Review by Choice Review
Mockaitis (DePaul Univ.; Center for Civil-Military Relations at the Naval Postgraduate School) has published on counterinsurgency, terrorism, and the Iraq War. This edited encyclopedia features over 250 signed articles by contributors including independent scholars, academics, members of the military, and librarians. Together they cover many of the key players, concepts, and issues related to the recent war. Entries address a wide variety of topics, e.g., "Sunni Islam," "Wilson, Valerie Plame," and "Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles." The volume's strength lies in providing overviews of events or issues that often were in the news, but that many readers may never have seen analyzed and summarized. Additionally, though many entries deal with controversial topics, they keep an unbiased tone and provide information on all sides of a topic. Concepts like Sunni Islam may be better covered in other subject encyclopedias, but their inclusion here is useful for general readers seeking easy access to material with which they are unfamiliar. All entries provide further reading suggestions, and the volume includes a chronology of the war. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower- and upper-level undergraduates; general readers. L. Cooper University of Colorado Denver
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Booklist Review
This comprehensive and balanced work conveys the full American participation in the Iraq War, although the strife and conflict in Iraq continue today, and the effects on the U.S. and the wounded will long be felt. Causes and consequences, plans and operations, military and political leaders, weapons and technology, religious and sectarian leaders, and governing changes and policy differences are conveyed in 275 signed articles by academics and independent scholars.The entries are of sufficient length for completeness for both beginning and advanced students, with some longer as necessary (such as 14 pages on U.S. Middle East policy). Editor Mockaitis is an authority on the war and global terrorism. The preface and overview sections provide valuable perspective on the war's evolution, although it is arguable that today the country has not degenerated into renewed civil war. The writing is often fresh, with little duplication, and statistics are current through December 2012. The work is enhanced by black-and-white maps and photos, suggestions for further reading for each entry, some see also references, a chronology, a select bibliography, and an accurate index. Recommended for most academic, public, and high-school libraries.--Meyers, Arthur Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Library Journal Review
Mockaitis's (history, DePaul Univ.; Small Wars and Insurgencies journal; The New Terrorism: Myths and Reality) concise encyclopedia begins with a brief overview of the war, which is followed by an analysis of the causes and consequences of the conflict. The entries include information on world leaders, military actions, U.S. foreign and military policies, weaponry, and Iraqi religious and ethnic groups. Eight maps preceding the entries highlight ethnic regions of Iraq, coalition military actions from 1990-91, the 2003 Iraq War, and security throughout the country. Entries are well written, using a variety of primary and secondary sources; they conclude with lists of cross-references and further-reading suggestions. Researchers will find a chronology of events and an extensive bibliography at the end of the book. VERDICT A valuable addition for public, academic, and school libraries.-Diane Fulkerson, Univ. of South Florida, Lakeland (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 9 Up-High-quality black-and-white maps and a short chapter on each of the causes and the consequences of the conflict open this concise but thorough work. Together they form a comprehensive discussion of the Iraq War that will enable students to gain an adequate understanding of the subject. The main portion of the volume is an alphabetically arranged collection of essays about the people, places, battles, weapons, and organizations that were involved in the conflict. Most articles are two to three pages in length; each entry is signed and concludes with references and a short list of further readings. Black-and-white photos occupy a quarter to a half of a page in some entries. This title deserves serious consideration in libraries that need material on this era of American, world, or Middle East history.-Eldon Younce, Anthony Public Library, KS (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Choice Review
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