tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31246093.post2093558764061870500..comments2024-03-28T12:29:39.157-07:00Comments on Graphic Firing Table: Light HousekeepingFDChiefhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10607785969510234092noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31246093.post-12477418049498091232011-11-09T16:02:23.153-07:002011-11-09T16:02:23.153-07:00Paul: In all honesty, I have done some blogging ab...Paul: In all honesty, I have done some blogging about the problems to our south...but I don't know or even pretend to know enough about the U.S. drug laws, and the social, political, and economic problems in Mexico and northern Latin America that combine to drive the fucking train wreck we call the "drug wars".<br /><br />IMO the "drug war" problems can be roughly dovetailed into the overall U.S.-Mexico problems; up here too much money, down there too little. I can't think of a historical parallel where two nations, one the wealthiest in the world, the other one of the poorest shared a vast almost uncontrollable land border. It just seems like an invitation to a bad ending...FDChiefhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10607785969510234092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31246093.post-46768315717175166012011-11-07T07:40:28.936-07:002011-11-07T07:40:28.936-07:00Chief -- why don't you write about the Mexican...Chief -- why don't you write about the Mexican drug war? 40,000 or 50,000 dead depending upon whom one believes. And no end in sight.Podunk Paulnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31246093.post-12338525976468608392011-11-05T14:32:55.918-07:002011-11-05T14:32:55.918-07:00Pluto: I'd have to agree with your summary; th...Pluto: I'd have to agree with your summary; the road to Hiroshima and Tokyo Bay was really paved by the combination of the weaknesses of the political <i>zaibatsu</i> set up in the Meiji Restoration that led to the <i>genro</i> and the militarization of the Japanese leadership from the turn of the 20th Century until 1945. They misread both the tenor of the times AND their own military strength. <br /><br />FDR didn't HAVE to lead them to Pearl - the events of 1905 and 1917 (and the Twenties and Thirties) pretty much had them going there one way or another. A Pacific Rim power - or a would-be Power - was going to have to collide with the U.S. at some point. The Japanese leadership had to either accept that they weren't going to get their Co-Prosperity Sphere...or they were going to have to fight the Yankees.<br /><br />They made a bad choice, but it wasn't much of a choice. After the humiliations they'd endured at the end of the previous wars they would sooner have swallowed a live grenade.<br /><br />And, as you say, they lucked out into a post-WW2 world where the U.S. needed a functional Japan as an ally and not a supine conquered province...FDChiefhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10607785969510234092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31246093.post-33942116397647731972011-11-05T05:34:28.166-07:002011-11-05T05:34:28.166-07:00On the whole Pearl Harbor thing:
You need to reme...On the whole Pearl Harbor thing:<br /><br />You need to remember that by 1941 the Japanese had been pushed into a really small box by the American blockade. They had two options:<br />1. Stop expanding their empire in China (or, perhaps even retreat) or<br />2. Double down their imperial bet and hope something broke in their favor.<br /><br />The problem with the Japanese analysis of the situation was that they viewed both options as equally bad so they went with the more interesting one. <br /><br />The militant adventurers who ruled Japanese society for the 20 years prior to 1941 had learned valuable lessons from 1905 and WWI, they just hadn't learned ALL the lessons, or even all the RIGHT lessons.<br /><br />The Japanese were trying to create an empire just as empires were going out of vogue. They were extremely aggressive and not very flexible. <br /><br />They really didn't understand that modern warfare isn't so much about heroic actions in combat and really cool looking weapons as it is about production, transportation, and continually improving your training doctrine.<br /><br />On the other hand, they did get lucky, in a way. They totally lost the war, had MacArthur totally revamp their society, and became the second largest economy in the world in less than 30 years. A damned high price but...Plutonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31246093.post-13119056352662349382011-11-05T05:04:04.020-07:002011-11-05T05:04:04.020-07:00Here's a few names for the "totally sucke...Here's a few names for the "totally sucked at war but kept doing it" group.<br /><br />Phillip II<br />Louis XIV<br /><br />I know these guys were political rather than military but they created the situation that led to war and eventually catastrophe.<br /><br />In a slightly different category, how about the campaigns of Pyrrhus, the man who gave us the "Pyrrhic victory"Plutonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31246093.post-36244053398879186552011-11-03T07:54:47.628-07:002011-11-03T07:54:47.628-07:00BD: Camarón is a good one for the "battles th...BD: Camarón is a good one for the "battles that changed history" column for the way that it "made" the Legion Etranger.<br /><br />But I think that I will write it up next April in company with the tale of the 1er REP and the Putsch des Généraux of 1961 - because to me, they represent the "endpoints" of the Old Legion. Camarón began the legend that was at once the brilliance and the failing of the Legion. By 1961 the officers and troopers who betrayed their government did so to a great degree because the legend had subsumed them; they believed their "duty" to the Legion and the Legion's separate identity as France in Algeria was greater than their duty to their nation.<br /><br />Interesting story from both ends...FDChiefhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10607785969510234092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31246093.post-227996133403880292011-11-02T17:27:29.915-07:002011-11-02T17:27:29.915-07:00Ael: Good note - I'll remember that, too...
