Comments on: The Myth of American Military Genius http://www.wholesomereading.com/2008/11/23/the-myth-of-american-military-genius/ Musings on culture and politics by baseball writer Steven Goldman Sat, 19 May 2012 10:03:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: spanish american war | Intel.com http://www.wholesomereading.com/2008/11/23/the-myth-of-american-military-genius/#comment-446 spanish american war | Intel.com Sat, 29 Nov 2008 15:20:22 +0000 http://www.wholesomereading.com/?p=267#comment-446 [...] The Myth of American Military Genius … and maybe another 11 million civilians. The U.S. lost under 420,000 in combat and less than 2,000 civilians. Korea, Vietnam, the less said about these conflicts the better. Ditto the current Iraq and Afghanistan. That leaves what as the big American wins? The Mexican War, the Spanish-American War (we … [...] [...] The Myth of American Military Genius … and maybe another 11 million civilians. The U.S. lost under 420,000 in combat and less than 2,000 civilians. Korea, Vietnam, the less said about these conflicts the better. Ditto the current Iraq and Afghanistan. That leaves what as the big American wins? The Mexican War, the Spanish-American War (we … [...]

]]> By: Rob in CT http://www.wholesomereading.com/2008/11/23/the-myth-of-american-military-genius/#comment-428 Rob in CT Wed, 26 Nov 2008 18:12:58 +0000 http://www.wholesomereading.com/?p=267#comment-428 The generalship during the Civil War was shockingly bad at times, it's true, but in all fairness one has to consider what those generals had going against them, too. Masses of largely untrained troops (particularly on the Union side), weaponry that significantly favored the defender, logistical nightmares (particularly for the Confeds). Lee looks GREAT on defense, and pretty bad on offense (not just Gettysburg). They all look pretty bad on offense, with the possible exception of Sherman. I've always thought of WWI as the single best example of abject military stupidity. The US Civil War had already shown, rather conclusively in my opinion, what happens when you line up a bunch of guys and march (or run, even) at an entrenched enemy (or an enemy otherwise benefitting from, say, terrain. Battle of the Wilderness, anyone?). And that was before machine guns got really good. The European nations had military advisors who witnessed this. They presumably wrote reports about it. Plus, then they had the Crimean war to confirm it. Btw, I thought Market Garden was a decent gamble. The generalship during the Civil War was shockingly bad at times, it’s true, but in all fairness one has to consider what those generals had going against them, too. Masses of largely untrained troops (particularly on the Union side), weaponry that significantly favored the defender, logistical nightmares (particularly for the Confeds). Lee looks GREAT on defense, and pretty bad on offense (not just Gettysburg). They all look pretty bad on offense, with the possible exception of Sherman.

I’ve always thought of WWI as the single best example of abject military stupidity. The US Civil War had already shown, rather conclusively in my opinion, what happens when you line up a bunch of guys and march (or run, even) at an entrenched enemy (or an enemy otherwise benefitting from, say, terrain. Battle of the Wilderness, anyone?). And that was before machine guns got really good. The European nations had military advisors who witnessed this. They presumably wrote reports about it. Plus, then they had the Crimean war to confirm it.

Btw, I thought Market Garden was a decent gamble.

]]> By: George http://www.wholesomereading.com/2008/11/23/the-myth-of-american-military-genius/#comment-413 George Tue, 25 Nov 2008 17:57:20 +0000 http://www.wholesomereading.com/?p=267#comment-413 First, I have to assume that during Mike's last paragraph he was possessed by Stephen Colbert. Second, might as well point out that the military intelligence during the War of 1812 was so bad, one of its major battles, the Battle of New Orleans, took place after the war was over. That'd be like the Phils and and Rays meeting for a Game 6. Oh, and Joe Maddon would have been killed, too. Third, as badly as the war was generalled (can that be a verb?), you have to say we won the Civil War as we were both sides. Or, fourth, you can steal Kevin Kline's line as the dumb yet patriotic Otto from "A Fish Called Wanda" when he insisted Vietnam was a tie. First, I have to assume that during Mike’s last paragraph he was possessed by Stephen Colbert.

Second, might as well point out that the military intelligence during the War of 1812 was so bad, one of its major battles, the Battle of New Orleans, took place after the war was over. That’d be like the Phils and and Rays meeting for a Game 6. Oh, and Joe Maddon would have been killed, too.

Third, as badly as the war was generalled (can that be a verb?), you have to say we won the Civil War as we were both sides.

Or, fourth, you can steal Kevin Kline’s line as the dumb yet patriotic Otto from “A Fish Called Wanda” when he insisted Vietnam was a tie.

]]> By: mike http://www.wholesomereading.com/2008/11/23/the-myth-of-american-military-genius/#comment-410 mike Tue, 25 Nov 2008 16:14:32 +0000 http://www.wholesomereading.com/?p=267#comment-410 This just goes to show the "myth" of any Army's ( or Navy's ) genius - we can look at the British army/navy, colonial campaigns by virtually everyone, Japan, Russia's Red Army, Germany's General Staff, Israel - history has an endless number of reputed mythical armed forces/leaders which crumble upon inspection. Yet the US invaded and controls 2 nations 1/2 way around the world for the cost of fewer than 5,000 soldier's lives over a 7 year period....and without a war economy, war-bonds, direct sacrifices at home, a draft etc....The US might not be the best, but not so bad after all This just goes to show the “myth” of any Army’s ( or Navy’s ) genius - we can look at the British army/navy, colonial campaigns by virtually everyone, Japan, Russia’s Red Army, Germany’s General Staff, Israel - history has an endless number of reputed mythical armed forces/leaders which crumble upon inspection.

Yet the US invaded and controls 2 nations 1/2 way around the world for the cost of fewer than 5,000 soldier’s lives over a 7 year period….and without a war economy, war-bonds, direct sacrifices at home, a draft etc….The US might not be the best, but not so bad after all

]]> By: Rocksfan http://www.wholesomereading.com/2008/11/23/the-myth-of-american-military-genius/#comment-404 Rocksfan Mon, 24 Nov 2008 18:38:28 +0000 http://www.wholesomereading.com/?p=267#comment-404 The South hurt itself by shooting Stonewall Jackson. The North could have helped itself by shooting any number of Generals... The South hurt itself by shooting Stonewall Jackson. The North could have helped itself by shooting any number of Generals…

]]> By: Bryan http://www.wholesomereading.com/2008/11/23/the-myth-of-american-military-genius/#comment-403 Bryan Mon, 24 Nov 2008 04:02:42 +0000 http://www.wholesomereading.com/?p=267#comment-403 Careful-You're going to get 10,000 Civil War nerds who will go on and on and on and on and on about glory and honah and what not. Careful-You’re going to get 10,000 Civil War nerds who will go on and on and on and on and on about glory and honah and what not.

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