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Wars and ConflictsΒ  permalink

Don't mention Basra

• Message 1.Β 

  Posted by hotmousemat (U2388917) on Tuesday, 14th September 2010

  Is our army's sad performance in Basra long ago enough to count as history rather than politics?
  
  I find it curious that it is never mentioned when discussing either the war in Afghanistan or the current defence review.
  
  It seems to me that our popular press will accept no criticism of 'our boys' which means that our politicians will also steer well clear. Yet in other nations it has certainly blown our military reputation.
  
  I think this situation is instructive for students of history. We assume that adverse events (Boer War) must trigger reforming reactions, whereas triumphs (Trafalgar, Waterloo) encourage conservatism and atrophy. But I think you could equally argue that a reaction to defeat may instead be to simply work harder to pretend it never happened.
  
  I also wonder if it is a general rule that the number of public military parades in a nation rises in an inverse ratio to that nation's military successes.

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Andrew Host (U1683626) on Tuesday, 14th September 2010

  Hi hothousemat,
  
  We try to steer clear of Iraq and Afghanistan unless there's a clear historical perspective as they're ongoing situations.
  
  'Current affairs' is off topic for the History boards - it also tends to attract the pro/anti Bushs and Blair trolls.
  
  If you want to look at battles in that area from past wars, or open a discussion on the overlooked effects of defeat and success in the British military from previous conflicts you're more than welcome.
  
  Cheers
  
  
  Andrew

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