Descripciones mejoradas de Syndetics:

National security is always front-page news. A unique reference work now focuses on every aspect of this critical area, from computer security to antiterrorist measures.

Was the Marshall Plan simply intended to guarantee the sale of U.S. exports and prevent Western European and Japanese independence? Why is U.S. support for Israel crucial to national security policy? Is China a threat? How should the United States combat terrorism?

U.S. national security is no longer based on a natural defense involving traditional isolationism and friendly neighbors. With international trade an increasing goal of the United States, and the transportation of cheap products an ever-growing trend, U.S. interests outside national boundaries will continue to develop as will the need to provide security for those interests. This primer covers the Cold War and post-Cold War decades, identifies changing threats to national security, and introduces the agencies and individuals that shape national security policy.

Tabla de contenidos provista por Syndetics

• Preface(p. xi)
• 1 Introduction(p. 1)
• What Is National Security?(p. 2)
• The Old Days: Cold War, 1947-1989(p. 5)
• New Threats since 1989(p. 6)
• The Changing National Security Apparatus(p. 8)
• Notes(p. 17)
• 2 Enduring Questions in U.S. National Security(p. 19)
• Past Controversies(p. 19)
• Current Controversies(p. 34)
• Notes(p. 39)
• 3 Chronology(p. 41)
• 4 Personalities(p. 81)
• 5 Documents(p. 131)
• United Nations Charter (1945)(p. 132)
• "The Long Telegram" (1946)(p. 132)
• Winston Churchill's "Iron Curtain" Speech (1946)(p. 132)
• The Truman Doctrine (1947)(p. 136)
• The Marshall Plan Speech (1947)(p. 141)
• "Mr. X" Article in Foreign Affairs (1947)(p. 144)
• The Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance (1947)(p. 158)
• North Atlantic Treaty Organization Charter (1949)(p. 159)
• Dean Acheson's "Perimeter" Speech (1950)(p. 159)
• NSC 68 (1950)(p. 161)
• The Domino Theory (1954)(p. 162)
• John Foster Dulles's "Massive Retaliation" Speech (1954)(p. 163)
• Final Declaration of the Geneva Conference on Indochina: The Geneva Accords (1954)(p. 165)
• President Dwight Eisenhower's "Military-Industrial Complex" Speech (1961)(p. 165)
• Gulf of Tonkin Resolution (1964)(p. 170)
• UN Security Council Resolution 242 (1967)(p. 172)
• The Nixon Doctrine (1969)(p. 173)
• Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (1970)(p. 174)
• The Pentagon Papers (1971)(p. 175)
• Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty I (1972)(p. 175)
• Antiballistic Missile Treaty (1972)(p. 175)
• The Shanghai Communique (1972)(p. 176)
• War Powers Resolution (1973)(p. 181)
• Camp David Accords (1978)(p. 181)
• Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty II (1979)(p. 183)
• Taiwan Relations Act (1979)(p. 184)
• President Ronald Reagan's SDI/Grenada Speech (1983)(p. 188)
• Tower Report on the Iran-Contra Scandal (1987)(p. 197)
• Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (1991)(p. 198)
• North American Free Trade Association (1994)(p. 198)
• World Trade Organization (1994)(p. 199)
• Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (1996)(p. 199)
• President George W. Bush's War on Terrorism Speech (2001)(p. 200)
• 6 Directory of Organizations(p. 207)
• Nongovernmental Organizations(p. 208)
• Governmental Organizations(p. 262)
• Web Addresses for Governmental Organizations(p. 277)
• 7 Selected Print and Nonprint Resources(p. 283)
• Print Resources(p. 284)
• Nonprint Resources(p. 316)
• Commercial Media(p. 325)
• Index(p. 329)
• About the Author(p. 357)

Reseñas proporcionadas por Syndetics

CHOICE Review

Like its predecessor (CH, Apr'03, 40-4892), this volume features dozens of short (one-to-two-page) essays, biographies, and speeches. Watson (National War College) also provides information for starting research. The publisher's Web site describes this second edition as having "over 75 percent new material." Of the 35 biographies of key players in the national security field, 21 relate to individuals from the US. The rationalization for inclusion is far from obvious. One can easily question why the Saudi king, the current UN Secretary General, the current British prime minister, the Jordanian king, and all Israeli and Palestinian leaders are missing. Thirteen items are included in a chapter titled "Data and Documents." No data are included. One item is the public law on US-Taiwan relations dating from 1979; its inclusion seems odd, especially as it is the only document repeated from the earlier edition. The other items all date between 2002 and 2007. Eight of these are speeches by President Bush. Surely other addresses or communiques from others would help give a fuller picture. The list of journal articles has 25 entries, 19 of which come from Parameters, U.S. Army War College Quarterly. This volume raises obvious questions of balance. Summing Up: Not recommended. S. J. Stillwell Jr. University of Arizona

Booklist Review

New titles in the Contemporary World Issues series address two important and related topics by providing background, chronologies, biographies, documents, and lists of organizations and resources.

Notas de autor provistas por Syndetics

Cynthia A. Watson is a professor of strategy and director of faculty development at the National War College in Washington, DC, where she has been on the faculty since 1992