B...Ael: Good note - I'll remember that, too...<br /><br />BB and jim: The reason that the Japanese weren't pwned into Pearl Harbor is covered in MArquis Kido's memoirs. He notes particularly that the navay chief, Yamamoto, warned the Cabinet that they were fools to attack the U.S. and that they had nothing like the economic throw-weight needed to beat the Yankees. But all they could see was the need to grab the SE Asia oilfields and they were all freakish about getting blindsided from the East.<br /><br />And as far as the actual attack, well...<br /><br />1. The operational failure was principally that of VADM Nagumo. He was a cruiser-and-destroyer guy, and many of his contemporaries had doubts about his ability as a naval air officer. Tsukahara, the commander of the 11th Air Fleet, said of him; "Nagumo was an officer of the old school, a specialist of torpedo and surface maneuvers.... He did not have any idea of the capability and potential of naval aviation." Yamamoto's plan CALLED for him to continue attacking and destroy the fuel and repair facilities AND search out the carriers.<br /><br />He didn't "get" the problems he was causing by not rearming a third strike to hit the fueling docks, or to search for the USN carriers. He was principally a "steady old file" who was more worried about losing a capital ship than carrying out his mission to completion. <br /><br />And,<br /><br />2) even HAD the attack pretty much wrecked Pearl the most it would have done is have set back the U.S. counteroffensive in the Pacific six months or so. Yamamoto knew it; "I can run wild for six months..." he is supposed to have said, "...after that, I have no expectation of success".<br /><br />The bottom line is that Imperial Japan was never likely to win against the U.S., regardless of their tactical or grand tactical successes in 1941 and '42. The combination of the U.S. economic muscle and Japan's horrific vulnerability to commerce raiding meant that had we not sent a single Marine or soldier ashore closer to the home islands than the Philippines or Guam U.S. air and submarine force would have brought the Imperial armies and navies to a halt some time in the mid- to late Forties. They'd just flat out have run out of fuel...<br /><br />In my writeup on the Philippine Sea in June 2012 I'll talk about the bigger picture that takes in the Pacific War from Pearl to Tokyo Bay in terms of the foolishness thereof.FDChiefhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10607785969510234092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31246093.post-48883269268046167442011-10-31T14:58:36.667-07:002011-10-31T14:58:36.667-07:00Since you're having trouble with December, may...Since you're having trouble with December, maybe something Pearl Harborish?<br /><br />I still do not understand why the Japanese thought hitting Pearl like they did was a thing they needed to do. I know they were hoping for a shot at the carriers, but still, taking a trans-Ocean shot like that was very risky.<br /><br />Would there have been any way to make such a strike worth the cost and risk?<br /><br />Got any Alternative History up your sleeve?<br /><br />bbAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31246093.post-24896526933939677392011-10-31T14:03:29.313-07:002011-10-31T14:03:29.313-07:00One more thing, don't assume that sinners = fa...One more thing, don't assume that sinners = failures. Clive, Cortes and Rhodes are excellent examples of breath-taking greed shaping our civilization.Aelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10788190394672505925noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31246093.post-59316562929259042912011-10-31T13:44:27.203-07:002011-10-31T13:44:27.203-07:00Chief: The "Asshole" target list would ...Chief: The "Asshole" target list would not be short. However, may I further suggest that plain old stupidy or ignorance not qualify anyone for membership in this rarefied list. This should make the list shorter and more interesting.<br /><br />However, if a person were willfully ignorant because they were too busy boinking someone's daughter (or even better, son)...<br /><br />So, I don't think Westmoreland qualifies. As far as I know, he was, personally, quite boring.<br /><br />Maybe he does, because he was so solidly in the center of the Washington Rules that he could not understand why he hadn't already won. Sort of an arrogant blindness. But in that case, I suspect a there would be a lot of arrogant blindness through the ages and thus again, Westy doesn't make the cut.