Michael E. O'Hanlon Books

In Defense 101 , a concise primer for understanding the United States' $700+ billion defense budget and rapidly changing military technologies, Michael O'Hanlon provides a deeply informed yet accessible analysis of American military power. After an introduction in which O'Hanlon surveys today's international security environment, provides a brief sketch of the history of the US military, its command structure, the organization of its three million personnel, and a review of its domestic basing and global reach, Defense 101 provides in-depth coverage of four critical areas in military • Defense Budgeting and Resource detailed budget and cost breakdowns, wartime spending allocations, economics of overseas basing, military readiness, and defense budgeting versus US grand strategy• Gaming and Modeling wargaming, micro modeling, nuclear exchange calculations, China scenarios, and assessments of counterinsurgency missions• Technological Change and Military use of computers, communications, and robotics, cutting-edge developments in projectiles and propulsion systems• The Science of War, military uses of space, missile defense, and nuclear weapons, testing, and proliferation For policy makers and experts, military professionals, students, and citizens alike, Defense 101 helps make sense of the US Department of Defense, the basics of war and the future of armed conflict, and the most important characteristics of the American military.

Despite worldwide internecine ethnic and political conflict, humanitarian intervention by the international community has been effective in several high-profile cases, helping save thousands of lives in Somalia and ending genocide in Bosnia and Kosovo. However, a sufficient capacity for multilateral humanitarian intervention does not yet exist. In this volume, Michael O'Hanlon presents a blueprint for saving lives through force. He suggests new ways of spreading the responsibility for intervention forces onto regional powers. Ultimately, hecontends, individual countries must develop the aggregate capacity to react nearly simultaneously to several crises of varying scale and severity.

Michael O'Hanlon and Hassina Sherjan provide a compelling analysis of the current strategy in Afghanistan, drawing on their extensive knowledge and experience. This insightful work is essential for those seeking to understand the complexities of the conflict and the way forward. Through a unique collaboration, the authors present a concise overview of Afghanistan's situation, offering policy recommendations for the future. They share personal experiences while outlining tactics to protect the Afghan population and combat insurgents. Key topics include police reform, improvements in the prison system, tribal engagement, and anti-corruption efforts. The authors address the Afghan resistance, detailing the Taliban's resurgence and the necessary steps for their defeat. They also challenge prevalent myths about Afghanistan, such as the misconception that its people harbor animosity towards foreigners. Additionally, they emphasize the importance of metrics, like those in the Brookings Afghanistan Index, to assess the effectiveness of strategies during 2010 and 2011. Policy suggestions include enhancing the Afghan army and police, promoting Afghan businesses for economic recovery, increasing involvement from other Muslim nations, and establishing a robust international aid coordinator to complement NATO's military efforts.

After eleven weeks of bombing in the spring of 1999, the United States and NATO won the war in Kosovo, forcing Serbian troops to withdraw and allowing for an international presence in the region. However, questions arise about whether this conflict was inevitable or a result of failed diplomacy. Ivo Daalder and Michael O'Hanlon provide an in-depth analysis of the Kosovo crisis, exploring its causes, conduct, and consequences through interviews with key participants. They conclude that while significant diplomatic errors occurred before the war, avoiding the conflict would have been challenging. The authors highlight that NATO's strategy during the war was flawed, as Serbian forces managed to alter Kosovo's ethnic balance by displacing 1.5 million Albanians. Had the Serbs escalated their violence, NATO would have struggled to intervene effectively. Ultimately, NATO's victory stemmed from intensifying bombing, planning a ground invasion, and ramping up diplomatic efforts to convince Belgrade of their inevitable defeat. The Kosovo crisis serves as a cautionary tale about the complexities of using military force to prevent genocide and mass displacement, emphasizing the need to learn from past mistakes to inform future actions.