Military Officer - August 2008 - (Page 24)

rapidfire In Review Wolf of the Deep: Raphael Semmes and the Notorious Confederate Raider CSS Alabama By Stephen Fox. Alfred A. Knopf, 2007. $25.95. ISBN 978-1-4000-4429-0. luck in luring victims, causing huge commercial losses, and forcing Union merchant vessels to stay in port or be sold to foreign ﬂags. The Iranian Time Bomb: The Mullah Zealots’ Quest for Destruction By Michael A. Ledeen. Truman Talley Books, 2007. $24.95. ISBN 978-0-312-37655-0. BBB Adds Marine Corps Line T he Council of Better Business Bureaus (BBB) signed a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Marine Corps at a ceremony in Washington, D.C., in late March, to formally establish the BBB Marine Corps Line, part of the BBB Military Line program. The line provides BBB Reliability Reports to support prepurchase decision-making and advice on businesses across the nation; assist Marine Corps personnel with complaints against unresponsive businesses; supply guidance, focused education, and easily accessible information on how to avoid being victimized by predatory lenders, misleading advertisements, and high-pressure salespeople; and more. Learn more at www.us.bbb.org/military. TRICAREUPDATE TRICARE RESERVE SELECT (TRS) is a premiumbased health plan that qualified National Guard and Reserve members may purchase when not on active duty orders or covered under the Transitional Assistance Management Program. TRS offers comprehensive health care coverage similar to TRICARE Standard and TRICARE Extra (deductibles and cost shares apply). In addition, TRS has a monthly premium. Servicemembers can purchase TRS for themselves only or for both themselves and their families. To verify your eligibility, log on to the Guard/Reserve Web Portal at www.dmdc.osd.mil/appj/trs/index.jsp. For more information about purchasing TRS, its benefit structure, and how to use your TRS benefit, visit www.tricare .mil/reserve/reserveselect. 24 MILITARY OFFICER AUGUST 2008 The Confederacy might have lost the land war in the Civil War, but it won the naval war, led by such Confederate naval heroes as Capt. Raphael Semmes and commerce raiders like the CSS Alabama. Stephen Fox has penned a fascinating naval adventure about the Confederate warship that “destroyed Union ocean shipping and took more prizes than any other raider in naval history.” Fox vividly describes the Alabama and her ruthlessly effective Captain Semmes as the ship sails for 22 months, from 1862-64, crossing 75,000 miles of the Atlantic, Caribbean, and Indian oceans; capturing 65 prizes; sinking one Yankee warship; and completely ﬂummoxing the Union navy. Fox tells of political intrigue, mutiny, storms, spies, and Semmes’ clever ruses, deception, and good Iran has been at war with the U.S. since 1979, according to Michael Ledeen, and the U.S. seems to not know what to do about it. This is an eye-opening presentation of Iranian imperialism, a carefully orchestrated and insidious plan for Islamic hegemony directed by a ruthless dictatorship that vows the destruction of the West. Ledeen offers startling examples of Iran’s international duplicity, terrorism, intimidation, and assassination, as well as its brutal oppression of its own people. He clearly discusses Iran’s support of Hamas and Hezbollah and its direct involvement in anti-American operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as the mullahs’ eager pursuit of nuclear weapons. — William D. Bushnell PHOTOS: ABOVE, STEVE BARRETT; TOP, COURTESY BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU http://www.us.bbb.org/military http://www.dmdc.osd.mil/appj/trs/index.jsp http://www.tricare.mil/reserve/reserveselect http://www.tricare.mil/reserve/reserveselect

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Military Officer - August 2008

Military Officer - August 2008 Contents MOAA Online From the Editor From the President Your Views MOAA Directory Rapid Fire Washington Scene Chapters in Action Financial Forum Ask the Doctor MOAA Member Services Cover Story: A Stronger Voice Virtual Combat Mental Floss Steady as She Goes Pages of History Faces of MOAA Member Books Information Exchange Advertising Index MOAA Calendar Sounding Taps MOAA Scholarship Donors Encore

Military Officer - August 2008

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