Peace and War: The Arab-Israeli Military Balance Enters the 21st Century

(Hardback)

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Presents definitive, in-depth guide to the political and military capabilities of the key players in the Middle East, including non-state actors such as the Palestinians, and as to the outcome of possible wars. The uncertain Arab-Israeli peace process has scarcely put an end to the threat of war in the Middle East. Israel's relations with its Arab neighbors remain tense, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction is a problem for the entire region, and the Israeli-Palestinian fighting that began in September 2000 shows that the peace process can suddenly become a war process. Renowned Middle East military expert Anthony Cordesman provides up-to-the-minute analysis in this richly detailed guide to one of the most complicated, and dangerous, regions in the world. Cordesman covers every significant aspect of military and strategic issues in the region, including conventional forces, arms transfers, force quality and morale, terrorism, weapons of mass destruction, the dynamics of specific ongoing conflicts, and the outcome of possible future conflicts. He carefully weighs the political factors against what is known about actual military capabilities to shed light on the range of strategic options likely to be considered by each of the major regional actors, including Israel, Jordan, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, and the Palestinian Authority. He finds no easy answers, concluding that while the balance of conventional forces has stabilized significantly in recent years, the risks from unconventional warfare have escalated considerably and that any major new peace agreement is likely to unleash a whole new set of military concerns that have the potential to disrupt diplomatic agreements. Always mindful of the complexities of the region, Peace and War is the definitive guide to strategic developments in this vital part of the world.

Reviews

[t]he book is a triumph....Cordesman's work will constitute an essential tool for the analysis of what remains a highly volatile situation.-Shofar
[G]ives an excellent assessment of the military capabilities of Egypt, Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon-comparing them to Israel. It gives not only an assessment of equipment but the chain of command, training, and doctrines that enable the maximum use of military hardware....This book is an important reference on the military balance of power in the religion and gives honest and well-reasoned assessments on current and future capabilities. It is highly recommended for Middle East and foreign area officers, regional intelligence specialists, and counterterrorism experts.-Maine Corps Gazette
"the book is a triumph....Cordesman's work will constitute an essential tool for the analysis of what remains a highly volatile situation."-Shofar
"Gives an excellent assessment of the military capabilities of Egypt, Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon-comparing them to Israel. It gives not only an assessment of equipment but the chain of command, training, and doctrines that enable the maximum use of military hardware....This book is an important reference on the military balance of power in the religion and gives honest and well-reasoned assessments on current and future capabilities. It is highly recommended for Middle East and foreign area officers, regional intelligence specialists, and counterterrorism experts."-Maine Corps Gazette
"[t]he book is a triumph....Cordesman's work will constitute an essential tool for the analysis of what remains a highly volatile situation."-Shofar
"[G]ives an excellent assessment of the military capabilities of Egypt, Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon-comparing them to Israel. It gives not only an assessment of equipment but the chain of command, training, and doctrines that enable the maximum use of military hardware....This book is an important reference on the military balance of power in the religion and gives honest and well-reasoned assessments on current and future capabilities. It is highly recommended for Middle East and foreign area officers, regional intelligence specialists, and counterterrorism experts."-Maine Corps Gazette

Author Bio

Anthony H. Cordesman holds the Arleigh A. Burke Chair in Strategy at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and a special consultant on military affairs for ABC News.