President George W. Bush signed the Merida Initiative, referred to as Plan Mexico by critics, into law on June 30, 2008. The plan contains approximately $1.5 billion in aid to Mexico, Central America, and Caribbean countries to improve regional security by reducing organized crime, drug smuggling, and illegal arms trafficking while strengthening domestic institutions. Critics argue that the plan does not adequately address the demand side of the drug model, will add to the militarization of Mexico, empower corrupt institutions, and reduce the rule of law while failing to address the violence...

The United States National Security Strategy contends that the War on Terror is a "battle of ideas - a fight against the terrorists and against their murderous ideology." In turn, it separates the radical Islamist from their religion - Islam. The problem with this contention rests with the fact that there is no separation of religion from the terrorists', nor from their murderous ideology. In light of this disconnect, a new comprehensive counter strategy is required. Furthermore, ascribing to the premise that today's fight represents a global insurgency, the revised strategy must seek out...

The battles of Dienbienphu and Khe Sanh have many similarities. Both were fought in Vietnam on similar terrain. Both were at the end of long supply lines in isolated jungle areas. Both involved a protracted siege of the defending forces whose success or failure was dependent on their ability to resupply by air and provide close air support against the attacking enemy formations. Yet one force, the French were defeated by a seemingly lightly armed guerrilla force, while the American Marines, opposed by the regular army forces of the North Vietnamese Army, were successful. Furthermore, the...

This book conducts an analysis of the 1st Air Commando Group (ACG) and its operations in the China-Burma-India (CBI) theater from August 1943 to May 1944. History lends credence to the fact that this small unorthodox group of airmen, envisioned from the simple idea of "what if" and fashioned in a mere few months time into a cohesive and viable fighting force, breathed life into the stagnant Allied effort of removing the Japanese from the China-Burma-India theater. The question is, how? How could such a small unit, which was forced upon the traditional military structure in the CBI theater,...

Throughout the period 1900-1939 black Americans were actively involved in aviation. Until 1927 their participation was sporadic and their numbers limited. Between 1927 and 1936 black Americans' interest in aviation grew and several black pilots achieved notoriety through their aeronautical exploits. After 1936, the number of black Americans involved in aviation expanded and a national black flying association was established. Moreover, black Americans began to question discriminatory practices that restricted their opportunities in the air. Thus when the federal government expanded its...

The Battle of the Bulge (Ardennes offensive) was the first time air power was used to halt a counter-offensive. The mission most often associated with air operations during the Ardennes offensive was the re-supply of the 101st Airborne Division at Bastogne. However, air power played a key role in Allied victory by effectively executing close air support, air interdiction and in the more traditional strategic bombing mission. This work and technology project illustrate the air power contribution throughout, and even before, the Ardennes Offensive. The research findings are summarized,...

This book will discuss the effects of infectious disease on Napoleon's forces during the Russian campaign of 1812. In short, it will argue that the primary reason Napoleon failed to defeat the Russian army was because his forces were decimated by disease, specifically typhus, dysentery, and diphtheria. It will also demonstrate the affect of disease and illness on Napoleon's judgement and decision making process. This subject, infectious disease and the military, has great implications for military planners in the future. The recent Gulf war and its related "Gulf War Illness" is just one...

After September 11, 2001, the United States began a global campaign to eliminate terrorists and their support networks. During the Global War on Terror, President George Bush established the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba to hold individuals captured during military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. From the very beginning, Guantanamo Bay has faced criticism throughout the world. The Bush administration was ill prepared to begin and sustain detainee operations and failed to properly classify detainees under the Geneva Conventions. Subsequently, the Administration developed...