"The 2006 Israel-Hezbollah conflict was a turning point in the complex political and military relationship that has maintained a precarious balance in the Middle East. It exposed the weakness of a powerful conventional military force when confronted with irregular warfare conducted by an adversary who does not follow the traditional warfighting methods or subscribe to the conventional definition of victory. Although the conflict was essentially military in nature, it brought out a number of larger issues someof which have universal applicability - the interaction between political and military decision makers in a democracy, the accountability of an elected government towards the people and the necessity for a nation-state to ensure its security by using all elements of national power."--Back cover.