The changing of the guard : the British Army since 9/11 / Simon Akam.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Akam, Simon, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Great Britain. Army--Reorganization--History--21st century.

Great Britain.

Great Britain. Army.

Armed Forces.

Soldiers.

History.

History, Military.

Great Britain--History, Military--21st century.

Soldiers--Great Britain--History--21st century.

Iraq War, 2003-2011--Participation, British.

Iraq War, 2003-2011.

Iraq War, 2003-2011--Campaigns--Iraq--Baṣrah.

Afghan War, 2001-2021--Participation, British.

Afghan War, 2001-2021.

Afghan War, 2001-2021--Campaigns--Afghanistan--Helmand River Valley.

Great Britain--Armed Forces--Operational readiness.

Physical Description:

ix, 688 pages : maps ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

London, United Kingdom ; Minneapolis, Minnesota : Scribe Publications, 2021.

Summary:

"Over the first two decades of the twenty-first century, Britain has changed enormously. During this time, the British Army fought two campaigns, in Iraq and Afghanistan, at considerable financial and human cost. Yet neither war achieved its objectives. This book questions why, and provides challenging but necessary answers. Composed from assiduous documentary research, field reportage, and hundreds of interviews with many soldiers and officers who served, as well as the politicians who directed them, the allies who accompanied them, and the family members who loved and - on occasion - lost them, it is a strikingly rich, nuanced portrait of one of our pivotal national institutions in a time of great stress. Award-winning journalist Simon Akam, who spent a year in the army when he was 18, returned a decade later to see how the institution had changed. His book examines the relevance of the armed forces today - their social, economic, political, and cultural role. This is as much a book about Britain, and about the politics of failure, as it is about the military" -- provided by the publisher.

Contents:

Introduction: over the top

Preparation for battle

Something happened

Storytime

Endgame

Blame game

Home and away.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9781950354498

1950354490

9781913348489

1913348482

9781922310279

1922310271

OCLC:

1193582024