The ``Alternative Policies'' series is intended to offer a concrete set of programs for dealing with the coun try's most pressing domestic crises. One critical sector of the economy, namely food and agriculture, is beset with numerous problems: farm sur plus, hunger and malnutrition, de creasing farm income and rising debts, foreclosures, absentee land lords, corporate takeover of farms, and environmental problems, among others. Belden and other experts ex amine the Omnibus farm and food legislation of 1985 in the light of these problems. Our federal policy is found wanting in many respects. A timely work, recommended for academic and large public libraries. M. Bala chandran, Univ. of Illinois Lib., Ur bana-Champaign Joining a number of books published recently, such as Arthur T. Hadley's Straw Giant ( LJ 7/86), this is an indictment of the U.S. defense establishment. Halloran, defense correspondent for the New York Times , has a clear grasp of his topic. He moves from the impact of Vietnam, a crisis of public confidence in the military, to training, leadership, procurement, planning, and strategy. The story is far from inspiring. Halloran estimates that deficiencies in defense contracting, weapons, and strategy cost about $100 billion a year, which could either be saved or provide that much more effective military power. ``Star Wars'' fares no better in Halloran's insightful analysis. His recipe for reform is sensible and serious. A valuable contribution to the assessment of military policy in the United States. Richard B. Finnegan, Political Science Dept., Stonehill Coll., North Easton, Mass.
