The scope of this work includes both political and military history and biography related to conflicts in the Middle East, North and East Africa, and Central Asia since about 1970. However, a few entries related to the relevant history and culture of the region and U.S. reaction to the conflicts are included. Some examples of essays included in the first four encyclopedia volumes are: “Iraqi Liberation Act,” “Italy: Armed Forces in Iraq and Afghanistan,” “Desert Shield, Operation,” “Schwarzkopf, H. Norman Jr.,” “Sadat, Muhammad Anwar,” “Sheehan, Cindy Lee Miller,” “Cluster Bombs, U.S.,” “Satellites, Use of by Coalition Forces,” “Allah,” “Ottoman Empire,” and “Syria, Armed Forces.”

The essays are signed and range in length from one page to about four pages. Each provides a short bibliography. Most essays maintain an appropriate degree of political distance, though an American audience is presumed. The style is generally dry but quite readable.

The four encyclopedic volumes are much more detailed than Encyclopedia of the Modern Middle East and North Africa (MacMillan, 2004), providing a much greater depth of information within a more focused scope that is more explicitly political and military. However, this work should be supplemented by other reference works about Middle Eastern social history, Muslim religion, and political history in earlier times.

Perhaps the greatest contribution of the work is volume five, which is a collection of relevant primary documents including correspondence of political and military leaders, presidential briefings, political speeches, United Nations Security Council resolutions, Congressional acts, broadcast transcripts, and other relevant primary sources. Having these documents gathered together in a single volume will be both useful to serious researchers and interesting to the curious browser.

The work is thoroughly indexed and provides interesting black and white photographs, many of which are military in nature, showing aircraft and ocean vessels, for example. Many other photographs feature biographical figures, pictures of cities, or political rallies and protests. The work contains a smaller number of black and white maps. The cover is olive drab featuring a large picture of soldiers and helicopters. The cover is attractive though clearly military in its appeal.

The purpose of this work is primarily educational: to provide an accessible resource for understanding the political exigencies and military strategies and technology involved in these wars that have been so prominent in American life and policy. The work is well-suited to accomplish this purpose. Its essays can provide a useful guide to understanding evening news broadcasts and political speeches referencing conflict in the Middle East. It also has a great deal of browsing appeal for patrons interested in military history and technology, and it could be quite useful for researchers studying American and international politics. The work could be a useful addition to most public, high school, and undergraduate college libraries.