9780815709299

Surprise Attack

Format: Paperback

ISBN13: 9780815709299

Paperback|9780815709299

Featured Offer

Used, Like New

$31.76

List Price: $27.00

🚚

FREE standard delivery by: 26 May 2025

See all 5 offers from $14.10

Overview

"

Long before Germany's blitzkrieg swept the West, European leaders had received many signals of its imminence. Stalin, too, had abundant warning of German designs on Russia but believed that by avoiding ""provocative"" defensive measures he could avert the attack that finally came in June 1941. And the stories of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the Korean War, and three Arab-Israeli conflicts are replete with missed opportunities to react to unmistakable warnings. Richad K. Betts analyzes surprise attacks during the mid-twentieth century to illustrate his thesis: surprise attacks occur, not because intelligence services fail to warn, but because of the disbelief of political leaders.

""Although the probability is low that the United States will fail to deter direct attack by the Soviet Union,"" Betts says, ""the intensity of the threat warrants painstaking analysis of how to cope with it."" His own investigation of the historical, psychological, political, diplomatic, and military aspects of his subject heightens understanding of why surprise attacks succeed and why victim nations fail to respond to warnings. In discussing current policy he focuses on the defense of Western Europe and applies the lessons of history to U.S. defense planning, offering detailed recommendations for changes in strategy. Obviously some of the potential dangers of military surprise cannot be prevented. The important thing, he emphasizes, is that ""without forces that exceed requirements (the solution Moscow appears to have chosen), it is vital to ensure that what forces exist can be brought to bear when needed.

"aspects of his subject heightens understanding of why surprise attacks succeed and why victim nations fail to respond to warnings. In discussing current policy he focuses on the defense of Western Europe and applies the lessons of history to U.S. defense planning, offering detailed recommendations for changes in strategy. Obviously some of the potential dangers of military surprise cannot be prevented. The important thing, he emphasizes, is that ""without forces that exceed requirements (the solution Moscow appears to have chosen), it is vital to ensure that what forces exist can be brought to bear when needed."aspects of his subject heightens understanding of why surprise attacks succeed and why victim nations fail to respond to warnings. In discussing current policy he focuses on the defense of Western Europe and applies the lessons of history to U.S. defense planning, offering detailed recommendations for changes in strategy. Obviously some of the potential dangers of military surprise cannot be prevented. The important thing, he emphasizes, is that ""without forces that exceed requirements (the solution Moscow appears to have chosen), it is vital to ensure that what forces exist can be brought to bear when needed."aspects of his subject heightens understanding of why surprise attacks succeed and why victim nations fail to respond to warnings. In discussing current policy he focuses on the defense of Western Europe and applies the lessons of history to U.S. defense planning, offering detailed recommendations for changes in strategy. Obviously some of the potential dangers of military surprise cannot be prevented. The important thing, he emphasizes, is that ""without forces that exceed requirements (the solution Moscow appears to have chosen), it is vital to ensure that what forces exist can be brought to bear when needed."prevented. The important thing, he emphasizes, is that ""without forces that exceed requirements (the solution Moscow appears to have chosen), it is vital to ensure that what forces exist can be brought to bear when needed."


ISBN-13

9780815709299

ISBN-10

0815709293

Weight

1.07 Pounds

Dimensions

6.00 x 0.84 x 9.00 In

List Price

$27.00

Format

Paperback

Language

English

Pages

334 pages

Publisher

Brookings Institution Press

Published On

1982-09-01



View All Offers

Sort by:

Rows per page:

1–5 of 5

Condition
Seller
Seller Comments
Price
Used, Good
Seller details
Once Upon A Time Books

Tontitown, AR, USA

This is a used book in good condition and may show some signs of use or wear. This is a used book in...
$14.10

 Free delivery by: 26 May 2025

Used, Good
Seller details
SurplusTextSeller

Columbia, MO, USA

Ships in a BOX from Central Missouri! May not include working access code. Will not include dust j...
$17.29

 Free delivery by: 26 May 2025

Used, Good
Seller details
GreatBookPrices-

Columbia, MD, USA

Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 334 p. May show signs of wear, highlighting, writing, and pre...
$24.99

 Free delivery by: 26 May 2025

Used, Good
Seller details
GreatBookPricesLB2

Columbia, MD, USA

Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 334 p. May show signs of wear, highlighting, writing, and pre...
$25.81

 Free delivery by: 26 May 2025

Used, Like New
Seller details
GreatBookPrices-

Columbia, MD, USA

100% Money Back Guarantee. Brand New, Perfect Condition. We offer expedited shipping to all US locat...
$31.76

 Free delivery by: 26 May 2025