Powerlift--Getting to Desert Storm: Strategic Transportation and Strategy in the New World Order [Hardcover]

Douglas Menarchik (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 30, 1993 | ISBN-10: 0275946428 | ISBN-13: 978-0275946425

Logistics, the movement of forces to battlefields, their supply, and on-going support, is critical to military success. Although this principle is theoretically accepted, the importance of being well-prepared to rapidly transport troops and supplies to distant crisis points has not been complemented, as Menarchik shows, by adequate lift capabilities. The author uses the six-month buildup to Desert Storm as proof that the United States needs to increase the priority of logistics in strategy and improve its strategic transport capabilities, especially "surge" strategic lift. Current transport capabilities will not be positioned or structured to respond effectively to the contingencies associated with America's growing responsibilities given the realities of the New World Order. Menarchik, himself an experienced pilot, policy planner, and operational commander, clearly demonstrates that "Powerlift" directly affects choices, timing, strategy development and implementation, and sweeping policy options. He shows that although combat strategy and tactics receive high profile attention it is "Lift" capability and capacity as a prerequisite that is fundamental to attaining objectives. Readers will learn where, how, and why America needs to improve its capabilities.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

DOUGLAS MENARCHIK wrote this book while an International Fellow at The Center for International Affairs of Harvard University.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 216 pages
• Publisher: Praeger Publishers (September 30, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0275946428
• ISBN-13: 978-0275946425
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 5.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,374,006 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An Army of Facts and Figures, December 16, 2000

By 

Ross Mallett (Canberra, ACT Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Powerlift--Getting to Desert Storm: Strategic Transportation and Strategy in the New World Order (Hardcover)

This is without doubt the best book written on the Gulf War thus far. It is a detailed, factual account of the logistics of moving an army from one continent to another. The degree of detail will probably deter the general reader; for the historian, it makes it an invaluable source.

Every page is crammed with facts and figures and an endless parade of abbreviations. It comes to grip with the details, while sorting them out. This book moves focuses on the big picture, cataloging the details while never getting completely lost in them. Charts and diagrams are used to make this most complex of logistical endeavours comprehensible.

This book is highly analytical and does not shrink from harsh criticism of the greed of shippers and airlines who took the US government's money when times were good and welched when the going got tough.

For anyone instrested in a real understanding of the issues, I highly recommend this book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very highly recommended!, September 9, 2004

By 

Dimitrios (Greece) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Powerlift--Getting to Desert Storm: Strategic Transportation and Strategy in the New World Order (Hardcover)

"Powerlift" belongs to the category of books which deserve more than 5 stars. As the author says in the introduction "logistics is the nine tenths of war" and he is absolutely right. Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm took the US Army by surprise but the massive airlift and sealift commenced in the six months following the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait was a real marvel of planning and dedication, despite the myriads of everyday problems. Mr Menarchik has written a book for the nuts and bolts of military science and produces the most convincing answers as to which military operations are feasible and which are not. Poring through the wealth of data and the numerous tables the reader can find answers to all the critical issues of the Gulf War: How much time did the US forces need to deploy a deterrent force to Saudi Arabia and why? How were aircraft and ships used to assist to the build up of the necessary military concentration? Which were the deficiencies of the US plans and how were they overcomed? How did president Bush choose the January 15th as the final day for the ultimatum to the Iraqis and what was the connection with military logistics? How did the end of the Cold War help the US forces to transfer the powerful VII Corps from Germany to Saudi Arabia? What was the capacity of airbases, ports and roads in the Saudi kingdom? What would be the consequences if the Iraqi Army had moved in early August to conquer the whole west coast of the Gulf? The book is a real gem and is higlhy recommended to every serious student of military history. I wish we will have in the future a similar thorough study for the logistics of Operation Iraqi Freedom.