<br /><br />What do you think?Aelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10788190394672505925noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31246093.post-83007058220756642002011-10-31T13:37:44.655-07:002011-10-31T13:37:44.655-07:00I'd throw in a vote for Breitenfeld and/or the...I'd throw in a vote for Breitenfeld and/or the Battle of Quebec for September. I don't remember you posting about either battle. Of course my memory could be horribly wrong though.darwinsjokehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04088153600180436787noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31246093.post-23033747887112286962011-10-31T10:10:42.696-07:002011-10-31T10:10:42.696-07:00If you need something for April, I think you shoul...If you need something for April, I think you should still do a piece about Camarón(Camarone). While the battle itself was essentially a mini-Alamo which did precisely nothing to keep the French puppet emperor Maximilian from being hauled in front of a justifiably irate Mexican firing squad, it was a defining moment in the history of the French Foreign Legion with repercussions leading all the way to Dien Bien Phu and the OAS.<br />If you are running short on decisive, then consider switching focus to significance , say precursors to important battles, for instance the relationship between Stamford Bridge and Hastings, or how the lessons of the Admin Box applied to Imphal-Kohima.Big Daddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31246093.post-60268043273340344332011-10-31T09:29:58.747-07:002011-10-31T09:29:58.747-07:00Ael: That WOULD be fun; a sort of "Rumsfeld A...Ael: That WOULD be fun; a sort of "Rumsfeld Award" (or "Rummy") for someone who has had the perfect anti-Midas touch for warfare and geopolitical strategy. I'm thinking of people like Dartmouth for England in 1775, or McNamara and Westy for us in 1968.<br /><br />Lemme think about that, but I like the idea.FDChiefhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10607785969510234092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31246093.post-39909215578438932102011-10-30T22:33:47.455-07:002011-10-30T22:33:47.455-07:00I think you should do whatever you most enjoy.
O...I think you should do whatever you most enjoy. <br /><br />One of the special treats from your battle articles are your "touchline tattles", and they got me to thinking ..<br /><br />May I suggest a series of "Decisive Assholes through the Ages" articles. Go look for people who through a combination of historical circumstances and the seven deadly sins have shaped the world we live in today.Aelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10788190394672505925noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31246093.post-58848132570138842652011-10-30T20:04:07.359-07:002011-10-30T20:04:07.359-07:00DF: No sweat-di-dah, I understand the issues of ov...DF: No sweat-di-dah, I understand the issues of overcommitment and excess work.<br /><br />Flodden might be interesting. The other battle of the Italian Wars I wanted to write up was Pavia, which I did back in February of '09. It's an interesting period, but more for the politics and the overall military evolution than for any individual battle.<br /><br />Commanders. Hmmm. Let me think about that one. I've always been a sucker for the "underrated military leader" of the John Moore/Matt Ridgeway type, the guys who do good without looking good.<br /><br />Rest assured, I'm still thinking about this...FDChiefhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10607785969510234092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31246093.post-13398695342219358112011-10-30T13:02:11.943-07:002011-10-30T13:02:11.943-07:00Hi Chief - sorry I haven't posted much or on t...Hi Chief - sorry I haven't posted much or on time recently, been insanely busy at work.<br /><br />If you are short of desire or inspiration, perhaps try a variation on having to write about battles. If it's the politics or economics of the period that interests you, find a way to write about them. Sometimes having to write about a Decisive Battle can be a straight jacket (though it can also give thoughts structure).<br /><br />Maybe write about a great commander instead of a great battle? I often find it interesting learning the disparate, random and haphazard way leaders are influenced and develop. Part of this perspective has come from books I've been reading recently on formulating business strategy (for my work). Sometimes a foray into another field can reap rewards.<br /><br />Anyway, just some ideas I'm throwing up for you there. The list of battles you mention doesn't sound too bad. I know recently your last few posts have been ambitious in taking your readers to countries and history they probably have never read before. Personally I think they are great and you should keep at them, though the lack of familiarity for others might be ofputting.<br /><br />If you are short of a battle or twocan I recommend anything in Renaissance Italy (war becoming the driving economic activity,until the bubble burst), closed to home for me, Flodden as a complete,and completely unneccesary, disaster for the Scots.Don Francisconoreply@blogger.com