Lutz Unterseher

This book focuses on the most challenging set of tasks for today's military interventions: those required for the stabilization of countries seriously affected by civil war or insurgency. Primarily this is a mission for the ground forces and appropriate forces must be designed to be more robust than traditional peacekeepers and less aggressively violent than traditional war fighters. Accordingly, all vital combat elements of an expeditionary army are discussed: infantry, light and heavier armor (tracked or wheeled), artillery and heliborne forces. One chapter argues for creation of an UN Legion and provides guidance for the development of intervention contingents under particular resource constraints. This book has an accessible style and includes precision-targeted humor. It is written for the concerned public whether expert or not.

Good soldiering requires painstaking attention to detail in planning your forces and operations, while never losing sight of the overriding purpose. It is equally important to remember that affordable and sustainable plans are better than brilliant ones. Unterseher is a master of analysing all the factors of military intervention: the men, the platforms, the context and past experiences. If you do not want to fall into the trap of interventions where you try to control too much territory with insufficient forces and marginally suitable equipment you should read Unterseher. Hermann Hagena Brigadier General (ret.) German Luftwaffe