For HUMVEE drivers in Iraq
Effective and probably necessary.......but not the best way to win over the people........![]()
Yup.Do they drive that way so that they're never (or rarely)at a stand still?
The comments on youtube are comedy gold. I like the guy who is claiming that we're losing the war "just like most other wars US has fought in". Yeah, we've definitely been on the losing side for most of the conflicts we've been in... moron.![]()
To be frank, our last decisive victory was WWII.
Brett
True, but I'd still say most of our conflicts since 1776 have turned out fairly well for us. Regardless, I don't think the guy's point was to spark a well-informed debate about the post-war state of the American military. I think he was just being a troll.![]()
Yes, but sometimes we Americans have an unrealistic view of our own history of warfare. Even in our own revolution, the only reason we emerged victorious was because the Brits essentially decided to cut and run, not because of a decisive military victory. In WWI, we came in as a clean-up crew and the same could be said (although to a lesser extent) of the European theater in WWII. Overconfidence and a failure or unwillingness to see things (and ourselves) in the proper historical context is a very dangerous thing.
Brett
Don't Tread on Me: A 400 Year History of America at War by H.W. Crocker III
It's a pretty fun read and really puts a lot in perspective. Anyway, I would argue that Washington knew that time was on his side, and his tactics illustrated that (refraining from major engagements). Additionally, Greene knew that in the south and succeeded in stringing Cornwallis out (and away from his supply lines). In any case, the battles were small and time only hurt the British. On your last comment, I would add that failing to remember/realize our policies before major events and the eventual outcome (1812, Barbary pirates, Mexican-American, WWI, WWII, etc.) in the context of those policies would be in error.