Operation Corporate: The Falklands War, 1982 - Hardcover

Middlebrook quotes an observer's comment that the Falklands War was "like two bald men fighting over a comb," then goes on to contradict that remark, suggesting that the war may have been the opening phase of a struggle to control the world's last reserves of oil and minerals. Based partly on interviews with Falklanders as well as with military veterans, this is the most thoughtful and detailed account to date of the Anglo-Argentine conflict. Though told mainly from the British point of view, the book offers new information about President Galtieri's original expectations, the tactics of his troops and details of the surrender. The author's descriptions of confrontations in the air, on the sea and on the various battlegrounds are superb, as are his explanations of the use of new weapons, such as the Sea Harrier and the Exocet missile. Middlebrook, a Fellow of England's Royal Historical Society, does not neglect the more freakish aspects of the war, of which there were manyfor example, the sinking of a neutral tanker whose tonnage exceeded by four times the combined weight of all warships sunk in the conflict. Photos.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.

The author of ten previous military histories, Middlebrook has written an absorbing, hard-to-put-down account of the Falklands War. The work shows a skilled hand, and interviews with participants of all ranks have given an added richness to the account. (Unfortunately, Middlebrook could not gain access to Argentinian personnel and documents). Good Briton that he is, Middlebrook's view of the Belgrano sinking is straightforward: the Argentinian navy was "not out on a summer cruise" and criticisms of the British are therefore "humbug." The book leaves politics to others. For devotees of military history, or for those who don't know how brutal war is, this is a good selection. Henry Steck, Political Science Dept., SUNY Coll. at Cortland
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.