As far as other Sci-fi books that can pull off a planet wide take over, the only thing that comes to mind are Keith Laumer's : Bolo's...planetary siege engines...and they have shoot me written all over them...but also do orbital deployment...also for David Drakes books, for a look at armored combat, his Hammers slammers are good...im a tread head at heart...o yeah..look up Ian Douglas and his Heritage trilogy, Semper Mars, Luna Marine, Europa strike...its more a Hard Sci-fi book, with more detail in real life contitions, although some liberties are taken, it was a great read.

Taking on a hostile planet...i would secure a beach head and move out from there...doesnt matter as to citys and towns...just as long as we can ensure the supply line and air superiority the rest should fall into place...and with imposing on another government...the easiest is to set up a proxy and re-enlist their surviving armed forced and turn them over to garrison duties...the way they do it in Starfist books is by far the most realistic...having the Essays loaded with the dragons allow for fast deployment when on the surface and a degree of added protection...also sending in the recon force to take out the enemys C&C structures and power plants...

taking over someones home by force and establishing a friendly govenment is kinda counter productive dont you think??it would take a few generations but it can be done...but do you really want to go through the headache that Israel is going through? the threat of death can only go soo far...hmmim kinda losing track...sry will write more when my heads on straight...