WAR AND POLITICS By Bernard Brodie. The Macmillan Company, New York, 1973. 514 pages $8.95. "De quoi s'agit-il? -- What is it all about?" Professor Brodie, formerly of RAND and the National War College, cites this favorite quote of Mashal Foch as more than just a rhetorical device to begin this book. Because for Professor Brodie the dominant question in War is always -- What is it all about -- a question that in modern times, too many decision makes never ask or are unaware of. This book is about the inseparable connection between war and politics. An avid student and admirer of Clausewitz, Professor Brodie believes that too many military men and politicians have misinterpreted Clausewitz by becoming engrossed in the detail of the German theorist's writings and ignoring the basic general theory; primarily, that War is an extension of Politics and the fact that there is always a political dimension to warfare, contrary to the desire of many people for was devoid of "politics." War is defined as a political act, the failure to undestand this basic fact means the failure to undestand the nature of war, a failing common to many. World War I, a "catastrophe that lies 'like a dark scar across the history of Europe,' " is examined in some detail as a horrible example of the failure of both politicians and soldiers to grasp the nature of war, and the failure of the idea that political purpose should dominate military action. The results, as Professor Brodie sees them, were worse than the Thirty Years' War. When, in World War II the Free World was faced with the "monstrous abortion" of a Hitler, there was a definite purpose to that War, i.e., his extermination, but in the process of eradication political aspects were still neglected, and the post-war situation in Eastern Europe was one of the results. The conduct of the war was marked by the struggpe at the top between those who wished to keep political objectives foremost when formulating strategy (Churchill) and those who wished to keep them out almost completely (Rocsevelt). It was a contest that was never satisfactorily resolved, the irresolution containing the seeds of the Cold War. Korea and Viet Nam, America's "limited" wars, are examined in terms of the political reasons for their occurrence, the conduct of them and their respective outcomes. Korea is seen as a qualified success; Viet Nam an unqualified failure, again, for political reasons. The second half of the book discusses changing attitudes toward war, theories on the causes of war, nuclear weapons, and strategic thinkers. Examining attitudes towards war, the author notes that while over the past millennia, attitudes had changed remarkably little, there has been a significant, negative change over the last two centuries, accelerating since the end of World War I and the advent of nuclear weapons. War is no longer as popular as it once was. Brodie's chief criticism of the predominant theories on the causes of war is that they tend to be too exclusive and ignore other vital variables. So that while there are economic, political and psychological reasons (among many others) for the origins of wars, it is a combination of these factors along with a good deal of the Irrational, rather than any one single factor that motivates men to start wars. Single factor causation theories are the result of individual's desires for a simplistic solution to a complex problem. The central idea of this book is a simple one, that the question of why one fights must dominate any consideration of means. It is such a simple idea that unfortunately most people, especially those in positions of responsibility, never ask it. If you have never asked yourself this question, it is time that you read this book. Technical Notes Aircraft Profile #259 -- General Dynamics F-111A to F & FB111A. Kurt H. Miska, 26 pages, with 43 photos and 14 drawings, $2.00 You could obtain and read U.S. &nate Report No. 91-1496 which comprises 3,445 pages of data on the F-111, or you can buy this latest Profile which is excellently illustrated, and readily intelligible, which the Senate Report is not. It gives a succinct summary of the development and deployment of this most controversial aircraft and includes a pilot's evaluation of the aircraft. He swears by it, not at it, as the greatest flying machine ever made. Although this Profile may not change your opinion, it will give you pause for thought about the F-111 and its attendant controversy. AFV/Weapons Profile #64 -- Armoured Personnel Carriers -- A Survey. Maj.Gen. N.W. Duncan, 24 pages, ~nth 44 photos and 7 drawings, $2. This Profile puts in perspective the place ot the APC in the overall history of AFV'a Beginning with a statement of the reasons for developing such a vehicle in World War I, the author then discusses American, British and German development between the wars and then elaborates on the British APC regiments organized in World War II. The majority of the Profile is devoted to APC developments since World War II and summarizes the efforts of the United States with both APC's and LVT'a Vehicles of Britain, France, Germany, Japan, Sweden, Switzerland and Russia are suneyed. Although several Of the APC's mentioned are covered in more detail in previous Profiles, this Phofile provides a compact summary of APC development. Back to Conflict Number 7 Table of Contents Back to Conflict List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1974 by Dana Lombardy This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com