WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 (UPI) -- All of Martin van Creveld's books are worth reading, but a few are "big books," books so important that anyone interested in war must read them.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 (UPI) -- In his classic work "Command in War," Israeli military historian Martin van Creveld describes how the German General Staff in the first years of the 20th century under Field Marshal Alfred Count von Schlieffen was determined to bring scientific rationalism and perfect comprehension to the battlefield by micro-managing the deployment of millions of men with overwhelming firepower to crush France in the very first weeks of any conflict.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 (UPI) -- Why is Russia investing heavily in new thermobaric bombs and more formidable conventional submarines when it already has a formidable nuclear arsenal in nuclear-powered munitions and subs? There appears to be only one realistic answer: Russia is preparing to fight conventional wars as well as deterring nuclear ones.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 12 (UPI) -- A 19th century diplomat is reported to have told the Emperor Napoleon that you can do anything with bayonets except sit on them. His point was that while big armies are ideal for conquering countries, they cannot occupy them indefinitely and keep the peace: You need a political solution to do that.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 29 (UPI) -- The UPI Think Tank Wrap-Up is a daily digest covering brief opinion pieces, reactions to recent news events, and position statements released by various think t