The Past, Present, and Future of Arab Military EffectivenessArmies of Sand: The Past, Present, and Future of Arab Military Effectiveness by Kenneth M. Pollack is an outstanding book by an author who has spent thirty years examining various Arab militaries. Arab historians have often taken different views to explain the relative failure of Arab militaries to achieve their military objectives in the 20th century. Nor does he feel that the fact that many Arab military armies have been deployed as “palace guards” — meant to protect dictatorships against internal threats rather than external enemies was an important factor in underperformance. There is no “strategic corporal” in Arab armies, Pollack suggests. Creative tactical thinking is not rewarded in Arab armies.

Source: Libya Today December 30, 2019 12:56 UTC