Category Archives: History

The Israeli-Gaza Campaign: An early assessment

Posted on February 26, 2025 by odeboyz

“Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgment.” Don Corleone, The Godfather by Mario Puzo Israel’s strategic objectives are crystal clear. First, get the hostages back from Hamas. Second, obliterate Hamas as a military and political force. This assessment analyses … Continue reading →

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Should we care about the Unborn?

Posted on February 12, 2025 by odeboyz

Life is risky Let us consider a historical example. People living in Nagasaki on the 8th August 1945 were unaware they would be obliterated on the 9th. They had, thus far, been spared the saturation bombing the Americans were inflicting … Continue reading →

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War Studies: The Importance of the Battle of Tsushima, Japan, 27-28 May 1905

Posted on February 5, 2025 by odeboyz

Japan was humiliated by the USA in the mid-1850s.1 This introduced them to the brutal reality of global power. They vowed to modernise their military, making them equal to the western powers.2 The Royal Navy was the world’s largest and … Continue reading →

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The Execution of Archbishop Cranmer, 1556

Posted on January 15, 2025 by odeboyz

The Apostles’ Creed I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen1 The Church guides believers to Heaven.2 This satisfied everyone … Continue reading →

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War Studies: The Importance of Nelson’s victory at Trafalgar, 21st October 1805

Posted on January 8, 2025 by odeboyz

The British Empire was founded on the Royal Navy and Nelson’s triumph at Trafalgar sealed British naval supremacy. The importance of Trafalgar was that it brought naval and global domination for 136 years. Naval supremacy transformed Britain into ‘The policeman … Continue reading →

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War Studies: The Annexation of Crimea, 2014

Posted on November 27, 2024 by odeboyz

The annexation of Crimea was a masterclass in strategic warfare. The transition from Ukraine to Russia was accomplished by subterfuge. Despite Ukrainian protests, the West metaphorically shrugged its shoulders. Putin had learned the lesson of 1939. Poland was partitioned by … Continue reading →

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TV Review: The Great (Channel 4 catch-up) (Elle Fanning & Nicholas Hoult) (2020)

Posted on August 28, 2024 by odeboyz

If you are ‘of a certain age’ you’ll remember the Carry-On films. The Great is a vastly superior version of them. The ascendency of Catherine (the Great) is viciously satirised and turned into a costume romp. The series is turbo-charged … Continue reading →

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The Israeli Strategy in the Gaza War, October 2023 – August 2024

Posted on August 14, 2024 by odeboyz

Israel was humiliated by the Gazan incursion, which was the result of a major security failure by the Israeli Defence Force (IDF). Gazans live, ‘in a prison camp’ designed to prevent just such an event.1 Israel controls the air space, … Continue reading →

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Gerald Ratner: Honesty Isn’t Always the Best Policy

Posted on July 10, 2024 by odeboyz

Gerald rejected his grammar school to work on his father’s stall in London’s famous Petticoat Lane market. It was a cut-throat trading environment where traders were predators. He loved it. Gerald worked the crowds, seducing them into buying his goods. … Continue reading →

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Operation Barbarossa: The Road to Disaster

Posted on June 19, 2024 by odeboyz

Nazi Germany’s pre-1941 successes were unprecedented. They are epitomised by the 1939 diplomatic coup, the Molotov-Ribbentrop Treaty. The partition of Poland followed immediately. 1940 saw crushing victories in western Europe. Germany’s triumphs weren’t critically analysed by either the political or … Continue reading →

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