War of the Frontier and Empire | A War of Frontier and Empire: The Philippine-American War, 1899-1902 |...

Valuable and enjoyable story for understanding American identity | A War of Frontier and Empire: The Philippine-American War, 1899-1902 | David J. Silbey

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	• A War of Frontier and Empire: The Philippine-American War, 1899-1902 David J. Silbey Hill and Wang, 2008 - 272 pages average customer review:based on 14 reviews view larger image
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A good short history on a forgotten subject

Most people have forgotten about the Philippine war. That is a shame. That little known war has shaped policy for the US for a lot of the 20th century. The war also has some valuable lessons for US military policy in the 21st century.

This book is a good story of the first two years of the war. It is written in an easy to understand format. It flows very well in an entertaining way. If you are looking for an in-depth book on the subject this isn't that book. There are seven or eight more years of the conflict he doesn't address. Also the US Army stayed in the Philippines for the next 40 years or so. Our ties there lead to large numbers of the US Army being lost there early 42 and later when we invaded in 44. How the war was fought then helped form the nation of the Philippines as it is today.

Some of the books stories or the war stories have lessons for us today. In some ways the war sounds like the Iraq war. The war wasn't popular back home either. The question of why we were there echoed across the country then much like the issue about Iraq does now. People forget that war was a guerrilla war which we won. How we won might have lessons that help us today. Of course as you read about the how you will ask yourself if we want to win. The hard stick approach then definitely works. However with 24/7 news coverage we have to ask if we have the stomach for that approach.

The book also briefly talked about a critical thing the Army did. This technique was priceless to the war effort. That thing was how they rebuilt the culture. US garrisons became city government. They set up schools to educate the population. Over time the Army introduced the locals into running things. This technique gave the land some strong institutions. However such approaches involve a lot of money but changes hearts without killing people. Today's sensitivities shackles efforts to do such things today. The Army then didn't have those problems.

The author also does a good job of describing the environment. The harsh jungle descriptions, the mentioning of environmental events like epidemics and it's effect on operations helps add depth to the story.

Overall everyone will like this book. It opens up a secret in US history all should know about.

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War of the Frontier and Empire

I was very pleased to receive this volume as a gift,especially as I am a big fan of the Silbey Family and their writing. I believe David Silbey shares his Father's talent for treating historical subjects in a way that makes them interesting, exciting, and educational. I had little knowledge of this paricular war, but feel sparked to continue a study of it. This book should be required reading for all students and voters, not only because it is an interesting history of this period, but because of it's significance with regard to our foriegn policy today. It gives the reader some insights as to the complexities and dynamics shaping that policy and the pitfalls and waste created by misguidance. Bravo, David

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Valuable and enjoyable story for understanding American identity

David Silbey's book reads like an action novel. Is it wrong to write such an enjoyable history about war? Perhaps, if Silbey did not also step back to share his thoughtful balanced analysis along the way.

What I like best about Silbey's writing is his ability to portray all participants without ideology or judgment, and without requiring that the facts and story directly serve a contemporary purpose. This history stands as meriting attention on its own terms.

This struck me as a unique/fresh attitude and approach to history and helped me to respect both myself as American and to respect Filipinos also. Respect comes from seeing and accepting from a larger viewpoint both the good and the bad. We are who we are--and can only know ourselves by reflecting on our shared history.

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Great Book

What a wonderful book to gain knowledge of the Philippine-American War. Prior to reading this book, I knew nothing of this war, but now I've been enlightened. I suggest that others take time to read the book as well. It is well written.

very interesting

A fascinating book that is the sequel in many ways to Empire by Default: The Spanish-American War and the Dawn of the American Century. This book examines the aftermath of the war against Spain in 1898 and how America was left with a small empire in the pacific in the form of the Phillipines and immeidatly confronted with an insurgency by its former Phillipino allies. However the Americans conducted a classic anti-insurgency campaign, destroying the partisans one by one. Eventually the war bogged down in the south against the Muslim Moros. Important personalities of the time such as General MAcarthur's father and General Pershing served in the war.

This is an important part of American history and this book brings it back to life.

Seth J. Frantzman

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It has been termed an insurgency, a revolution, a guerrilla war, and a conventional war. As David J. Silbey demonstrates in this taut, compelling history, the 1899 Philippine-American War was in fact all of these. Played out over three distinct conflicts?one fought between the Spanish and the allied United States and Filipino forces; one fought between the United States and the Philippine Army of Liberation; and one fought between occupying American troops and an insurgent alliance of often divided Filipinos?the war marked America?s first steps as a global power and produced a wealth of lessons learned and forgotten. First-rate military history, A War of Frontier and Empire retells an often forgotten chapter in America?s past, infusing it with commanding contemporary relevance.

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