The Fairytale Nerd, http://www.thefairytalenerd.com/, recently conducted an interview with Kristen. Read the interview at her website and check out her wonderful collection of reviews and postings on her blog at:
http://www.thefairytalenerd.com/2011/09/author-interview-kristen-eliassen.html .
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Book - How Wars are Won
Gideon Rose's book is fantastic. Details a flowing narrative of the way in which Americans have always fought the last war and a pathway out of this quandary. A must own book.
Books - With Wings Like Eagles
Quick read on the Battle of Britain.
Lively descriptions of the characters, mostly major, that were involved in the planning and the outcomes on both sides. Fair treatment of the Germans and their thought process throughout the planning and execution of the Battle itself.
Very excellent description of Sir Hugh Dowding and fighter command, to include the command post and his efforts to make it redundant and protect his internal communication lines within Britain herself.
Sparse annotations, but fairly documented.
Lively descriptions of the characters, mostly major, that were involved in the planning and the outcomes on both sides. Fair treatment of the Germans and their thought process throughout the planning and execution of the Battle itself.
Very excellent description of Sir Hugh Dowding and fighter command, to include the command post and his efforts to make it redundant and protect his internal communication lines within Britain herself.
Sparse annotations, but fairly documented.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Books - How War Ends
No one starts a war--or rather, no one in his sense ought to do so--without first being clear in his minds what he intends to achieve by that war and how he intends to conduct it.
Carl von Clausewitz, On War
Carl von Clausewitz, On War
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Books -- The Violence of Peace
Excellent discussion of jus ad bellum and jus in bellum.
In describing intervention to stop genocide, Stephen L. Carter states that "the assumption, still, is that even if ground troops prove necessary, it is somebody else's job to provide them." Somebody other than the United States, or even the West. "Which leads us to the problem: There isn't anybody else."
He finishes with a poignant: "Seriously."
Powerful.
In describing intervention to stop genocide, Stephen L. Carter states that "the assumption, still, is that even if ground troops prove necessary, it is somebody else's job to provide them." Somebody other than the United States, or even the West. "Which leads us to the problem: There isn't anybody else."
He finishes with a poignant: "Seriously."
Powerful.
Books - The Origins of Political Order
"Political power is ultimately based on social cohesion." (42)
Fukuyama asserts that political power is the product of more than just resources and number of citizens, but the degree to which the legitimacy o the leaders and institutions is recognized by that society and the citizens.
More to follow...
More quotes:
"Human beings are rational, self-interested creatures, and will learn to cooperate out of pure self-interest as economists assert." (43) There are structure pathways beyond this that give human politics it particular flavor.
Fukuyama asserts that political power is the product of more than just resources and number of citizens, but the degree to which the legitimacy o the leaders and institutions is recognized by that society and the citizens.
More to follow...
More quotes:
"Human beings are rational, self-interested creatures, and will learn to cooperate out of pure self-interest as economists assert." (43) There are structure pathways beyond this that give human politics it particular flavor.
- All human being gravitate toward the favoring of kin and friends with whom they have exchanged favors unless strongly incentivized to do otherwise.
- Human being have a capacity for abstraction and theory that generates mental models of causality, and a further tendency to posit causation based on invisible or transcendental forces. This is the basis of religious belief, which acts as a critical source of social cohesion.
- Humans have a proclivity for norm following that is grounded in the emotions rather than in reason, and consequently a tendency to invest mental models and the rules that flow from them with intrinsic worth.
- Human beings desire intersubjective recognition, either of their own worth, or of the worth of theis gods, laws, customs, and ways of life. Recognition when granted becomes the basis of legitimacy, and legitimacy then permits the exercise of political authority.
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Graduation
15 August 2011
American Military University
MA in Military Studies - Strategic Leadership
I will post the exsum to my thesis here one of these days.
American Military University
MA in Military Studies - Strategic Leadership
I will post the exsum to my thesis here one of these days.
Books - How We Fight
Crusades, Quagmires, and the American Way of War by Dominic Tierney
Excellent account of the types of wars that Americans enter into and the types of wars that Americans are willing to continue to support.
