The future of war : power, technology, and American world dominance in the 21st century

Available (1)

Location	Collection	Call #
Carnegie Free Library of Swissvale	Non Fiction	355 Fri
Location	Carnegie Free Library of Swissvale
Collection	Non Fiction
Call Number	355 Fri

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Summary

Published Reviews

Booklist Review: "For those whose libraries can't possibly subscribe to the numerous specialty periodicals covering military technology, the Friedmans corral the openly available information concerning the ongoing revolution in precision weaponry. They contend that smart missiles have rendered the tank, the piloted airplane, and the aircraft carrier obsolete--a case they laminate together in acronym-studded layers that cover each weapon's invention, heyday, and "senility" (a jargon term meaning improvements that defend the weapon--for instance, tank armor--but increasingly impede the weapon's main mission). Even the Persian Gulf War's air offensive, the Friedmans insist, represented not so much vindication of piloted planes as the maximum effectiveness of technology; hereafter, they say, precision weapons will get the upper hand, despite stealth technology. Their thesis implies a fundamental reorientation of weaponry development toward hypersonic, intercontinental munitions. Bureaucratically, the thesis would compel the U.S. Navy to wean itself from aircraft carriers in favor of controlling the seas from space. For interested civilians, a provocative glimpse into the issues roiling America's military professionals. --Gilbert Taylor"
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Publisher's Weekly Review: "The Friedmans (The Coming War with Japan, 1991) here describe an emerging "Age of Precision-Guided Munitions" that will render obsolete traditional ways of warfare based on ballistic weapons and their delivery systems. PGM technology emerged in an environment of nuclear confrontation that for practical purposes denied systematic consideration of non-nuclear warfare. Only after Vietnam did the U.S. begin reappraising the technology at its disposal. The exponentially increasing cost of major weapons systems meant that tanks, ships and aircraft could no longer be expended and replaced as they had been in earlier wars. Not only the country but the armed forces were unwilling to accept anything but low casualties. The eventual result was the Gulf War, which the Friedmans regard as an archetype of things to come: the first electronic war, but far from the last in what they believe will be the real American century. The Friedmans are convinced that the U.S. has an unassailable lead in computer-based military power. This perspective exudes optimism and assurance at a time when most pundits write in shades of gray. It is also questionable. Every development in military technology has eventually found its antithesis, and here the Friedmans offer no convincing reason why PGMs should be an exception. War's history has not ended, and its future shape remains opaque even in an electronic age. (Feb.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved"
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

Additional Information

Subjects	Weapons systems -- Forecasting. Precision guided munitions. Twenty-first century. United States -- Military policy.
Publisher	New York :Crown Publishers,1996
Edition	1st ed.
Contributors	Friedman, Meredith.
Language	English
Description	xiii, 464 pages ; 25 cm
Bibliography Notes	Includes bibliographical references (pages 421-451) and index.
ISBN	051770403X
Other	Classic View