strategic aspects

"Spy satellites orbiting the moon. Space metals worth more than most countries' GDP. People on Mars within the next ten years. This isn't science fiction-it's reality. Humans are venturing up and out, and we're taking our competitive spirit with us. Soon, what happens in space will shape human history as much the mountains, rivers, and seas have impacted civilizations around the world. It's no coincidence that Russia, China, and the USA are leading the way. The next fifty years will change the face of global politics and the world order as we know it. In this gripping work, bestselling author Tim Marshall navigates the new geopolitical landscape to show how we got here and where we're heading. Extensively researched and drawing on the latest information from intelligence, government, and civilian institutions, this book provides a detailed, clear account of the new space race, the power rivalries, and how technology, economics, and war have a ripple effect on everyone across the globe. Written with all the insight and wit that have made Marshall one of the world's most popular and trusted writer on geopolitics, The Future of Geography is an essential read about global power, politics, and the future of humanity"--Provided by publisher.

"When we think about the future of war, the military and Washington and most everyone gets it backwards. We think in terms of buying single military systems, such as fighter jets or aircraft carriers. And when we think about modernizing those systems, we think about buying better versions of the same things. But what really matters is not the single system but "the battle network"--the collection of sensors and shooters that enables a military to find an enemy system, target it, and attack it. This process is what the military calls "the kill chain"--how you get from detection to action, and do it as quickly as possible. The future of war is not about buying better versions of the same systems we have always had; it is about buying faster, better kill chains.As former Staff Director for the Senate Armed Services Committee and senior policy advisor to Senator John McCain, Christian Brose saw this reality up close. In The Kill Chain, he elaborates on one of the greatest strategic predicaments facing America now: that we are playing a losing game. Our military's technological superiority and traditional approach to projecting power have served us well for decades, when we faced lesser opponents. But now we face highly capable and motivated competitors that are using advanced technologies to erode our military edge, and with it, our ability to prevent war, deter aggression, and maintain peace. We must adapt or fail, Brose writes, and the biggest obstacle to doing so is the sheer inertial force of the status quo"--.

Examines the expansion of NATO and contends the motivations of the alliance are not humanitarianism and are focused on the domination of the world's economies, waterways, and fossil fuels.

Examines the means by which Philip II of Spain ruled the first global empire in history, looking at the strategic priorities upon which his policies were built, the practices and prejudices that influenced his decision-making, and the external factors that affected the achievement of his goals.

The untold story of a covert submarine espionage operation against the Soviet Union during the Cold War, as experienced by the commanding officer of an active submarine. Few individuals outside the intelligence and submarine communities then knew anything about these top-secret missions, now known as the U.S. Navy's "silent service." Cloaking itself in virtual invisibility to avoid detection, the USS Blackfin went sub vs. sub, deep within Soviet-controlled waters north of the Arctic Circle, where the risks were extraordinarily high and anything could happen.--From publisher description.

Povides an insider's account of espionage maneuvers in Berlin between America's CIA and Russia's KGB from 1945 to the construction of the Berlin Wall in 1961.

Contains thirty-two essays that examine conflicts and confrontations in Asia and the Middle East each with a summary of the featured country's most pressing problems; analysis of the origins, nature, and history of the conflicts; country facts and statistics; maps; a timeline; and sources of further information.

An exploration of the history of Afghanistan since 1808 that focuses on the country's foreign relations and discusses Russian, British, and American involvement.