Excellently research and a very detailed bibliography make this a great reference for answering the question on the way Americans fight wars.
He asserts, in his conclusion, that "all three traditions are useful. The crusade tradition helps Americans mobilize for large-scale wars against foreign countries. The quagmire tradition makes us sensitive to the very real risks and costs of nation building. The foundation tradition highlights the wisdom of restraint during interstate war and promotes the military's involvement in a range of duties beyond conventional fighting." (p. 267)
The later is the tradition is the one that he recommends because of its use of the "full range of military alternatives--nation-building, limited interstate war, crusading interstate war--rather than just the most extreme and destructive option." (p. 267)
Throughout the book he uses examples of each of the national conflicts, in the nation's history, to discuss the different traditions and the way America has acted in all of them.
Highly recommended to help frame the discussion on the traditions of the American way of war.
Cheers
Excellent account of the types of wars that Americans enter into and the types of wars that Americans are willing to continue to support.
Excellently research and a very detailed bibliography make this a great reference for answering the question on the way Americans fight wars.
He asserts, in his conclusion, that "all three traditions are useful. The crusade tradition helps Americans mobilize for large-scale wars against foreign countries. The quagmire tradition makes us sensitive to the very real risks and costs of nation building. The foundation tradition highlights the wisdom of restraint during interstate war and promotes the military's involvement in a range of duties beyond conventional fighting." (p. 267)
The later is the tradition is the one that he recommends because of its use of the "full range of military alternatives--nation-building, limited interstate war, crusading interstate war--rather than just the most extreme and destructive option." (p. 267)
Throughout the book he uses examples of each of the national conflicts, in the nation's history, to discuss the different traditions and the way America has acted in all of them.
Highly recommended to help frame the discussion on the traditions of the American way of war.
Cheers
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Books - Killing Rommel
Just finished Killing Rommel by Steven Pressfield. Great work. He is an absolute master at explaining the camaraderie that is felt in a group of men during armed conflict. This is one that I will recommend wholeheartedly for those interested in the moral dilemmas that warriors face.
Monday, July 4, 2011
Netlibrary
Books from the internet. Interesting. Audio and efile. Able to peruse them for 21 days. Interesting.
Monday, May 30, 2011
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Chicken 12447
Heavenly good chicken this evening. Kristen has a great recipe that she is making tonight.
I am so thankful for how well our children are turning out. Must be their mother.
I am so thankful for how well our children are turning out. Must be their mother.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
John 9:33
"If this man were not of God, he could do nothing."
Beautifully simple words that convey so much meaning about the Savior. We would do well to remember that our relationship with him is all that matters. Our relationship with Him is also all that makes us who were are in life.
Happy Mother's Day!
Beautifully simple words that convey so much meaning about the Savior. We would do well to remember that our relationship with him is all that matters. Our relationship with Him is also all that makes us who were are in life.
Happy Mother's Day!
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Carrier
Bob Johansen, in Leaders Make the Future mentioned the 10 hour documentary Carrier as a leadership in action lesson. I watched the first episode and found it to be very well done. As I take the time to watch more of it over the coming months I will share my thoughts.
First thing I found is that the sailors on board the Nimitz seem much like the soldiers I serve with, especially on a deployment. Each of them have their reasons for being on board, or in the service, and the stories are the compelling reasons that make them interesting. Moreover, everyone has a story, if we are willing to listen to it.
First thing I found is that the sailors on board the Nimitz seem much like the soldiers I serve with, especially on a deployment. Each of them have their reasons for being on board, or in the service, and the stories are the compelling reasons that make them interesting. Moreover, everyone has a story, if we are willing to listen to it.
Saturdays
Saturdays are for family and projects, games and laughter. Make sure you do some of each today!
We spent time this morning editing Kristen's book, McKinley's Power. She is almost done and close to publication through createspace.com.
We spent time this morning editing Kristen's book, McKinley's Power. She is almost done and close to publication through createspace.com.
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