the war was executed. Assessment of this topic is very insightful and identifies reasons why Afghanistan did not have to fall.Interestingly, the next chapter regarding the Iraqi War, again General Petraeus provides a personal account of that conflict. While in chapter nine the authors reveal the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In all Petraeus’s retrospective-critique and analysis with his unprecedented intelligence and strategic background provides interesting reading for the war fighter and average citizen alike.The product has 442 pages of text in ten chapters with over one hundred pages of reference material, colored photographs, and a helpful map section. The index is very helpful for the amateur historian. My only suggestion to the authors: a page is required of military acronyms and what they represent. I highly recommend this work on counter-insurgency doctrine and operations and hope this material is never used against the USA.

Brilliant book, explaining a number of conflicts of the last 79 years in an exemplary way. Highly recommended.

Diferente. Pontos de vista em analisados

I do not often write book reviews, but this one is worth the effort. As an economist (thus not an expert in military and foreign affairs), I found that it offers extremely useful insights for scholars in game theory, defense economics, and business strategy.In this book, General David Petraeus and historian Andrew Roberts analyze the reasons and factors that shifted the balance of power during major conflicts after the Second World War. The style is precise, almost cold. The authors do not aim to appeal and sell books by filling the text with eye-catching stories and cheap talk philosophy. On the contrary, they bring to the forefront the cold facts as they are, without hiding the dramatic consequences of any war.The book analyzes war but is fundamentally a plea for peace. As the book relates, unsurprisingly, autocratic "nihilistic" regimes seek war; the surprise comes from the proven strengths of democracies that managed to oppose them in many instances.There is one major thesis defended in the book – beyond weapons, technology, and numbers of soldiers, the “human” factor matters. The morale of people fighting for a just cause is undoubtedly a major factor of success. And so is leadership. For Petraeus and Roberts, the four tasks of strategic leadership are (1) ”get the big ideas right, (2) communicate them effectively, (3) oversee their implementation with skill and determination, and (4) demonstrate a willingness to refine the big ideas again and again” (page 77).Also, a key lesson for today's defense policy is that spending on defense is never too much since the cost of lacking the resources to meet aggression is simply too high to bear. Unfortunately, whenever democracies rely on negotiation and trade to achieve peace, nihilistic regimes will never miss an opportunity to exploit the gap, using terror and aggression.This book is worth reading.