mac
Brigadier General
Posts: 1,790
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Post by mac on May 16, 2019 22:15:34 GMT
That is not to say do not have the capability (big stick).
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Post by deadwoodgultch on May 17, 2019 10:36:55 GMT
Mac, you are so correct, when you are dealing with state actors(nations), not so much when dealing with nonstate actors. Then you have the despots that care little for their people. My post above rambled a bit too much, the point was that, in my opinion, is that officers that have succeeded at various levels of command and had to work hard to achieve higher levels of command. They are generally team players and builders. They care about their team. from bottom to top. It is much like people and politicians the have never worked in the real world. Custer never had to function, for any length of time, at lower levels of command or build a team that he truly cared about. Self interest builds a very poor leader. Luck and butt kissing only takes you too far. Chuck knew the 2nd officer I alluded to, not a college man. www.baltimoresun.com/news/obituaries/bs-md-ob-robert-cardwell-20171230-story.htmlRegards, Tom
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Post by deadwoodgultch on May 17, 2019 10:40:29 GMT
A National Guard General may seem like a smaller stage, but the rules are the same.
Regards, Tom
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Post by quincannon on May 17, 2019 16:13:10 GMT
Well Mac, Sun Tzu tells us that is exactly how to go about conflict or impending conflict, - Win before you have to fight. Any dumb ass can fight, be that individual, group or nation. Smart people, smart nations, build standing or semi standing coalitions, and let the band play softly, backed by insurmountable power, strategically, economically, and militarily, that is underpinned by morality of purpose. They play the long game by acting proactively. They should never place themselves in positions where they are forced to react in haste or prematurely.
Today we face several such potential conflict areas around the world, and the free nations must make it very clear, that their national interests are unified in purpose.
North Korea is a paper tiger, with only one or two sharp teeth. Their leader is held in place because the Army tolerates him. Their Army leadership reaps the benefits of Kim's power and actually works in our favor, because they know that if he goes to far, and places their financial and material well being in jeopardy he can be replaced. Kim knows that as well.
China is an economic power house with a glass jaw. Their moves must be measured by economic dependence on export goods. Geographically they are in a rough spot as well. They wish hegemony over the entire China Sea basin, and they are boxed in by the littoral nations, all of which are traditional enemies. They will make noise, and help anyone, including us, when it is in their nations interests to do so. They should be carefully watched but not feared. To them outright conflict with the west, is like the owner of the corner grocery store shooting his ten best customers.
Russia. As I have stated before Russia is nothing more today than a criminal enterprise, like the Mafia on steroids. Let me explain it this way. Imagine the city of New York divided as it is into five boroughs. One borough is totally corrupt, and to sustain the corruption in that borough the other four must be infiltrated with corrupt intent. In other words keeping the other four so off balance that the one that is completely corrupt can survive. The West has more to fear from Russian natural gas prices and internal corruption fostered by the Russian Mafia, more than any Russian tank ever built.
Iran. Another paper tiger with a possibly sharp tooth. If you want to beat those bastards, do it the old fashion way - corrupt the populace with western dress, music, and lifestyles. Defeat that countries ability to control its own population by controlling what they have access to from the outside world. It will take fifty years, but so what. It is the strategic end state that you are playing this game for. Do not fight them, for fighting them would be on their own ground. The Persian is proud and he will fight until his last breath. They make conflict in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria seem like fighting choir boys and nuns armed with Tinker Toys. Skirmish with them at sea, but keep it limited, showing just what you will and will not tolerate.
Afghanistan. Get out this afternoon, and never go back unless you are mounting a surgical strike against a clearly defined target, then withdraw before the smoke clears. If Alexander could not take that place, nor the Brits and Russians, I would not be inclined to pin your hopes on Donald Trump.
Syria. Get out, under much the same set of parameters outline above for Afghanistan. Let that goddamned place be a boil on the Russian's backside for a change.
The entire remainder of the Middle East is not worth a bucket of spit, oil or not. Reason will not trump the tribalism and enemies that have been enemies since Moses walked to earth, and will be the same three thousand years from today.
Israel. Work with them but never trust them, and never let them back you into a corner that is only to their advantage, not yours.
So Mac, the key is alliances and coalitions that decide what is in their collective best interests long before the saber is drawn, and using adroit maneuvering show the other side you mean nothing but business, if ever business is necessary. - Economic, and Military business, and it must be done in a way that will assure them that you never quit either. There must also never be the moment that your side does not occupy the moral high ground. The fight must be right.
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Post by quincannon on May 17, 2019 16:46:02 GMT
Tom: I did not know Cardwell had passed away. Good man.
