Given the complexity of the attacks that occurred on September 11th 2001, the intelligence community forecast that there would likely be future attacks of equal if not greater intensity than those of ten years ago. Part of the reason for this pessimistic forecast was the intelligence community's lack of understanding of the full capabilities of al-Qa'ida and its ability to conduct intercontinental attacks against the United States. We now know that there would have been other successful attacks had the United States not gone on the offensive at home and abroad to disrupt a series of plots that would have resulted in loss of American lives as well as damage to our critical infrastructure and our national psyche. Al-Qa'ida central may be slowly dying, but its tentacles around the world live on. These tentacles will remain alive for years to come. The outlook for al-Qa'ida and its objective of inflicting major damage to the United States and Western countries has not changed, and the threat is very much with us and will remain so in the future. --Adapted from the Introduction by the Honorable Charles E. Allen (Former Undersecretary for Intelligence and Analysis, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and Former Assistant Director of Central Intelligence for Collection, Central Intelligence Agency).

Al-Qa'ida: Ten Years After 9/11 and Beyond

Politics & Social Sciences

Yonah Alexander

Michael S. Swetnam

Politics & Government

Potomac Institute Press

General Al Gray, the 29th Commandant of the Marine Corps, served in that billet from 1987 until his retirement in 1991.Through the years he became an inspiring figure for Marines of all ranks, though not much is known of his early days as an enlisted Marine and young officer. In this first of two volumes, Scott Laidig gives a detailed account of Al Gray as a young sergeant in the Amphibious Reconnaissance Platoon through his tours with the artillery, the infantry, special operations, and intelligence units through 1967. In addition to putting together the early story of Al Gray, Marine, the author has retold the story of the Vietnam War and its time. Wanting to put Gray's time in Vietnam, and indeed the Marine Corps' actions in Vietnam into proper context, Laidig presents a critique of the war, its leaders and the newsmen who covered it while also providing a different perspective on the South Vietnamese. His account is well-researched and fully referenced, and might lead the reader to investigate new materials emerging about the War that claimed over 56,000 American lives. Written in a style that promotes interest, this is no dry biography of a great warrior's earliest days in service to our country; rather, it is a fascinating personal account of a Marine Corps legend. All proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated to the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund. This authorized biography was awarded the 2014 Heritage Foundation's Colonel Joseph Alexander Award for Best Biography.

Al Gray, Marine: The Early Years 1950-1967, Vol.1

Biographies & Memoirs

Scott Laidig

Leaders & Notable People

Co-editors Timothy Sample and Michael Swetnam, along with a dozen thought leaders in the realm of cyber security, have assembled “#CyberDoc: No Borders - No Boundaries” as a preliminary framework for the development of a national doctrine for the cyber era.  Cyber technologies are an increasingly essential part of daily life for people around the world, and have fundamentally altered our lives in countless ways. The Internet is now as essential as any other “utility,” and is so seamlessly woven into the fabric of life that we rarely even think about it. At the same time, the vulnerabilities inherent in our reliance on the Internet are rarely discussed publicly in terms of our national security. Those responsible for protecting the capabilities upon which we all rely, as well as the security of the United States, have struggled to articulate and agree upon a doctrine to address these complex issues.  Several of the authors whose essays are included herein begin from the standpoint of nuclear doctrine, assessing whether concepts like containment, mutually assured destruction, and first strike are relevant in the cyber era. Other authors address our role as a nation in a world that is dominated by information and governed by its control. Indeed, we may already be “at war” in a sense that may not neatly fit into the established norms and definitions of war, and may not be bounded by existing treaties and agreements.  The goal of this volume is to raise and debate the issues that a doctrine should consider, and to begin identifying a broad framework from which a doctrine might be developed. It is intended to be the start of a critically important discussion on this topic, one that will inform and guide the development of a useful and enduring doctrine, as well as subsequent policies and strategies, for the United States.

#Cyberdoc No Borders - No Boundaries

Timothy R. Sample

Co-editors Timothy Sample and Michael Swetnam, along with a dozen thought leaders in the realm of cyber security, have assembled “#CyberDoc: No Borders - No Boundaries” as a preliminary framework for the development of a national doctrine for the cyber era. Cyber technologies are an increasingly essential part of daily life for people around the world, and have fundamentally altered our lives in countless ways. The Internet is now as essential as any other “utility,” and is so seamlessly woven into the fabric of life that we rarely even think about it. At the same time, the vulnerabilities inherent in our reliance on the Internet are rarely discussed publicly in terms of our national security. Those responsible for protecting the capabilities upon which we all rely, as well as the security of the United States, have struggled to articulate and agree upon a doctrine to address these complex issues. Several of the authors whose essays are included herein begin from the standpoint of nuclear doctrine, assessing whether concepts like containment, mutually assured destruction, and first strike are relevant in the cyber era. Other authors address our role as a nation in a world that is dominated by information and governed by its control. Indeed, we may already be “at war” in a sense that may not neatly fit into the established norms and definitions of war, and may not be bounded by existing treaties and agreements. The goal of this volume is to raise and debate the issues that a doctrine should consider, and to begin identifying a broad framework from which a doctrine might be developed. It is intended to be the start of a critically important discussion on this topic, one that will inform and guide the development of a useful and enduring doctrine, as well as subsequent policies and strategies, for the United States.

