Leverett, Flynt Lawrence: Inheriting Syria : Bashar's trial by fire
Washington, D.C. : Brookings Institution Press, 2005. xv, 286 p. ISBN 9780815752042.
Syria has long presented a difficult problem for American policymakers. Actively supportive of groups such as Hezbollah, it has occupied Lebanon for more than 20 years. Damascus remains intransigent on Israels complete withdrawal from the disputed Golan Heights as the sine qua non for peace with that state. It is often mentioned in the same breath as members of the infamous axis of evil. Syria occupies an important strategic position in the Middle Eastone made even more significant as America considers long-term involvement in the reconstruction of Iraq. As the policy challenges posed by Syrias problematic behavior have grown more pressing in the recent security environment, the United States has had difficulty formulating a coherent and effective policy toward Damascus. The death of long-time dictator Hafiz al Assad has forced renewed debate on its place in the region. The transition from Assad to his son Bashar has thrown Western consensus on how to deal with the Syrian leadership further into doubt. Inheriting Syria fills this void with a detailed analytic portrait of the Syrian regime under Bashars leadership. It draws implications for U.S. policy, offering a bold new strategy for achieving American objectives, largely via a strategy of coordinated engagement employing both sticks and carrots. This strategy would be independent of the Arab-Israeli peace process, thus a historical departure for the United States. The authors long service in the foreign policy establishment has uniquely positioned him to provide valuable insights into this mysterious yet important country. This book will be of high interest to those concerned about the Middle East, the war on terror, and the future ofAmerican foreign policy. Written for a general audience as well as the policymaking and academic communities, Inheriting Syria is an important resource for all who seek deeper understanding of this enigmatic nation and its leadership.
Gorn, Michael H. NASA: The Complete Illustrated History
London: Merrell, 2005.
The first illustrated history of NASA-The U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration-ever to be published. The groundbreaking book tells the exciting story of space exploration. Hard cover 303 pages.
It gives a very comprehensive account of Nasa's history, also covering its sometimes forgotten predecessor NACA. The layout of the book is superb, making it appeal to both hardened aerospace enthusiasts and the average layman. Some of the colour illustrations are stunning.
This book is a must for anyone interested in Nasa, aerospace and its history.
Gill, Bates; Kleiber, Martin: China's Space Odyssey: What the Antisatellite Test Reveals About Decision-Making in Beijing.
Foreign Affairs, May /June 2007, Vol 86, Number 3
http://www.foreignaffairs.org/2007/3.html
China's recent antisatellite test, which the military conducted while leaving civilian authorities mostly in the dark, raises a disturbing question: Will Beijing's stovepiped bureaucracies prevent China from becoming a reliable global partner?
