Buster the Biker Sheep (Portlock Books for Kids)

Customer Reviews:

23rd Psalm in a Picture Story For Children!.......2002-04-26

This is a great book for children - A modern day story with a catchy title and wonderful pictures to get children to understand the 23rd Psalm and be introduced to Jesus. It shows them how Jesus cares for them as a shepherd, especially when you read it with them and then read the 23rd Psalm together for emphasis and understanding.

Book Description

SOLDIERS OF $$

Privateers, contract killers, corporate warriors. Contract soldiers go by many names, but they all have one thing in common: They fight for money and plunder rather than liberty, God, or country. Now acclaimed author and war vet Michael Lee Lanning traces the compelling history of these fighting machines–from the “Sea Peoples” who fought for the pharaohs’ greater glory to today’s soldiers for hire from private military companies (PMCs) in Iraq and Afghanistan.

What emerges is a fascinating account of the men who fight other people’s wars–the Greeks who built an empire for Alexander the Great, the Nubians who accompanied Hannibal across the Alps, the Irish who became the first to go global in their search for work. Soldiers of fortune have always had the power to change the course of war, and Lanning examines their pivotal roles in individual battles and in the rise and fall of empires.

As the employment of contract soldiers spreads in Iraq and America’s War on Terrorism–the U.S. paid $30 billion to PMCs in 2003 alone–Mercenaries offers a valuable inside look at a system that appears embedded in our nation’s future.

Includes eight pages of photographs

Customer Reviews:

Historical Perspective for Current Events.......2006-05-23

The previous reviewers lead me to believe that the author beat them to the starting block on this one!

I don't know what their agenda is, but I found the book to be insightful, educational, and most importantly, up with current events.

With all the corporatization of the militaries, the USA's especially, I think the history of how soldiers were bought and sold applies to how we are selling our security today.

I found the info on MPRI, Sandline, etc., to be right on topic and topical.

This book is a great start to understanding paid militias. I highly recommend it for anyone who keeps hearing about Blackwell, KBR, or Halliburton in regards to their role in Iraq. This might explain some of it.

Inaccurate, one-sided, narrow-minded opinion of a bored officer.......2005-12-30

Too often retired officers as well as politicians get bored since they can no longer "shine" among their peers. Many of them start writing books so they can glorify themselves among distinguished guests while tasting a good brandy and a cigar. The first book or two are usually good because they write about what they like with passion. But like everything else, after a while it becomes another routine. This is Lanning's fourteenth book where he already employs a "research assistant" and basically all the information is copied from other books that, unlike Lanning some of the authors did a real historical investigation.

The first part of this book deals with mercenaries from the ancient world such as the Greeks, Romans and so forth. While I am not a history buff I believe the accounts to be fairly correct. The quality of the book suffers a twist though when it deals with modern history. Not only it is full of inaccuracies but also the author, which thus far had not been overtly prejudiced shows a biased opinion of whom is a mercenary or not and who are the good ones versus the bad ones. He defines, "mercenaries...these men who have fought for money and plunder rather than for cause or patriotism" but then, he includes in his report units such as the "Lafayette Escadrille", a unit of American pilots that fought alongside the French in the Great War.
These pilots were fighting for a cause and not for money and plunder and therefore, by his definition do not qualify as mercenaries. He also places them in the French Foreign Legion, which is incorrect. Although it is true that because of their foreign status they were only allowed to enlist in the Legion, they fought as infantrymen since the Legion never had nor has an aviation unit. It was only after many efforts that these brave men first started to fly in various French aviation units and finally convinced the authorities to form their own unit, L'escadrille 124, also known as L'escadrille Lafayette.

The author also considers the Gurkhas and the French Foreign Legion as being mercenaries but once again he's wrong because the Gurkhas are remnants of the Nepalese units that fought the British and after an armistice England decided to incorporate these valiant Nepalese fighters in their own ranks. The Gurkhas are therefore England's allies and do not fight for plunder or offer their services to the highest bidder, which is the true definition of a mercenary.

The same goes for the Legion that fights for France and no one else. If Lanning considers the Legionnaires as mercenaries he should also include the Israeli Defense Forces that, like the Legion accept volunteers from around the world - but there's no mention of the IDD in the book nor there is any mention of the battalions of Senegal and morocco that still fight for the French. Mercenaries present in the recent war in ex-Yugoslavia are not mentioned either. Executive Outcomes, the largest mercenary company in the modern world that was present in almost all African conflicts, only deserves a mere passage. Too many units were forgotten and others that do not fit the scope of the book are mentioned just because the only knowledge of mercenaries the author has, come from books where he copied the information from. In the last part of this atrocious book, Lanning changes his definition of mercenaries to include "private military companies...that provide behind-the-scenes support in areas such as food preparation, water purification and waste removal." Now there he's just being ridiculous.

