Dragon Days: Time for "Unconventional" Tactics
by H. John Poole
List Price:
Our Price: $9.25
You Save: $7.70 (45%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $4.99 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: H. John PooleIllustrator: Mike Leahy
Foreword: Ray L. Smith
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2007-10-10
ISBN: 096386954X
Number of pages: 484
Publisher: Posterity Press (NC)
Book Reviews of Dragon Days: Time for "Unconventional" Tactics
Book Review: International Law Enforcement thru Unconventional Tactics
Summary: 5 Stars
H. J. Poole, in DRAGON DAYS, turns attention to beating our opponents in "The War on Terror". His basic approach is to enforce International Law utilizing Unconventional military techniques.
First, Poole addresses the question of whether or not the Red Chinese are involved in promulgating terror. Given that Afghanistan is proximal to its border, and that Pakistan has been a long time ally against its traditional foe India, Chinese involvement with Islamic radicals may well reflect their regard for their own interests. From a strictly national perspective, the Chinese are cogent to counter increasing U.S. and Indian influence in their own back yard. While radical Muslamic terrorists have their own agenda, Chinese involvement may not be based on ideological concerns. Indeed, a total U.S. disaster may mean that the Chinese won't receive a return on money borrowed from it by the U.S.(!)
The "War on Terror" - is it a military struggle - or International Law enforcement? Here, Poole is on solid ground recommending, in the second section of his book, that the U.S. and its allies approach terrorism in a law-and-order context. A relevant illustration is a recent event in Indonesia: after a night club bombing that claimed the lives of several western tourists, as well as Indonesians', the Indonesian authorities brought the radical Islamic perpetrators to trial and subsequent conviction. Though largely a Muslim nation, Indonesia wasn't rocked by civil unrest after the terrorists were convicted.
The techniques profiled in Poole's book are similar to those the TV viewer can find on "CSI" type programs. Poole rightly compares how a criminal case is pursued by the NYPD versus how a U.S. military unit would respond to a similar incident in Afghanistan or Iraq. Civil authorities in the "Big Apple" - and their elected representatives holding national office - would be justly outraged over military operations in New York City as these are conducted routinely in the Mid-East. Repercussions for such conduct would be swift - and career ending.
International terrorism is a breach of International Law. When the international terrorist is regarded as the equivalent of the serial rape-murderer, rather than the representative of a just cause, all societies, Western, Eaastern, Muslim, developing world - all societies will pursue his elimination. Trial by World-recognized judicial authorities, based upon forensic evidence with internationally-agreed upon validity, is the surest means to undermine any moral authority of the terrorist.
When Poole discusses small unit tactical operations, he is on his own turf in the final section of his book. While one may question his political analyses, there is no denying his experience and post military career tactical studies. The sources of Poole's tactical craft are Asian in origin. He relies heavily on North Vieetnamese/Viet Cong, Japanese Ninja and North Korean "Light Infantry Bureau" sources in his depiction of appropriate techniques, even providing the outline of a training program on "unconventional warfare".
Poole holds that U.S. "Special Operators" need a different direction in their tactical techniques, and that these unconventional skills should be promulgated to the level of the common infantry units. He stresses the significance of tactical finesse at the squad level versus the large-unit operations favored by the U.S. Military establishment. He decries the unnecessary reliance upon technology and firepower at the expense of good field craft and tactical skills. While the applicability of his touted "flying column" assault may be questioned, the tactical competence required to execute it is one the U.S. ground forces should definitely seek to achieve.
More astute readers may pay closer attention to Poole's focus on China's role and debate its applicability. There is room for a wide dispersion of viewpoints on these matters. Poole has presented his conclusions. Others may agree or disagree with him. His discussions in the tactical realm will doubtless draw more criticism: many western-inluenced military enthusiasts will, no doubt, decry his approach to "unconventional tactics". Certainly the U. S. Military establishment's predilection for hi-tech and lots of firepower aren't reflected in Poole's techniques.
However, two aspects are to be noted: 1) The current conflict in Central Asia and the Mid-East call for a much more sophistacated law enforcement-cum-light infantry approach, especially when operating among a civilian population. Enraging this population is counter productive; and, as has been noted by other observers, the U.S. forces cannot "kill their way" out of their tactical problems. 2) If only at the outset of their employment, Poole's recommended "Unconventional Tactics" may just succeed, simply because our current foes would never expect a tech-heavy, firepower-reliant U.S. force to fight in such a manner.
