The United States and its allies have been fighting the Taliban and al-Qaeda in Afghanistan for a decade in a war that either side could still win. While a gradual drawdown has begun, significant numbers of US combat troops will remain in Afghanistan until at least 2014, perhaps longer, depending on the situation on the ground and the outcome of the US presidential election in 2012. Given the realities of the Taliban’s persistence and the desire of US policymakers—and the public—to find a ...

In the heart of the 19th century, the world was a vast and mysterious place, and the sea was its untamed frontier. "Songs of Sea and Sail" is a captivating collection of seafaring tales that transports readers to a time when ships were made of wood and men were made of iron. From the haunting melodies of the shantyman to the thunderous roar of cannon fire, these stories capture the raw beauty and unforgiving danger of life on the open ocean. Prepare to be swept away by the timeless allure ...