Kirjahaku

This monograph examines operational surprise by answering the question, "What are the essential elements for producing operational surprise?" This issue is important because very little has been written about operational surprise despite the re-emergence of interest in the operational level of war. Surprise remains a basic and essential element in battle. The monograph first examines the theoretical foundation for surprise. Next, both historical and contemporary evidence are examined to derive the elements that are necessary for achieving operational surprise. The four historical campaigns discussed are: France 1940, Normandy, Ardennes, and Sinai 1973. Conclusions and implications are drawn from the analysis of these four campaigns. This monograph concludes that operational surprise may be attained by deceiving the enemy as to the exact time, location, and strength of a desired action, and by using new methods, techniques, and technology. Surprise is also achieved by reinforcing the enemy's false assumptions and expectations to one's advantage. Several factors that make these means so unique from those used to achieve surprise at the other levels of war are also discussed. The importance of "pre-conception" to the operational planner is highlighted. Finally, several implications are discussed. Specifically, the need to take advantage of operational surprise while on the defense is emphasized. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Building an astronomical telescope offers the amateur astronomer an exciting challenge, with the possibility of ending up with a far bigger and better telescope than could have been afforded otherwise. In the past, the starting point has always been the grinding and polishing of at least the primary mirror, a difficult and immensely time-consuming process. But now that the Internet has brought us together in a global village, purchasing off-the-shelf goods such as parabolic mirrors, eyepieces, lenses, and telescope tubes, is possible. There are also a vast number of used mirrors and lenses out there, and it is now possible to track them down almost anywhere in the world. Online stores and auction houses have facilitated commerce regarding all sorts of useful optical components at a reasonable price. This is a book about making telescopes from available parts. It provides guidance on where to look and what to look for in selecting items useful for telescope making and explains how to assemble these components to produce an excellent instrument on a tight budget. At one time, many amateurs made their own telescopes from home-made parts. In today's rushed world, that has almost become a lost art. The Internet offers a wonderful alternative to either buying a pricey scope fully assembled or making your own from scratch.

This study aims to identify and describe the principle economic issues associated with individual and population ageing. In addition, the study surveys and assess the existing knowledge - including research by scholars of many countries and different fields in the social sciences - of the economic and social problems associated with ageing. Although the study covers a wide range of issues, it focuses primarily on the economic complexities of individual ageing and the macro-economic problems that arise from age-structure changes in the population. The authors, giving examples from many countries, trace the development of concern for population ageing and examine theoretical concepts and changing demographic conditions. Cross-national econometric studies are cited along with time series and cross-sectional research on individual countries. In assessing the state of the literature on the economic problems of ageing, the authors have attempted to indicate fruitful avenues for further research.

Written by leading thinkers in the field, this text provides an in-depth analysis of the economic and policy issues associated with individual and population aging. The text has a strong policy focus based on demographic and economic analysis, making this book both accessible and challenging to readers with limited mathematical background. Written by leading thinkers in the field of the economics of aging. Employs a strong policy focus based on demographic and economic analysis. Provides a comprehensive international picture of the consequences of aging. Engages the reader through side boxes, relevant website addresses, and practice questions.

Written by leading thinkers in the field, this text provides an in-depth analysis of the economic and policy issues associated with individual and population aging. The text has a strong policy focus based on demographic and economic analysis, making this book both accessible and challenging to readers with limited mathematical background. Written by leading thinkers in the field of the economics of aging. Employs a strong policy focus based on demographic and economic analysis. Provides a comprehensive international picture of the consequences of aging. Engages the reader through side boxes, relevant website addresses, and practice questions.

Understanding the historical development of pensions is critical to the future of retirement systems around the world. A History of Public Sector Pensions in the United States offers a comprehensive assessment of the political and financial dimensions of public sector pensions from the colonial period until the emergence of modern retirement plans in the twentieth century. The authors emphasize how retirement plans can help achieve human resource objectives, how public sector pension policy has sometimes been influenced by other government objectives, and how early pension plans were funded. After discussing the economics of retirement plans, A History of Public Sector Pensions in the United States reviews the history of European retirement plans, beginning with their use in the Roman Empire, and then moves on to early American pension systems. The authors explore the development and management of U.S. army and navy pension plans during the nineteenth century, drawing on original records of participants, retirees, and plan finances. They document the struggle to establish a federal civil service retirement system and trace the growth of state and local retirement plans. This history is inextricably linked to broader developments in U.S. financial markets, offering rich insights into political debates, including current debates surrounding plan design and plan funding. A History of Public Sector Pensions in the United States will be of significant interest to financial market and pension experts, labor and corporate pension sponsors, policymakers, public sector plan participants, and others who want to know how and why pensions emerged.

State and Local Retirement Plans in the United States explains how economic and political events have shaped the development of pension plans in the last century, and it argues that changes in the structure and generosity of these plans will continue to shape policy and funding in the future. It also brings to bear a new rationale to the policies behind public sector pension plans. The authors use the history of how early public pension plans were established, how they matured and how they have grown in generosity to analyse what changes may be expected in years to come. Unique in its scope, this comprehensive history of the development of public sector pension plans in the United States during the twentieth century expands upon current ideas relating to the changing economic environment, the passage and evolution of social security and the expansion of the public sector. With the exception of military pension plans, which date from the eighteenth century, the first public sector plans, dating from the late nineteenth century, were established to cover teachers, police officers and firefighters in large cities. Over time, these retirement plans were extended to other public sector workers and the local plans were often merged with plans for state workers; all of these date from the twentieth century. Here, the authors show just how pension coverage for public sector workers expanded steadily, through the first half of the twentieth century, so that by the 1960s the vast majority of public sector workers were covered by a plan. This analysis demonstrates how economic events and shifts in public policy at the federal, state and local levels helped to shape public sector retirement plans. The authors also compare public plans with private sector plans, and the final chapter focuses on recent changes in public pensions in response to the `Great Recession', concurrent sharp declines in equity markets and the aging of the public workforce. Scholars and students of economics, history and public policy, public administrators, policymakers and all those with an interest in policy development will find the analyses discussed and conclusions drawn here of significance.

While retiree health plans are a dying benefit in the private sector, all US states and many local governments extend health insurance coverage to their retired employees. This book is the first to thoroughly examine public sector health insurance plans. Retiree Health Plans in the Public Sector provides a detailed description of the current plans offered and compares how they vary across states. Health insurance is an important component of compensation in the public sector as it helps governments attract and retain quality workers and encourages timely retirement for career employees. Rapidly rising medical costs, an aging labor force, and an increasing number of retirees have dramatically increased the cost of providing this benefit. A central theme of this analysis is a presentation of the actuarial accrued liabilities, the unfunded liabilities and the annual required contribution of the employers based on the actuarial statements for retiree health plans. The authors also investigate why some states face major funding problems while the costs of other states' plans are much more manageable. Extensively researched and well-suited for classroom and professional use alike, academics in the fields of economics and public policy will find this an unmatched resource. So too will policymakers, economists, legislators, public sector union leaders and those invested in public sector healthcare.