tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31246093.post5459408671072963079..comments2024-03-28T12:29:39.157-07:00Comments on Graphic Firing Table: Nutjob RulesFDChiefhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10607785969510234092noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31246093.post-79331190753949805612012-03-06T20:13:32.421-07:002012-03-06T20:13:32.421-07:00Paul: I think I want to do the 1896 war first. Af...Paul: I think I want to do the 1896 war first. After that I'll take a look at the 1935 war, tho it was pretty much a walkover - no real "decisive" battles there...<br /><br />Good ol' Larry of Arabia, eh?<br /><br />I read a terrific biography of the woman who helped make Iraq Iraq, Gertrude Bell, who along with Lawrence played a big role in the British activities in the Midle East - specifically, setting up the Hashemite kings of several Arab states, including Saudi Arabis, Syria, Jordan and Iraq.<br /><br />From that source I can say with some certainty that both Bell's and Lawrence's influence on Middle Eastern affairs was relatively slight and limited to the immediate period between the wars in much of the ME. The only real exception was Jordan, where the Hashemites still reign. Both of the Britons were frustrated by the Sykes-Picot Agreement (which tossed the Hashemites out of Syria in the Twenties), Iraq was lost to the Sunnis in the Fifties, and the Sauds pretty much kiboshed their influence in Saudi in the Twenties.<br /><br />Their ideals were a linked assembly of independent Arab states, ruled by Hashemites, who were linked by policy to Britain; a vision that was pretty much extinct by the outbreak of WW2 and is pretty much forgotten today, other than as a vague resentment of Great Britain in the places it fucked over (like Iraq) and some lingering affection in places they didn't (like parts of Yemen).FDChiefhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10607785969510234092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31246093.post-15376294718816725482012-03-06T18:09:22.189-07:002012-03-06T18:09:22.189-07:00Why don't you write something about the Italia...Why don't you write something about the Italian campaign in Ethiopia? It seems like a preview of the Spanish Civil War. <br /><br />Also, it would be interesting if you would explain exactly what T.E. Lawrence accomplished. I know there's been much written about him, but where does he stand in military history?Podunk Paulnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31246093.post-23445842527242001962012-03-06T07:00:52.213-07:002012-03-06T07:00:52.213-07:00Chief,
I hate to say the N word, but our present a...Chief,<br />I hate to say the N word, but our present attitude brought to us by gwb was no different than Hitlers msg.<br />Willpower.<br />If gwb/hitlers will was great enuf the enemy will roll over for a good butt f---ing.<br />Didn't work out that way- all the ss troopers and all of socom can't put humpty dumpty back together again.Regardless of a whole lot of will expressed by a fat, dumb and clueless leader/society.<br />jimrangeragainstwarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02126542922536584950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31246093.post-26991544387309455442012-03-06T06:51:53.666-07:002012-03-06T06:51:53.666-07:00pharris: Which is why we really need to think abou...pharris: Which is why we really need to think about some boneheaded version of the Prime Directive; <i>"don't fuck around in other people's business unless you're absolutely sure they're about to fuck around in yours..."</i><br /><br />Nah. Never happen...FDChiefhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10607785969510234092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31246093.post-6208804620300676652012-03-06T06:50:28.199-07:002012-03-06T06:50:28.199-07:00Pluto: The only engagement that meant anything was...Pluto: The only engagement that meant anything was Königgrätz; needle-gun versus muzzle-loaders and Prussian military efficiency against Austro-Hungarian "traditions"; a sort of Jena in reverse...<br /><br />Interesting idea for July.FDChiefhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10607785969510234092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31246093.post-7168996086736585882012-03-06T05:34:49.561-07:002012-03-06T05:34:49.561-07:00How about a battle from the Austro-Prussian war of...How about a battle from the Austro-Prussian war of 1866? The Prussians learned a lot from that war that went into the Franco-Prussian war 10 years later.Plutonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31246093.post-37470406539157534002012-03-06T04:18:31.078-07:002012-03-06T04:18:31.078-07:00Tossup on the battle pick, Adowa for the victory o...Tossup on the battle pick, Adowa for the victory of the underdogs, Rhineland for the battle that wasn't.<br /><br />I read long ago (wish I remembered the attribution) that Americans basically can't wrap their heads around the concept that furriners really don't want to be just like us. Due to lack of experience of other cultures, (and lack of any intellectual curiosity about other cultures even in the event of any experience), and a profound lack of respect for any culture that isn't just like ours, we expect that once we show others our obvious superiority every one else in the world will immediately see the error of their ways. Total lack of respect for all cultures other than ours (because they're just WRONG) leads us to reject even considering the notion that there might be anything worthwhile in any other society, and infuriates us when the benighted refuse our example. And we were this way even before we had an empire.<br /><br />In short, Americans would be the world's worst choice for alien First Contact.pharrisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31246093.post-62264745365110920382012-03-05T20:40:25.405-07:002012-03-05T20:40:25.405-07:00rational and sensible" usually means "th...<i>rational and sensible" usually means "thinking how I think and wanting what I want</i><br /><br />*sigh* ... alas.Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08839236994990699117noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31246093.post-50931411018910245022012-03-05T18:02:05.572-07:002012-03-05T18:02:05.572-07:00Lisa: ...and the other thing we should keep in min...Lisa: ...and the other thing we should keep in mind is that "rational and sensible" usually means "thinking how I think and wanting what I want". So the idea that some Afghan might be really, REALLY angry because Joe American soldier is running around his country armed just doesn't "make sense" to Joe American Six-Pack. That there soldier is there to HELP that iggnerent raghead! Why does the goofy camel-jockey get all fussy about a little book-burning and a few stray rounds? Geez...<br /><br />Leon: That'd be Sedan, but I hesitate to tackle it just because there's been so much done so well already. Although Gravelotte/St-Privat might be good for August, where I don't have any other battles left; the <i>chassepots</i> of Bazaine's <i>Armee de la Rhine</i> shoot down the flower of the Prussian Guard but in the end the industrial might of the German states - in the form of Krupp-made breechloading steel-barrel artillery - grinds down the French and seals the day, setting in train the capitulation of Sedan, the siege of Paris, German occupation, and eventually WWI...FDChiefhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10607785969510234092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31246093.post-15659420526618564322012-03-05T15:19:09.177-07:002012-03-05T15:19:09.177-07:00Looking forward to the next battle, regardless of ...Looking forward to the next battle, regardless of which it will be I know you'll make it interesting.<br /><br />Have you done any on the Franco-Prussian war? Seems a pretty significant war but little talked about.Leonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15715768191516712688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31246093.post-82809280551763201592012-03-05T11:18:53.862-07:002012-03-05T11:18:53.862-07:00What a terse distillation of our predicament:
We ...What a terse distillation of our predicament:<br /><br />We do want to "make the world into a rational and sensible place rather than the monstrous concatenation of ambition, distraction, uglification, and derision we should know by now that it is."<br /><br />And, we fail to see our own irrationality, both in our wishes and our conduct. <br /><br /><br />Yes also to this:<br /><br /><br /><i>"Their magical thinking is always going to be stronger than your magical thinking. It's really that simple."</i><br /><br />It does seem to come down to Sky Daddy arrogance. Maybe we should not chortle at GWB's desire to avenge his worldly daddy, HW. Showing virility to gain approval and gain validation seems hard-wired. Maybe all who believe in their Sky Daddy are seeking his approval, too, and thereby their own validation.<br /><br />It seems to be the lead motivator to drive men into the jaws of death.Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08839236994990699117noreply@blogger.com