The Military History Thread

[palo5]

Originally Posted by Ennath

...
Upon becoming President in 1913, Woodrow Wilson was shocked to discover that the Joint Army-Navy Board had developed “war plans” for certain contingencies, and immediately suspended its meetings and ordered the two services to stop planning for possible conflicts...

Dangerous having no plans

Afghanistan & Iraq are two recent examples

[rupertramjet]

Originally Posted by palo5

Dangerous having no plans

Afghanistan & Iraq are two recent examples

WE had plans, mainly f'ing holiday plans!

[Mal Hombre]

Originally Posted by palo5

Dangerous having no plans

Afghanistan & Iraq are two recent examples

We had War plans ,We just didn't have any plans for what to do afterwards.There was just the naive idea We could simply hand things over to a new(sympathtetic) democratic government and leave with the cheers of grateful citizens ringing in Our ears..

[palo5]

Originally Posted by rupertramjet

WE had plans, mainly f'ing holiday plans!

So it turned out

[rupertramjet]

Originally Posted by Mal Hombre

We had War plans ,We just didn't have any plans for what to do afterwards.There was just the naive idea We could simply hand things over to a new(sympathtetic) democratic government and leave with the cheers of grateful citizens ringing in Our ears..

Mal hits the nail squarely on the head. The Politicians where of the believe that Democracy could flourish, with immediate effect, and we could all go home.

The Armed Forces of both Nations thought differently, and as is the norm, where ignored.

There is a dangerous belief in the West that Democracy is the answer for everything, that we will all watch people go along and vote, they will elect a new Government and all will be well.

In Iraq the entire political and administrative structure had been wiped out, the pyramid of dictatorship, means that take the first tier, the eight of the next, then the forty eight of the next and so on, will disappear through fear of reprisal.

Add to that the minor fact that the Middle East, and Afghanistan, are Tribal Societies, which means simply, the biggest tribe will dominate, look at the History of Independent Africa, especially Zimbabwe, the Naivety of the powers that be was incredible. The only successful, large Country in the Middle East is Saudi Arabia, that is a Monarchist Dictatorship, cemented by the ties to Abdul Aziz bin Saud, which when the current King dies, will be broken, many observers are fearful of the aftermath.

[bombermouse]

Originally Posted by Mal Hombre

We had War plans ,We just didn't have any plans for what to do afterwards.There was just the naive idea We could simply hand things over to a new(sympathtetic) democratic government and leave with the cheers of grateful citizens ringing in Our ears..

Why not? Aren't Iraq and Afghanistan just like Iowa?

[rupertramjet]

Originally Posted by bombermouse

Why not? Aren't Iraq and Afghanistan just like Iowa?

Certainly they are bombs, especially if you are a little man living in a big white house in Washington, and another living in an enlarged council house in London!

[jawsfan]

The Cola Wars of the 1980's. Coke vs Pepsi.

Blood was shed.

[palo5]

Originally Posted by rupertramjet

Mal hits the nail squarely on the head. The Politicians where of the believe that Democracy could flourish, with immediate effect, and we could all go home...

... by Christmas?

[haroldeye]

Palo you are spending far too much time on this site. A few more comments like that one and you'll be on the way to getting honorary Brit status.