The facetious arrogance of this ignorant becomes intolerable when we reach the chapter about the French Foreign Legion. I personally served in the Legion for 8½ years and I know the history first hand. I can attest that his accounts are false at least at 80%. There is a picture that he claims depicts legionnaires, which is a lie and it can easily be proven just by looking at the uniforms. He managed to distort even the most obvious details that can be found in the Legion's site. He says the Legion does not accept French, which is another lie. He also states that the uniform still includes the neck protection, one more lie. He claims legionnaires earn a meager salary but when I was in Africa with the legion, my salary was four times higher than my friends' from the US marines Corps. He has so little knowledge of the F.F.L. that he spends more time writing about books and movies made about this force and paraphrasing an American poet. The rest of the chapter is just a vehicle for Lanning to bash the Legion, that he knows so little about.

That chapter starts with the following paragraph:

"Of all the group of men who have offered themselves as soldiers in exchange for money, perhaps none is better known than the French Foreign Legion - While the legion achieved its reputation in battlefields around the world - surprisingly... often in defeat - it became legendary through a long history of "spin" and good publicity in books, songs, and motion pictures."

Of the thousands of battles of the Legion, he conveniently forgot the victorious ones. They are too many to include in this review but I would like to remind that gentleman that in WWII the Legion obtained the first allied victory against what was then considered "the invincible" Wermacht (the Nazi infantry). When neither the British nor the French were able to dislodge the Germans from the Norwegian mountains, the French government decided to form a legion's unit specialized in mountain warfare. The 13th half brigade of Foreign Legion, in which I served, was then created with Legionnaires from other regiments. At the price of heavy casualties (as usual) the Legion won the battles of Narvik and Bjervik, pushing the Germans out of the country.

This paragraph only serves to show Lanning's ignorance about the Legion. Although it is true that the Legion always suffered many casualties, it is useful to remember that this elite corps was (and is) present in all conflicts and is assigned the hardest tasks. Another interesting concept is the definition of victory and defeat. Contrary to popular belief, victory does not rely on the number of casualties among enemy ranks, otherwise the United States would have won the Vietnam War. Victory is to achieve the goals set forth prior to the battle, such as occupying a strategic point, rescue friendly forces or just enforce some ideology. We must not forget that Gandhi won his fight against the British without firing a single shot although he had losses among his followers. Whatever the mission may be, its accomplishment brings victory.
This brings me to Lannings' account of Legion's first great battle in 1863 at Camerone (Mexico) as he portrays it as being a total defeat for the Legion. I will not extend the narration since this information is readily available on the internet. The city of Puebla was under siege by the French. The Legion had the mission to protect the supplying convoys. When the Mexicans got informed that a convoy transporting 3 million Francs, tons of supplies and ammunitions was about to arrive, they organized a two-thousand-men force (800 cavalrymen and 1200 infantrymen). The legion sent one company of 65 foot soldiers to protect the convoy. The Mexicans decided to firstly eliminate the escort in order to pillage the goods in all tranquility. They attacked the Legionnaires with cavalry charges that revealed inefficient. The legionnaire's commander chose to draw the opponents away from the cargo and took refuge in a barn. After 11 hours of fight and repeated refusals to surrender, 3 legionnaires, out of ammunitions remained. As they charged the enemy with their bayonets
The Mexican colonel tried to spare their lives by making them surrender. The Legionnaires agreed if their wounded would be treated, the prisoners spared and could keep their weapons. The end result of the battle was that 49 Legionnaires died along with their 3 officers, 12 were made prisoners and later freed. On the Mexican side 300 died and another 300 were wounded. The convoy reached its destination untouched.
The 15-page chapter is punctuated by third-hand accounts rather than real historical facts. Lanning spends more time writing about the movies, paraphrasing poets, narrating the story of the author of "Beau Geste", which was enlisted for a short period before defecting and expressing his own poorly informed, injurious opinion about the Legion.

