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Book Review: Total Defense: The New Deal and the Invention of National Security
Michael S. Neiberg
Author: Andrew Preston
Reviewed by: Dr. Michael S. Neiberg, Chair of War Studies, US Army War College
In Total Defense: The New Deal and the Invention of National Security, Andrew Preston reveals how Franklin D. Roosevelt’s domestic reforms laid the groundwork for America’s modern national security state. Blending political history with strategic insight, the book uncovers how the New Deal reshaped the U.S. approach to global threats long before World War II. It’s a compelling story of how internal crises forged a new vision of American power on the world stage.
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Book Review: Blood, Mud, and Oil Paint: The Remarkable Year That Made Winston Churchill
Kevin J. Weddle
Author: J. Furman Daniel III
Reviewed by: Kevin J. Weddle, Distinguished Fellow, US Army War College
In Blood, Mud, and Oil Paint, J. Furman Daniel III captures the transformative year that shaped Winston Churchill’s resilience, leadership, and artistry. From the trenches of World War I to the quiet refuge of his painting studio, Churchill’s journey reveals a man grappling with failure, reinvention, and the pursuit of purpose. This compelling portrait blends military history with personal introspection, offering a fresh lens on one of the 20th century’s most iconic figures.
©2026 Kevin J. Weddle
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Book Review: Beyond Black Hawk Down: Intervention, Nation-Building, and Insurgency in Somalia, 1992-1995
Christian Werner
Author: Jonathan Carroll
Reviewed by: Colonel Christian Werner, director of European studies, Department of National Security and Strategy, US Army War College
In this groundbreaking military history, Jonathan Carroll moves beyond the infamous Battle of Mogadishu to uncover the full scope of the US and UN intervention in Somalia. Drawing on newly available sources and the Somali perspective, Carroll reveals how a promising humanitarian mission unraveled into a cautionary tale of political missteps and failed nation-building. Beyond Black Hawk Down offers vital lessons for future interventions in fragile states, making it essential reading for policymakers, historians, and military strategists alike.
©2026 Christian Werner
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Book Review: China's Air Power and Maritime Strategies Towards the Indian Ocean Region
Punsara Amarasinghe
Author: Joshy M. Paul
Reviewed by: Dr. Punsara Amarasinghe, Institute of Law, Politics and Development, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Pisa, Italy
How is China reshaping the strategic balance in the Indian Ocean? In China's Air Power and Maritime Strategies Towards the Indian Ocean Region, Joshy M. Paul explores Beijing’s military modernization, naval expansion, and airpower ambitions as it seeks dominance through bases, partnerships, and economic leverage. This timely analysis reveals the growing contest between China’s expeditionary capabilities and India’s deterrence strategies in one of the world’s most critical maritime theaters.
©2026 Punsara Amarasinghe
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