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mac
Brigadier General
Posts: 1,790
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Post by mac on May 18, 2019 8:49:42 GMT
The one thing I would say QC is that China is not culturally like USA or us. Their people will actually suffer for the welfare of the state. I am doubtful that threats on twitter will do anything more than force them to be even more difficult to deal with as they cannot be seen to "loose face" and no business deal will soften that approach. By all means pressure them but if you want them to move your way never belittle them, plays to an audience but very poor strategically. I fear a recession. But keep smiling ..life goes on. Cheers
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Post by quincannon on May 18, 2019 15:08:30 GMT
I very much agree Mac with everything you said save one.
I do not think the Chinese people will willingly suffer for the state. They will willingly suffer for China though. There is a fine difference but a difference none the less.
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mac
Brigadier General
Posts: 1,790
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Post by mac on May 19, 2019 22:17:17 GMT
I take your point QC but for many Chinese the state is China. This is a major cultural difference the notion that government is not separate but rather an integrated part of life.
Take the law as an example. In our culture the law sets boundaries and within those you can wander. A business man who deals with China explained to me that their view (Chinese) was that the law was a road map rather than a boundary. If something is not allowed by the law then it is simply not allowed.
Sure they use this conveniently but we do the same; hence always bring lawyers, guns and money.
Cheers
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Post by quincannon on May 20, 2019 17:59:41 GMT
When you go to the doctor and he gives you bad news, a wise man solicits a second opinion. I am grateful for yours.
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Post by deadwoodgultch on May 20, 2019 21:30:00 GMT
Getting back to the title of this thread. I am going to use a football analogy. Hey diddle, diddle run up the middle is a direct run to your objective( best performed in the valley) If you are going to use an end around you need a strong fake by your team(you don't leave over a third of your offense on the bench( Benteen valley hunting and your packs elsewhere). The most important part of either of these plays is you must call them in the huddle. What, the calls were not discussed ahead of time? Where was the coach? Where was the quarterback? Wholly Sh*t, no Super Bowl for you! No soup, either, for any of Seinfeld's friends...
Regards, Tom
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mac
Brigadier General
Posts: 1,790
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Post by mac on May 21, 2019 2:52:06 GMT
It sort of disturbs me that I actually understand this post. The thing I would add here is that prior to calling anything you need to know what the opposition is doing. If scouts had been thrown well ahead then the final play would have been easier to call. Instead it was a rush to contact, any sort of contact. The game was always in the valley and the best option was to stay there. The end around play had the first problem of actually getting around; and never achieved that but were picked off along the sideline and pushed out of bounds. What about if Custer had gone left instead of right? Is it a better prospect? Cheers
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Post by deadwoodgultch on May 21, 2019 9:58:28 GMT
To your last, absolutely, no question and it could have driven off the ponies as an added bonus.
Regards, Tom
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benteen
First Lieutenant
"Once An Eagle
Posts: 406
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Post by benteen on May 21, 2019 16:27:48 GMT
Getting back to the title of this thread. I am going to use a football analogy. Hey diddle, diddle run up the middle is a direct run to your objective( best performed in the valley) If you are going to use an end around you need a strong fake by your team(you don't leave over a third of your offense on the bench( Benteen valley hunting and your packs elsewhere). The most important part of either of these plays is you must call them in the huddle. What, the calls were not discussed ahead of time? Where was the coach? Where was the quarterback? Wholly Sh*t, no Super Bowl for you! No soup, either, for any of Seinfeld's friends... Regards, Tom Tom, I like your football analogy. In addition to what you mention, this is a team that had no OTAs, no training camp, no practice.. Not a good way to go into a season. They were doomed before the first snap Be Well Dan
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Post by quincannon on May 21, 2019 18:23:13 GMT
Ah yes, but the key factor to consider is WHY they did not think they needed the training camps and practice before they went on to the field.
Could it be that they were enamored by their own reputation of ten years before?
Could it be that they did not possess one ounce of professionalism?
Could it be that they thought any illiterate White guy, unburdened by anything resembling decent leadership could lick the Red man hands down any day of the week and twice on Sunday?
It was probably all three.
Truth is that no matter how good a battle plan they could concoct, had the human material not been there, it would be all for naught.
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Post by yanmacca on May 21, 2019 19:11:16 GMT
Needless to say, as Errol Flynn said in TDWTBO, it’s a cavalry job now!
Yes, a cavalry job with two full brigades, with infantry if any, taking up a backup role.
Mobility is what was needed, look how far behind Terry and Gibbon where, about two days behind, those infantry in those two columns were as much use as a chocolate tea pot, they may has well stayed back at their home stations for the army to free up as much cavalry as possible.
You don’t send cavalry against troops in fixed defenses, you send in infantry, so you don’t send foot soldiers to walk hundreds of miles to fight an enemy who can disperse before they got within 20 miles, you send in cavalry, which I suppose they did but not enough.
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