Category Archives: History

Three Geriatrics ~ Three Forever Wars

Benjamin Netanyahu (76) He’s Israel’s longest serving prime minster and has turned war into a core activity for Israelis. The wars are quasi-colonial. The forever wars in Gaza, south Lebanon and the West Bank have colonial attitudes towards local populations. … Continue reading →

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Black Lives Matter: Schools in 1940s south Carolina

The local white schools had brick buildings, running water, flushing toilets, and strict bus routes. The schools for Black children were wooden cabins without electricity or indoor plumbing. Heat came from a single wood stove. Books were hand-me-downs from the … Continue reading →

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Are tanks mobile coffins?

Britain is budgeting about £2bn on new tanks – Challenger 3 – over the next few years. The Ukraine-Russia war suggests that they are useless. Britain hasn’t got a conceivable enemy where tanks could be used. And even if they … Continue reading →

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Pete Hegseth, Medievel Warrior

Pete Hegseth is secretary of state for war but seems to have an almost medieval view of war. His ‘No Quarter’ instruction is only really applicable on a battle field, which more-or-less don’t exist in 2026. American war crimes as … Continue reading →

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The USA’s siege of Cuba: 2026

Since February 2026 the USA has blockaded Cuba. The idea is that they will be starved into submission. Medicine, oil and food are all prevented from entering Cuba. Obviously this means that the most vulnerable will die first. The USA … Continue reading →

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Donald Rumsfeld’s philosophic insights and Iran

Rumsfeld’s *Known, Knowns* speech goes down in history as one of the greatest statements of warfare. In just a few lines he demonstrated that all war is a gamble. This podcast uses those words to analyse the Iranian war in … Continue reading →

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Sir Francis Drake’s Piracy and 400 years of Compound Interest

For I trace the beginnings of British foreign investment to the treasure which Drake stole from Spain in 1580. In that year he returned to England bringing with him the prodigious spoils of the Golden Hind. Queen Elizabeth was a considerable … Continue reading →

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Putin’s magic wears off: 2016 the Donbas

The 2014 attack on the Crimea was an overwhelming success. Putin’s advisors fell over themselves to say that he was a genius and naturally he believed them. In 2016 Russia attack the eastern Ukrainian region, the Donbas. This is populated … Continue reading →

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Bob Paisley’s European Cup Team Talk: 1977

In the dressing room, Paisley reminded the Liverpool players that the last time he’d been in Rome was in a tank at the end of the Second World War. Source Jon SpurlingGet It On (2022) p217

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Warfare changed forever

The Iran War and the Ukraine War have changed warfare forever. This means that the entire arms Industry is now obsolete. The F-35 costs about $70m each and they are useless in the current war environment. British contracts for new … Continue reading →

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