Abyssinia

Corporal F.W. Merten, U.S. Army

All of the African states were gradually annexed by the European colonial powers, except the Empire of Abyssinia-or Ethiopia, as it is called officially-which remained the only sovereign state on the dark continent (except Liberia). Next to Egypt and China, Ethiopia is one of the oldest states in the world. Twice the Ethiopians were forced, in the course of the last century, to take up arms in defense of their independence.

Published: December 1935

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Can America Stay Neutral?

Allen W. Dulles and Hamilton Fish Armstrong
277 pages, New York Harper & Brothers
Reviewed by Major William H. Spendel, Infantry

In the production of this book the collaborators have employed certain sections of their book Can We be Neutral, published in 1935, to which they have added a historical record of American neutrality legislation and experience which have transpired subsequent thereto. They present their appraisal of the various proposals which have been offered as a guarantee to the protection of American neutrality. A point upon which they lay great emphasis is that “the popular American conception that neutrality is a clearly defined status is erroneous.”

Published: March 1940

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The Chinese Communist Forces in Korea

Digested by the Military Review from an article by Major R. C. W. Thomas in “The Army Quarterly” (Great Britain) October 1952.

In June 1952, the strength of the Chinese Communist forces in Korea was estimated as having reached a total of nearly a million men. In the forward areas, elements of some eight Chinese armies are believed to be deployed, numbering at least a quarter of a million front-line soldiers. In addition, it has been reported that the enemy has available at least 500 tanks and 1,000 jet aircraft.

Published: February 1953

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Iran

Key to the Middle East

René Vallet

Recent developments in the economic and political field have caused some observers to fear that Iran might once more become one of the major sensitive spots in the East-West conflict and that her membership in the ·Central Treaty Organization (CENTO)-the alliance which replaced the Baghdad Pact after Iraq's defection-would be seriously impaired.

Published: November 1961

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Chinese Competition in Africa

George T. Yu

Africa has become a battlefield in the Chinese civil war. Only token artillery exchanges take place along the Fukien coast today. The major theater of conflict between the Chinese Communists and the Chinese nationalists has been transferred from Chinese soil onto foreign territory. The world now provides the arena in which these two contenders compete for supremacy. The Middle East, southeast Asia, Latin America, and other regions have all experienced Chinese competition, but nowhere has the rivalry become more intense than in Africa.

Published: February 1964

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The Strategy of Castroism

Boris Goldenberg

It is difficult enough to define any “ism,” even if the movement to which it gives rise is limited to the set of ideas propounded by the founding individual, such as Karl Marx or V.I. Lenin, during his lifetime. The difficulty becomes virtually insuperable in the case of “Castroism” because the ideas held by Fidel Castro, from the time he began his political career up to the present, have changed so much that a search for their unity would necessitate a psychological study.

Published: April 1970

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Access to the Indian Ocean

Major James C. Wise, US Army

The Indian Ocean is an area that Americans have not thought about very much. It is as if we wish it would simply go away. Nevertheless, turbulence along the littoral is at an all-time high. Superpower naval activity is at unprecedented levels. An outside military power now controls some of the land approaches to the shore. It is a good time to review the nature of this strategic arena and what it means to the United States.

Published: November 1980

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Pakistan

On the Front Porch of Conflict

Edgar O’Ballance

There are conflicts and minor skirmishes in many places around the world between many different factions. Perhaps none of these has the potential for growing into a confrontation between the superpowers as does Southwest Asia. This author cautions that we should not ignore the US ally in the region.

Published: March 1986

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The Yugoslav People's Army and the Fragmentation of a Nation

Anton A. Bebler

Nearly every day there are news reports about the fighting in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The author offers a historical, perspective of Yugoslavia’s army, tracing its history from Josip Tito to the fighting of today. He looks at how the army has reduced its size since 1948, when it ranked third in Europe. Finally, he discusses the recent fighting and the impact it has had on the army.

Published: August 1993

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Irredentism in MexAmerica

Mark de Socio and Christian Allen

Mark de Socio and Christian Allen argue that economic and cultural integration along the U.S.-Mexico border is creating a “borderline nation” whose identity is distinct from the United States or from Mexico. Despite this integration, a history of territorial and ethnic antagonisms, acerbated by law enforcement efforts to stem illicit drug trafficking and undocumented migration, is creating social conflict. The result is an irredentism unique to MexAmerica.

Published: September-October 2002

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