Waging Modern War: Bosnia, Kosovo, and the Future of Combat

The Supreme Allied Commander who directed and won NATO's war in Kosovo offers a unique behind-the-scenes look at how the war was actually fought, and explains the conflict's surprising implications for how war will be waged in the decades to come. Ugly, shocking, frightening, war came to Europe once more in March 1999. The world watched in dismay as Yugoslavia's military machine attacked its own citizens in the province of Kosovo. Pictures of refugees fleeing and stories of murder and rape flashed to the top of the news. But this time, the United States and its allies intervened. Using an innovative, high-technology air operation, NATO brought modern military power to bear against Serb forces in the field and the machinery of repression that backed them up. It was modern war-limited in scope, measured in effect, extraordinarily complex in execution. The American commander who oversaw this massive military effort and managed the often incompatible demands of NATO's nineteen governments was General Wesley K. Clark. In Waging Modern War, Clark recounts not only the events that led to armed conflict, but also the context within which he made the key strategic decisions. He also describes, for the first time, the personal conflict he felt as he walked the tightrope of high diplomacy and military strategy and navigated the crushing restraints of domestic politics. Laying out the new realities of war-fighting and war-planning, Clark reveals how the American military infrastructure will have to adapt if it is to meet new threats. This is the story of war today, and as it will be fought tomorrow. Ugly, shocking, frightening, war came to Europe once more in March 1999. The world watched in dismay as Yugoslavia's military machine attacked its own citizens in the province of Kosovo. Pictures of refugees fleeing and stories of murder and rape flashed to the top of the news. As had happened so often since the end of the Cold War, ethnic conflict had turned deadly, and the great powers seemed reluctant to get involved. This time, however, the United States and its allies intervened. Using an innovative, high-technology air operation, NATO brought modern military power to bear against Serb forces in the field and the machinery of repression that backed them up. It was modern war - limited in scope, measured in effect, extraordinarily complex in execution. And in the end, after ten weeks of steadily intensifying air attack, the Yugoslav troops were withdrawn and the Kosovar Albanians returned to their homes. Remarkably, not a single American was killed in combat. The American commander who oversaw this massive military effort and managed the often incompatible demands of NATO's nineteen governments was General Wesley K. Clark. In Waging Modern War, Clark recounts not only the events that led to armed conflict, but also the context within which he made the key strategic decisions. He also describes, for the first time, how he walked the tightrope of high diplomacy and military strategy and navigated the crushing restraints of domestic politics. As the Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, Clark faced a task far more daunting than simply when and where to deploy his forces and weapons. He also had to mediate numerous conflicts that threatened to derail the alliance's efforts against the regime of Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic - conflicts between the Europeans and the Americans, between the policy makers and the journalists, between the diplomats and the military men. Clark takes us behind the scenes for an unprecedented view of decision making in real ti Into the Balkans The Cold War Is Over Crisis Management To Dayton and Back The Road to War Wearing Two Hats Carrots and Sticks Diplomacy Backed by Threat The Three-Ring Circus The Air Campaign Battle Rhythm Apaches and Targets The Strategic Battlefield The Ground Option Resistance and Persistence Endgame Holding Steady Diplomacy Backed by Force Pristina Airfield The Good Fight Som øverstbefalende for NATO og de amerikanske styrker i Europa fra 1997 blev Clark chef for NATO's første militære engagement på Balkan, herunder Bosnien og Kosovo. Bogen gengiver kommunikationsbristet mellem ham som øverstbefalende for operationerne på Balkan og den militærpolitiske ledelse i Pentagon Chronicles the American general's experiences overseeing the war in Kosovo and his attempts to mediate conflicts within Kosovo as well as between representatives of NATO's governments, policy makers, the military, and the media. Chronicles the American general's experiences overseeing the war in Kosovo and his attempts to mediate conflicts within Kosova as well as between representatives of NATO's governments, policy makers, the military, and the media