A FORMER WARRIOR

Poorly researched.......2005-12-17

I don't know where to start. Incorrect dates. Incorrect, exaggerated or just plain ridiculous accounts.
After reading it, I began to wonder if it was researched on the internet.
The mercenaries who fought in Angola in 1976 are almost nonexistent in this book, even though most of what the public knows about soldiers of fortune is a direct result of this debacle.
The accounts of Bob Denards actions in the Comoro Islands is extremely inaccurate, as if the author lifted it verbatum from some pulp magazine.
When the author discusses "Mad Mike" Hoare, he begins by lauding him highly, but in the end depicts him as a pitiable has-been. And his account of the Seychelles operation is ridiculous in its recounting.
I could go on and on, but the more I write this review, the angrier I become.
Save your money.

Mercenaries: Soldiers of Fortune from Ancient Greece to Today's Private Military Companies

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Mercenaries: Soldiers of Fortune from Ancient Greece to Today's Private Military Companies
Michael Lee Lanning
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 0739461087

Product Description

A fascinating account of the men who fight other people's wars.

Average customer rating:

Mercenaries : Soldiers of Fortune, from Ancient Greece to Today#s Private Military Companies
Michael Lee Col Lanning
Manufacturer: Presidio Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OW9QFE

Book Description

Until recently, natural resource management of such commodities as timber and wildlife was driven largely by the desire to exploit these resources. During the past three decades, however, ecologists have warned that this approach to natural resource management could have unforeseen consequences because it ignored how ecosystems function within the landscape. Federal agencies that oversee forest and wildlife resources have begun to implement different schemes of ecosystem management, schemes that vary enormously among agencies. Contributors to this volume-leading experts who are agency personnel as well as researchers-now clarify the key elements of sound ecosystem management and offer prescriptions for implementing them. The authors discuss definitions of ecosystem management, sustainability of ecological systems, landscape ecology, resource management at different scales and in an ecosystem context, new advances in computer technology that facilitate classification schemes for ecosystems, ecosystem restoration, biological diversity, and public concerns. Throughout, the experts agree that management practices must be sustainable: that production of commodities, such amenities as recreation and aesthetics, and biodiversity must not be allowed to decline over time. .

Customer Reviews:

Comprehensive tome on wilderness management.......2001-07-09

Though it does not address the small picture very much, this book provides a thorough introduction to the field of ecosystem management. For vocabulary purposes, readers of this book may be better off with some background in ecology or forestry, but once you understand the words, the subject makes perfect sense.

Ecosystem Management:: Applications for Sustainable Forest and Wildlife Resources

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Ecosystem Management:: Applications for Sustainable Forest and Wildlife Resources
Mark S. Boyce
Manufacturer: Yale University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OSFKWG

Book Description

The remarkable Mary Nisbet was the Countess of Elgin in Romantic-era Scotland and the wife of the seventh Earl of Elgin. When Mary accompanied her husband to diplomatic duty in Turkey, she changed history. She helped bring the smallpox vaccine to the Middle East, struck a seemingly impossible deal with Napoleon, and arranged the removal of famous marbles from the Parthenon. But all of her accomplishments would be overshadowed, however, by her scandalous divorce. Drawing from Mary's own letters, scholar Susan Nagel tells Mary's enthralling, inspiring, and suspenseful story in vibrant detail.

Customer Reviews:

A charming women.......2006-01-18

Mary Nisbet was the definition of an aristocrat. She lived a life most people dream of: She was good looking, charming, intelligent, extremely wealthy, and was admired and respected by some of the most powerful people around.

So what will you get out of by reading this book? Your be put into the shoes of Mary Nisbet and her extravagant lifestyle. Your get to know her spendthrift husband and his preoccupation with marbles from Parthenon. But really not much else.

The book is based off of Mary's diary, which really helped give the book life.
So, I'm giving the book 3 stars because the book was written fairly well, but the story was a little boring.

Absorbing.......2004-10-29

I just finished reading Susan Nagel's wonderful Biography of Mary Nisbet, Countess of Elgin. Rarely do I read Biographies and feel so intimately close to the subject as I did with this well researched piece of work. I felt as if I had lived right along with Mary through her travels, adventures, exploits and tragedies. Packed with Romantic locals and historical people. An intimate peek into a fascinating life, who was Mary Nisbet, Countess of Elgin.

Quite a Girl!.......2004-10-29

Quite a Girl! We have this vision of the women of a century ago being totally subservient to the men. It has been the men who made history. Where there have been women in the story, they are often viewed only as a companion to the men, as examples, the recent biographies of Washington and Nelson. In recent years we've begun to see well written biographies of women who certainly led fascinating lives.

