This is a great idea stillborn. I wanted to love this book. I find the Mediterranean of World War II fascinating. An attempt to tie it all together, the personalities, the enviroment, and the asymmetric forces engaged. What an enthralling idea. In this case it is an overwhelming one.Uneven writing,technical errors and manhanding facts to support the thesis are all present to combine in an irritating muddle. The assorted head scratchers and eyebrow raisers will get you reviewing your library. Serving to remind you of all the really good books waiting to be distilled into that omnibus that this only presages.