This is, first, a useful handbook giving essential data on the Gulf states and their military establishments; second, it is an appraisal of their security problems and those of the West in that region. The approach assumes a greater congruence of interests among the Gulf states and between them and the West than may in fact exist; and it expects too much from those states in the way of military capability and deterrence. All in all, however, the author shows real understanding of both the political and the military aspects, and he is right in stressing the central importance of Saudi Arabia.