In this compendium on U.S. Health Policy, Dr. Tevi Troy presents an articulate and well-organized selection of health care writings encompassing the subjects of health reform (pre- and post- ObamaCare), electronic health records, biopreparedness, innovation and the life sciences, and Medicare.

U.S. Health Policy: An Insider's Perspective

Troy, Tevi

Corrosion and degradation have an enormous impact on the nation. When we speak of the effects of corrosion and degradation, we are referring to far more than the rusting of metal. Alloys, ceramics, polymers, and composites in a wide variety of systems are subject to environmentally induced degradation. This book relays the findings of a study concerning current and future corrosion research thrusts, individual programs, new ideas, and directions that would make revolutionary changes in society's ability to control corrosion and degradation processes in materials and systems.

Alternative Futures for Corrosion and Degradation Research

Science & Math

Robert Hummel

Earth Sciences

Grayisms

Paul Otte

Al Gray, Marine: The Early Years 1968-1975, Vol. 2

Most people know General Al Gray as the 29th Commandant of the Marine Corps. His achievements as a transformational Commandant are legendary within the Marine Corps and the military services. Volume 1 of the “Al Gray, Marine” series covered his time as an enlisted Marine and junior officer up through his 1967 promotion to Lieutenant Colonel. In Volume 2, Scott Laidig tells us the story of a unique, charismatic Marine during his time as a senior field grade officer. From establishing innovative intelligence operations in Vietnam, to command of infantry units in the challenging times of the 1970s, through his leadership during the evacuation of Saigon in 1975, Al Gray’s story is exceptional. In many ways, the accomplishments of Al Gray rival those that he carried out as a General Officer or even as Commandant. In this book, the author tells the remarkable story of Al Gray, Marine. Volume 1 of "Al Gray, Marine" won the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation’s esteemed Colonel Joseph Alexander Prize for Best Biography of the Year for 2014! Following in that tradition, Volume 2 offers significant insights into General Gray’s activities and many accomplishments as a senior field grade officer.

Laidig, Scott

"The Journey of a Warrior" tells the inspiring story of a truly unique Marine who became a brilliant combat leader and achieved international prominence. General Alfred Mason Gray, US Marine Corps, was a loner by nature, and many of his peers considered him to be a maverick. At the same time, having established himself as a military intellectual of remarkable insight, he became an icon to service personnel of all ranks, as well as many prominent defense officials, politicians, and scholars. General Gray was a critical force behind the changes needed to prepare Marines for the new millennium. He is now recognized as one of the finest Commandants in fifty years. The Journey of a Warrior brings to the fore the journey of a most unusual individual: a warrior, a leader, a thinker, and a patriot. lt is not written as a biography but rather as a retrospective of a unique marine whose impact on his institution was both untraditional and perhaps underappreciated. The Marine Corps is better for his unselfish and dedicated journey to faithfully serve his country. Brigadier General Edwin H. Simmons, USMC Retired, Marine Corps Historian Emeritus, appears to have best captured General Gray’s character when he wrote, “General Al Gray is imaginative, iconoclastic, articulate, charismatic, and compassionate. His Marines love him.”

The Journey of a Warrior: The Twenty-Ninth Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps (1987-1991): General Alfred Mason Gray, Second Edition

Turley, Gerald H.

See the best price to sell, buy or rent books by the Potomac Institute Press publisher. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Potomac Institute Press

See the best price to sell, buy or rent books by the Potomac Institute Press publisher. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Al-Qa'ida: Ten Years After 9/11 and Beyond

Al Gray, Marine: The Early Years 1950-1967, Vol.1

#Cyberdoc No Borders - No Boundaries

#Cyberdoc No Borders - No Boundaries

U.S. Health Policy: An Insider's Perspective

Alternative Futures for Corrosion and Degradation Research

Grayisms

Al Gray, Marine: The Early Years 1968-1975, Vol. 2

The Journey of a Warrior: The Twenty-Ninth Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps (1987-1991): General Alfred Mason Gray, Second Edition