Military History, Book Reviews, and Other Things

Category Modern Global Conflict

Posts about present and near-present wars. Think Gulf War to the present

Why Does the West Seem Incapable of Winning Wars Anymore? – Part 1

I got to thinking about the question at the title of this post a few months ago.  Being me I started doing some research and then put my thoughts down in what ended up being a fairly long paper for… Continue Reading →

Book Review: Decision Points by George W. Bush

Decision Points is a book I have put off reading for several years but finally got around to. I mainly put it off because I have essentially avoided reading any histories of the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars as they hit… Continue Reading →

Podcast: Sanctions – Do They Work?

This episode discusses sanctions. Both types of sanctions, diplomatic and economic. More importantly it discusses their usefulness and I give you my answer to what I consider the central question; do sanctions work? Download this episode (right click and save)

Podcast: Hard Power versus Soft Power

This episode explores the differences between hard and soft power and discusses what is normally meant when the to terms are used. Download this episode (right click and save)

Podcast: Terrorism – What is it and what can we do?

A discussion of what terrorism is, what are terrorism’s goal, and what are the realistic options for dealing with it. Download this episode (right click and save)

Podcast: NGO’s: A Rambling Rant

A fairly rambling discussion about NGO’s and what they really accomplish. I will admit upfront that I don’t have a very good opinion of NGO’s. It seems to me that after 150 years of digging wells in Africa we should… Continue Reading →

Podcast: Strategy: It’s Different aspects

This podcast is a wider discussion of strategy and the different aspects and types of strategy there are. Strategy is not one overarching concept except at its most basic. There are different nuances to strategy and strategy development that exist… Continue Reading →

Podcast: Tactical, Operational, & Strategic; What Do They Mean?

A discussion of what the different terms Tactical, Operational, & Strategic actually mean and how they are so often misused both in history books but especially within the media. Download this episode (right click and save)

Podcast: Air Power and It’s Limits

This podcast discusses Air Power and its limits.  Specifically I expose the myth that it is possible to win a war with airpower alone.  The example of Kosovo often held up as showing airpower can win wars is discussed as… Continue Reading →

Podcast: The Syrian update

An examination of the situation in Syria and between Turkey/NATO on one side and Russia/Syria on the other in light of recent events.

Syria – What’s Really Going to Happen?

This is my inaugural podcast.  I plan on making this a regular feature.  Generally they will be about current world events and should usually run 10-15 minutes in length.  The length is because I record them in my truck on the… Continue Reading →

The Problem with Elite Units? Or is there a Problem?

I was thinking about this the other day while watching The Pacific on DVD. The Pacific is a pretty good series although I found Band of Brothers to be better based on pure entertainment value. What made me think about elite units was… Continue Reading →

Book Review: In The Company Of Heroes by Michael Durant

I picked up In The Company Of Heroes by Michael Durant recently  because it was something I always wanted to read but never got around to. I am glad I did. For those in the military back in the early 1990’s… Continue Reading →

Reading and Military Service

There is an interesting piece on Medium.com recently about basic training and encouraging new soldiers to read.  I read, and read a lot, and have always tried to encourage others to read, not only my fellow soldiers when I was… Continue Reading →

The House on Pooh Corner

The below photo is the House at Pooh Corner (Our name) in Bosnia in the summer of 1996 as my platoon was returning to our camp after spending the day guarding some UN folks who were excavating a Mass Grave nearby…. Continue Reading →

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