Good post!
Happy Memorial Day to those who “took the oath” and the Patriotic Americans as we honor those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms.
“Hand Salute” “Two”
I had exactly one teacher in school who not only loved history, but loved teaching it - especially the history of warfare. Most were like that Ben Stein character - joyless and monotonous.
Most of the class thought him a fuddy-duddy but I really enjoyed his lectures. I don’t think that they make them like him anymore.
Nice post, indeed.
My only comment is that I have found Keegan rather derivative. Keegan’s book, “The Fact of Battle”, which was hailed as such a landmark work at the time of its release, is pretty much a a re-hash of Martin Middlebrook’s “First Day on the Somme” and Ardant du Picq’s “Battle Studies”
The Art of War - By the master. Significant in its omission.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Art_of_War
From the article -
The Department of the Army in the United States, through its Command and General Staff College, has directed all units to maintain libraries within their respective headquarters for the continuing education of personnel in the art of war. The Art of War is mentioned as an example of works to be maintained at each individual unit, and staff duty officers are obliged to prepare short papers for presentation to other officers on their readings.
The Art of War is listed on the Marine Corps Professional Reading Program (formerly known as the Commandant’s Reading List). It is recommended reading for all United States Military Intelligence personnel and is required reading for all CIA officers.
Bookmarked
“We fought the 1991 Gulf War with dazzling, computer-enhanced weaponry. But lost in the technological pizzazz was the basic wisdom that we need to fight wars with political objectives in mind and that, to conclude them decisively, we must defeat and even humiliate our enemies, so that they agree to abandon their prewar behavior.”
There were two generals of the Civil War that understood this principle of “total war.” Thomas J. Jackson on the Southern Side (but he didn’t live long enough to have the influence), of course the Northern general was William T. Sherman. His “march to the sea” greatly shortened that conflict (apologies to Southern brethren that are still angry about that one). Sherman said, “War is cruelty, there is no use trying to reform it. The crueler it is, the sooner it will be over.”
Amazing post, amazing VDH! So much great information, books to read. That Margaret Atwood poem he quoted rings so true. Imagine that military historian at a DC cocktail party. Imagine Ed Schultz, Rachel Maddow, Chris Matthews, et al. They can’t think their way out of a paper bag and don’t care in the least if they spew lies that endanger the republic.
And VDH’s first sentence tells it all. We disregard it at our peril.
Great essay. Thanks for posting.
Great post! Thanks!