Arnold, James R.

The Moro War: How America Battled a Muslim Insurgency in the Philippine Jungle, 1902-1913

ISBN: 9781608190249
New York, NY: Bloomsbury Press, 2011. First Edition. Hardcover. "As the war on terror enters its second decade, the United States military is engaged with militant Islamic fighters on multiple fronts around the world. But this is not the first time the United States has battled such determined foes. Little remembered today, the Moro War, lasting from 1902 to 1913 in the islands of the southern Philippines, saw American soldiers and their allies confronting a ferocious Muslim insurgency. The Moro conflict prefigured American involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan: It was a bitter, drawn-out struggle in which American policy and aims were as fiercely contested at home as on the battlefield. As in today's Middle East, our troops took on guerrillas in a foreign environment where the enemy knew the terrain and enjoyed popular support. For troops in the field, distinguishing civilians from suicidal attackers was often the deadliest challenge. Yet after years of arduous fighting, learning from sometimes lethal mistakes, American forces prevailed." (from front flap) A detailed account of a nearly-forgotten episode of American military history by James R. Arnold, the acclaimed & very prolific author of many historic & biographical works, especially concerning the life & battle campaigns of Napoleon Bonaparte. Alas, the story told here remains quite relevant & insightful to our current (& probably future) military & foreign policy predicaments. With maps & captioned historic images throughout. Hardcover in unclipped dust jacket, "First U.S. Edition 2011" as stated on copyright page, first printing as indicated by number sequence thereon. From the collection of George V. Buehler (1933-2020), who was a prominent real estate developer & collector in Massachusetts & Arizona. We found & have retained, between blank rear endpaper & paste-down, printed-out documentation relating to Buehler's purchase of this item during 2011, two of three folded & all in extremely fine condition. An informative (albeit perhaps disturbing with hindsight since its publication) & collectible work of military-historical scholarship in its rarest original form, with distinguished provenance. Book in very fine condition with only a touch of wear & a few tiny bumps, creases to edges & corners of blue-paper front, back covers & spine (with gilt lettering, graphics on spine completely bright & intact); otherwise substantially mint inside & out. Dust jacket very fine with only a few tiny bumps, creases at edges & corners of front, back covers & spine; otherwise also virtually mint. Very Fine / Very Fine. [Item #4848]

Price: $40.00