Mary Nisbet was smart, rich, beautiful. She took smallpox vaccine to the Middle East, brought classical marbles from the Parthenon back to England (before Napoleon could get them). Then she 'replaced' her husband with his best friend.

Quite a Girl, Very interesting character, well written book.

If you love Patrick O'Brian..........2004-09-10

"Remember the ladies" Abigail Adams charged her husband John -- that's what Nagel does with "Mary Nisbet"; she fills in fascinating and colorful details of the world of the women of society in England during the war against Napoleon. All the teasing glimpses we get in O'Brian's masculine epic are fleshed out, as it were; the opulence of the Bey's court; Emma Hamilton's manipulation of Admiral Nelson; the impact of the war with Napoleon on life and travel -- all the dinner parties O'Brian glossed over in passing come springing to vivid life as we read from Mary's actual letters. If you loved Master and Commander or the whole series, pick this up and treat yourself to a richer picture of the period.

Captivating History-With Romance and Adventure.......2004-08-24

Susan Nagel's biography of the Countess of Elgin makes history come alive in a dramatic, romantic page-turner. You'll be transported to a land of wealth and privilege, where egg-sized emeralds are exchanged as small tokens of affection, where cannons salute the arrival of dignitaries into new ports and where love of art and love of man mixes to create a heady and destructive combination of emotions.

This book is perfect for a day at the beach or an evening curled up at home - if only all history could be this fun!

MISTRESS OF THE ELGIN MARBLES: A BIOGRAPHY OF MARY NISBET, COUNTESS OF ELGIN

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MISTRESS OF THE ELGIN MARBLES: A BIOGRAPHY OF MARY NISBET, COUNTESS OF ELGIN
Susan Nagel
Manufacturer: William Morrow
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OF1LHW

Average customer rating:

Mistress of the Elgin Marbles: A Biography of Mary Nisbet, Countess of Elgin
Susan Nagel
Manufacturer: Harper Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OF2KPO

Book Description

In five turbulent years the members of this highly successful Luftwaffe fighter unit developed into such a close-knit team that even now - almost fifty years later - that bond still exists. This unique photo history was compiled with assistance from the air and ground crews of JG 54. The 400+ photographs document the story of the Grunherz-Geschwader from its formation in the spring of 1939 to the final battles in the courland pocket in the spring of 1945. Within the timespan lay the arduous years of operations in Poland, France, the Channel Front, the Balkans, Russia, Finland and the defense of the Reich. Werner Held is the author of many books on the Luftwaffe of World War II including The German Fighter Units over Russia, and the Luftwaffe in the North African Campaign (both available from Schiffer Publishing). Hannes Trautloft is a former Geschwaderkommodore of JG 54. Ekkerhard Bob is a former Staffelkapitan in JG 54., over 400 b/w photographs, 7" x 10"

JG 54: A Photographic History of the Grunherzjager

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JG 54: A Photographic History of the Grunherzjager
Werner, Trautloft, Hannes, and Bob, Ekkehard Held
Manufacturer: Schiffer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000OKDACQ

Book Description

A clear, readable and fair account of the development of judicial review.-Ashley Montagu

Customer Reviews:

Another classic in legal scholarship.......2007-02-17

Dr. Christopher Wolfe is a gifted legal scholar, and this book is one of the best on the evolution of U.S. judicial review, tracing its history from Federalist No. 78 and the landmark case, Marbury v. Madison. Wolfe describes three major periods in the transformation of judicial review, beginning with the first, or "traditional" period, from the birth of the Constitution until the end of the 19th century, which embraced a notion of interpretation based on a "fair reading" of the Constitution and a moderate form of judicial review. The second, or "transitional" period, from the end of the 19th century until 1937, maintained the theory of the traditional era, but in actual practice, it spawned a more activist form of judicial review. The third, or "modern" period, from 1937 until the present, developed new activist theories of constitutional interpretation and judicial review. Many of Wolfe's theories do not necessarily prevail today in legal scholarship, especially with the rise of legal "realist" views, but this book is a good starting point to understanding constitutional law and separation of powers.

Customer Reviews:

Nice introduction to Great Basin Birds.......2002-02-26

This is a great little introduction for novice birders and armchair naturalists to some of the key birds of the Great Basin. Good photographs and lively text make it a pleasant read. Not a field guide.

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