What is Wrong with the US Army?
October 26th 2006 23:55
and I'm not talking about morally, that would take more then a single blog entry to cover.
But no, it seems that, despite having the worlds largest defence budget (see below), the US is incredible incapable of actually winning wars. Or perhaps I should reconsider that. They won against the British, in the war of independence, they beat, themselves in the Civil War, and were a major contributor to success in the Second World War.
So it seems that the American military can succede, when faced with a simple and obvious goal (I mean, the British military uniforms at the time were hardly conspicuous)
Yet whenever the US is faced with attacking a much weaker country, it seems to lose, or just draw things out to a pointless stalemate.
In Vietnam, the US was aiding the South of the Country to repel the North. They were aided by the usual coalition, Canada, Britain (I assume) and us proud Australians - the 51st fucking state. Yet, the North Vietnamese eventually won.
There's three reasons for this.
1. The US army was poorly disciplined and untrained in combating Geurilla Warfare. This is true enough, according to most history textbooks (published outside of America that is), the American soldiers listened to walkmans and smoked cigarettes even when on duty, so that they could be heard and seen coming from a long distance.
2. The commanders were inconsiderate of the effect of the War upon the South Vietnamese villagers, who eventually formed the Viet Kong (Southern Geurilla army fighting on the side of the North) as a result of America's use of napalm - against villages and to remove the forest cover that was inconviencing the American troops - 50% of Soth Vietnam's forests were burnt down.
3. Protest at home due to freedom of the press that has not been enjoyed since - Find a copy of a news report about Vietnam. It will show the children that were burnt with napalm. The roadside execution of a prisoner, without any form of trial, by a S.Vietnamese ally of the US was played constantly. Nowadays there's a big 'footage free' gap between the start of a war and the big party at the end.
Ok, even the US's tactical problems is taking more then a single blog entry... More tomorrow
But no, it seems that, despite having the worlds largest defence budget (see below), the US is incredible incapable of actually winning wars. Or perhaps I should reconsider that. They won against the British, in the war of independence, they beat, themselves in the Civil War, and were a major contributor to success in the Second World War.
Yet they still can't build missiles that actually hit their target.
So it seems that the American military can succede, when faced with a simple and obvious goal (I mean, the British military uniforms at the time were hardly conspicuous)
Yet whenever the US is faced with attacking a much weaker country, it seems to lose, or just draw things out to a pointless stalemate.
In Vietnam, the US was aiding the South of the Country to repel the North. They were aided by the usual coalition, Canada, Britain (I assume) and us proud Australians - the 51st fucking state. Yet, the North Vietnamese eventually won.
There's three reasons for this.
1. The US army was poorly disciplined and untrained in combating Geurilla Warfare. This is true enough, according to most history textbooks (published outside of America that is), the American soldiers listened to walkmans and smoked cigarettes even when on duty, so that they could be heard and seen coming from a long distance.
2. The commanders were inconsiderate of the effect of the War upon the South Vietnamese villagers, who eventually formed the Viet Kong (Southern Geurilla army fighting on the side of the North) as a result of America's use of napalm - against villages and to remove the forest cover that was inconviencing the American troops - 50% of Soth Vietnam's forests were burnt down.
3. Protest at home due to freedom of the press that has not been enjoyed since - Find a copy of a news report about Vietnam. It will show the children that were burnt with napalm. The roadside execution of a prisoner, without any form of trial, by a S.Vietnamese ally of the US was played constantly. Nowadays there's a big 'footage free' gap between the start of a war and the big party at the end.
Ok, even the US's tactical problems is taking more then a single blog entry... More tomorrow
| 87 |
| Vote |
subscribe to this blog
Comment by Cibbuano
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
Think about all the education and health care they could provide!
Comment by Scott
Comment by kellon