America's Armed Forces

This handbook by 14 well-known experts provides an overall analysis of U.S. military strengths and weaknesses in the 1990s and needs at the turn of the century. The first part of the book covers the U.S. armed forces under the Department of Defense and the military chain of command. The second half of the book deals with the American way of war, different military conflicts, and noncombat contingencies. The introduction defines national security concepts and sets the stage for the assessments that follow; the conclusion evaluates the military challenges confronting the United States in the 21st century. Each chapter offers short lists of readings. A glossary and comprehensive index make this an easy-to-use reference for students, teachers, professionals, and general readers concerned with America's defense needs.

SAM C. SARKESIAN is Professor Emeritus of Political Science at Loyola University, Chicago. He serves as Chairman of the Academic Advisory Council of the National Strategy Forum. Sarkesian has served as chairman of the Inter-University Seminar on Armed Forces and Society (IUS), chairman of the Department of Political Science, Loyola University, Chicago, and chairman of the Research Committee on Armed Forces and Society of the International Political Science Association. He has published a number of books and articles on national security, unconventional conflicts, and military professionalism. Some of his most recent books include: U.S. National Security: Policymakers, Processes, and Politics, 2nd ed. (1995), Unconventional Conflicts in a New Security Era: Lessons from Malay and Vietnam (1993), and Soldiers, Society, and National Security (with John Allen Williams and Fred B. Bryant) (1995).

ROBERT E. CONNOR, JR., recently retired from the Army with over 20 years service as an infantry officer. He served in Germany as a unit commander and weapons project officer. He also was Assistant Professor of Military Science and Tactics at Boston University where he taught courses on American military history and the American defense establishment. Most recently Connor was an instructor at the Combat Studies Institute, United States Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, where he taught courses on modern warfare and military theory. He has published articles on military history for the Command and General Staff College Press and has contributed articles for publication in Historical Dictionary of the United States Army (forthcoming).