Summary of Dragon Days: Time for "Unconventional" Tactics
NPR reported on 12/15/11 that DoD's focus had shifted from Europe to Asia and SW Pacific. This book describes the extent of Islamist and Communist expansion there and how to quell it. Both takeover tries involve drugs and are otherwise similar, so only one solution is required. Instead of occupying countries or training their armies, the Pentagon must blanket the area with tiny foreign-assistance teams in the law enforcement sector. This takes more police and Unconventional Warfare (UW) ability than any U.S. grunt or special operator currently has. Part One details the extent of the subversion. Part Two shows what the teams must know about criminal investigative procedure. Part Three has the UW techniques they will need to escape encirclement. As such, this book may be America's only UW tactical-technique manual.Afghanistan Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Afghanistan Books
Osama bin Laden: A Biography (Greenwood Biographies)by Thomas R. Mockaitis
Greenwood; Published: 2010-01-29; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $35.00
Winning the War of Words: Selling the War on Terror from Afghanistan to Iraq (Praeger Security International)by Wojtek Mackiewicz Wolfe
Praeger; Published: 2008-01-30; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $17.79
Price in other shops:
The Search for Peace in Afghanistan: From Buffer State to Failed Stateby Professor Barnett R. Rubin
Yale University Press; Published: 1995-11-29; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $39.28
Price in other shops:
Private Sector, Public Wars: Contractors in Combat - Afghanistan, Iraq, and Future Conflicts (The Changing Face of War)by James Jay Carafano
Praeger; Published: 2008-07-30; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $42.72
Price in other shops:
Koran, Kalashnikov, and Laptop: The Neo-Taliban Insurgency in Afghanistan 2002-2007 (Columbia/ Hurst)by Antonio Giustozzi
Columbia University Press; Published: 2007-11-29; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $11.99
Price in other shops:
The Later Ghaznavids: Splendour and Decay : The Dynasty in Afghanistan and Northern India, 1040-1186 (Persian Studies Series)by Clifford Edmund Bosworth
Mazda Pub; Published: 1977-10; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $75.00
Sharing Water: Irrigation and Water Management in the Hindukush-Karakoram-HimalayaOxford University Press, USA; Published: 2000-10-26; Hardcover; Book
Price in other shops:
Ghost Wars: The Secret History of the CIA, Afghanistan, and Bin Laden, from the Soviet Invasion to September 10, 2001by Steve Coll
Penguin (Non-Classics); Published: 2004-12-28; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.10
Price in other shops:
Bomb Hunters: In Afghanistan with Britain's Elite Bomb Disposal Unitby Sean Rayment
HarperCollins UK; Published: 2011-09-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.47
Price in other shops:
Bomb Huntersby Sean Rayment
Harper Collins Ome; Published: 2011-02-03; Paperback; Book
Best price: $26.55
Similar Books and other products
Global Warrior: Averting WWIIIby H. John Poole
Posterity Press; Published: 2011-07-31; Paperback; Book
Best price: $10.36
Price in other shops:
Expeditionary Eagles: Outmaneuvering the Talibanby H. John Poole
Posterity Press (NC); Published: 2010-07-15; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.58
Price in other shops:
Militant Tricks: Battlefield Ruses of the Islamic Insurgentby H. John Poole
Posterity Press; Published: 2005-10-17; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.91
Price in other shops:
Tactics of the Crescent Moon: Militant Muslim Combat Methodsby H. John Poole
Posterity Press; Published: 2004-11-05; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.93
Price in other shops:
Terrorist Trail: Backtracking the Foreign Fighterby H. John Poole
Posterity Press; Published: 2006-10-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $10.29
Price in other shops:
Homeland Siege: Tactics for Police and Militaryby H. John Poole
Posterity Press (NC); Published: 2009-07-09; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.58
Price in other shops:
Tequila Junction: 4th-Generation Counterinsurgencyby H. John Poole
Posterity Press; Published: 2008-08-22; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.50
Price in other shops:
Phantom Soldier: The Enemy's Answer to U.S. Firepowerby H. John Poole
Posterity Press; Published: 2001-08-09; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.69
Price in other shops:
The Tiger's Way: A U.S. Private's Best Chance for Survivalby H. John Poole
Posterity Press; Published: 2003; Paperback; Book
Best price: $10.84
Price in other shops:
Fry The Brain: The Art of Urban Sniping and its Role in Modern Guerrilla Warfareby John West
Spartan Submissions, Incorporated; Published: 2008-10-27; Paperback; Book
Best price: $20.84
Price in other shops: