Lt. General Kellogg's senescent thesis on Fox News overlooks the fact that the Romans never conquered the Persian homeland, only western Persia in present day Iraq.
Since this Stack started off with Dr Peter McCullough's contributions, a medical freedom orientation I feel emboldened to "hijack" the thread back to the medical freedom origins of it via the "do it like the Romans used to do it" segue John provided!
How about we start off with what Romans did to ward off infectious disease: a fascinus. They wore a fascinus around their necks, had them in their homes, it protected them from illness and dis-ease.
The Winged Phallus was the facemask of Roman times. Its value was purely symbolic - "beware! a dangerous pathogen is in the air about us, take due care!" Because that was the ONLY thing masks were/are used for. Symbolism. Behavioral Science (BS)-informed epidemiology intended to alert and frighten us into "social distancing" and avoiding human contact. Prescribed for everyone as Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions due to the psychological (BS) effect masks are known to produce, "Fear Amplification." Because the masses were diagnosed as 'suffering' from "Optimism Bias." 'Wrongly' believing we had (have) little to fear about a dangerous, scary pathogen in the air about us that we could infect each other with. Remember, masks were only worn by bank robbers and plane hijackers prior to 2020 because they "amplify fear," aka "terrorize" people into compliance with their demands. Sames. Masks are terrorizing to the human amygdala, provokes the same exact fight, flight, freeze response most people get when seeing a snake. Psychology studies attest to this fact known by the BS'er epidemiologists.
At least the Winged Phallus protected without terrorizing the population. And wasn't accompanied by the disgusting, infectious side effect that wearing dirty mask petri dishes on one's face comes with.
Another benefit that the Winged Phallus used in Roman times had was it also protected against the Evil, all-seeing Eye, aka "Envy":
NVidia. Big Tech giant, one of the largest market caps of any company in the world. Because it makes the best CPU for emerging AI technology, the natural evolution of videogaming that NVidia is built on. About those AI Data Centers. "All-Seeing Eyes." Envy. Just like its Roman namesake.
One of NVidia's founders started one of those 'benevolent' charitable trusts. The Priem Foundation:
From facemasks to theories on infectious disease to population control via government-sanctioned terror, to 24/7 surveillance, even of human thought, mind control, transhumanism, the Romans had a lot of the issues of our times already figured out. Perhaps we would be better off doing it like the Romans. In dire need of a modern-day Winged Phallus to protect us from the AI surveillance state being built all around us. That is a much greater peril to us, our way of life than anything going on in the Middle East, Iran. Just a distraction from the true evil being constructed and imposed on us at home.
General Kellogg's comment merely serves to reinforce the view that most Americans are profoundly ignorant of history as well as geography. Just as many Jews regard Gentiles as subhuman and therefore insignificant, Americans tend to regard everything that has happened outside their own country or before its founding as unimportant.
Crassus was killed in the battle which he had foolishly provoked. Various legends circulated afterwards: that the Parthians had poured liquid gold into his dead mouth to mock his greed, and that his head was used as a prop in a performance of Euripides' "The Bacchae". (Showing, incidentally, that the Parthians were cultured and familiar with Greek drama).
Under the ensuing Sassanid dynasty, the Persians more than held their own against the Roman Empire. The emperor Gordian III was murdered by his own soldiers after being defeated by Shapur I, while the emperor Valerian was captured and lived out his life as a prisoner. Later Rome advanced to the Tigris, but lost all its gains after the death on campaign of the emperor Julian.
The big problem is Netanyahu. His wet dream is the end of Iran's political and military institutions. That leaves no room for negotiations. Why would Iran negotiate with Netanyahu in power?
The effective regime change may be the removal of Netanyahu.
I rather disagree. Horrible and inhuman as Mr Netanyahu is, I fear that his ideas are quite in line with those of many - if not most - Israelis.
If you tell people that they are superior to others, history shows that they find it hard to resist the flattery. Greeks thought everyone foreign to be intrinsically inferior; the word "barbarian" stems from their perception that those who did not speak Greek merely babbled "bar-bar-bar..." Aristotle seriously considered that non-Greeks might be born for slavery. The Romans... well, we've covered them! Then there were the Chinese, the Japanese, Arabs, the Spaniards, the Dutch (yes!), the French, the Austrians, the Poles, the British, and now the Americans and the Israelis. And many more.
Just as Germans were quite open to the idea that they were intrinsically superior, the Israelis are today. Actually I find the American feeling of superiority hardest to understand, since it goes alongside their "melting pot" theory that people from every corner of the world become superior just by entering the USA. Somehow the blessed Constitution - which they resolutely ignore most of the time - sanctifies and elevates them.
I would say “most Israelis”. I understand that most Israelis have no problem with the rape of Palestinian prisoners. But this goes way beyond Israel. To the U.S., with its large number of “Christian”Zionists, neocons and geopolitically, geographically and economically ignorant.
Reagan removed all but American history (according to himself) and World History (that affected the US so very little real World History) first from the Californian public school curriculum and then the entire nation's school curriculum. I don't think Modern European History was taught in the U.S. in most schools at all. Certainly Middle Eastern History has never been part of the curriculum. So we have at least five generations who know very little history and most of that comes from B-grade films Reagan could remember being in (as though they actually happened as written in his scripts) despite having active Alzheimer's. He also removed the arts and dumbed down literature where you learn empathy.
Treason has high costs indeed. Trump is not the first president to dismantle our democracy, such as it was at the time.
Reagan also remove the requirement that all students must study the Constitution before graduating from high school. Wokeness is one of many negative outcomes of Reagan's dastardly deed.
For all the good that supposedly did. "Civics" taught; tariffs were good for protectionism (they're actually unconstitutional, as Excises and Duties are required to be uniform), and the Constitution provide for "three" branches of government (there are two; the Judiciary is an appointed subsidiary, and the Articles of Confederation define the Supreme Court as the Congress itself).
'What most Americans know they have learned from movies and TV. Hardly any Americans read books, much less serious ones. Back in those days when I was a university professor, I recall a lecture I gave on the Russian revolution. A student interrupted me and said, “that’s not the way [it] happened in the movie.”
'At first I thought he was making a joke, but he was serious. He was challenging my explanation based on years of study with a Hollywood movie'.
John, could I be mistaken but my sense is Kellogg was referring to Roman tactics in general, in which he is correct, not specifically to Roman attempts to conquer Persia, however much I agree Trump's Zionist alliance to obliterate Iran, assassinate top leaders has to be one of the dumbest policy decision of any US President, his minions merely kissing his feet regardless of caked ion manure.
Having listened to the clip, my main impression is of General Kellogg's confusion and inarticulacy. But he definitely does seem to be suggesting that the Romans were successful putting "boots on the ground". That merely begs the question, though: sometimes they put boots (or perhaps sandals) on the ground successfully, and sometimes unsuccessfully. The Iranian situation reminds me most of the Thueringer Wald, where P. Quinctilius Varus and his three legions were wiped out to a man after rashly intruding on territory where the enemy held a great advantage.
A handy summary of the disaster (from the Roman point of view). One thing they did wrong was to take Arminius (perhaps “Herrmann”) hostage as a young boy, bring him up and educate him in Roman ways, train him as a military officer (seriously!) and then send him back home. Surely, if not a sign of overt contempt, certainly too complacent. Perhaps they thought that, once “civilised”, he would not “revert to barbarism”. But he did - like a shot. His patriotism and hatred for the invader easily outweighed everything he had been taught in Rome.
It was said that all the Roman officers captured in the battle were burnt alive as a sacrifice to the German gods. Horrible, but no worse than being caught inside a burning tank, ship, or aircraft.
Pygmalion GB Shaw's "his way to" Chicago --sculptors "in love" already infest every corner of everywhere & when -- & performs the Teach that Blackbeard's Eddie Murphy to Trade Places with himself:
TW, like with leake, you got to love the historical juxtapositions. I dont seem to comprehend, what is wrong with the USofA: Iraq wars, all of them, Aphganistan, Iran..What the hell are we doing, other than destablizing the world. Is it unreasonalbe to think the Zionist agenda is driving all this, and if so, how ? Bush II no doubt, Trump completely..but I just dont get the pressure points. txs The why yes, never conceed, always destroy, never make peace (except for greater war) just greater Israel at all costs, bu tth how I dont get other than the perrenial holocaust blackmail that has destroyed so many politicians (Bush i for instance, Senator Percy in the 70's)
FOX news was the voice of insanity during the Iraq stupidity, too. They beat the WMD war drum as loudly as anyone.
Trump has trapped himself into something he said he would never do. To complete any regime change, one must use troops, and a lot of them. Iran is not going to negotiate at the level Netanyahu demands. So Trump either escalates or takes a hit to his ego and walks away.
Nothing about this adventure will be quick. If you think differently, you might want to look and see if you're sucking at a Neocon teat.
I agree with your assessment. As you rise in the ranks of any large organization you tend to become more politically minded. There are some rare exceptions, but generally you are thinking about self-promotion and self-preservation. You have more to lose than the average person in the organization. This definitely clouds your perspectives and advice.
Arguably, Lt. Gen. Kellog is advocating exactly what the Romans DID do successfully in both Persia and Britain. In the latter case, the legions also fared poorly against the Picts in what is now Scotland, so they took the lowlands and built Hadrian's Wall (and other fortifications) to insulate their controlled territory from the uncontrollable. I imagine that is why they held on to what they did in Western Persia, taking what they needed for security and wisely leaving the rest. That would seem to be what Kellog is actually suggesting. Strategic control of critical locations, buffer-supporting allies (Kurds, for instance in the case of Iran)...things Trump and team are looking at are very "Roman." The problem with Iran in its current state is that--unlike Sadaam's Iraq, they have never shown themselves content to just leave anyone else alone. They are even now so determined to be a regional power that they would prefer reducing their population to pre-industrial survival mode than broker a peace agreement. Why? Because they are devotees of Shia Islam and they maintain a 1500 year old blood feud the Sunni population in the other surrounding states. Their feelings in that respect are not much more positive than toward Israel and the USA. That antagonism is never going to be resolved unless the Iranian government ceases to be a Theocracy and embraces a concept of diplomatic co-existence that is utterly alien to the existing goverment.
Without assenting, General Kellogg may have been thinking about the Roman destruction of Carthage. After the 3rd Punic War, Rome destroyed Carthage and plowed the land with salt.
As Tacitus said of the Romans, 'They made a desert and called it peace.'
Victor Davis Hansen has observed that the Western way of war is to fight a decisive battle. In many ways, on the necessity of war, a strategy of decisive battle limits the civilian deaths that a long conflict incurs. Vietnam is the exemplary case of having forgotten that lesson.
In other news, John, I'm impressed that you liked a comment invoking "Zio-Nazis in Tel Aviv and Washington." Does that view power your plaint?
Kellogg is a nutjob. If it were up to him he would spend $2T a year on the military and draft every single person between the ages of 18 and 25 into the military and attempt to conquer the entire earth. Those he couldn't conquer he would nuke. Megalomaniacs like him are the scourge of humanity.
QUOTING: An old friend with a distinguished career as a Naval aviator once told that the closer you get to being a flag officer in the Navy or a general in the Army, the more of a political animal you have to be.... and WHO WOULD THAT SO CALLED NAVAL OFFICER BE?
My father in law RIP was a ViceAdmiral Flag rank officer of the Pacific Fleet.. two I can put his Wikilink up.. yes.. Cecil Joseph Kempf, born in Maud, Okahoma from a truly humble roots, passed the Naval Academy exam on a dare: and was awarded a scholarship to the Naval Academy~
He was my father in law.. WONDEFUL HUMBLE MAN who walked with his God.
https://prabook.com/web/cecil_joseph.joseph_kempf/2492035; and there are many other obituaries. He was a HUMBLE MAN,, and never once did HE EVER MENTION POLITICS: ever. Of course, since he was anti submarine warfare and a NAVAL aviator he had the kind of clearances PEOPLE DO NOT TALK ABOUT. so.. ANYONE who actually was a "Naval Aviator and Vice Admiral" would not be "talking out of SCHOOL.. as it is called in the military with anyone. Half the people I used to know are now dead and buried in Arlington or elsewhere.. and as I remember a "security clearance" meant that one did NOT LEAK.. or talk about POLITICS. FULL STOP PERIOD.
So true John. Kellogg is either stupid, insane or under Trump's thumb. As you noted so well the Romans did not do well against the Persians.
When has America done well in the Middle East? Never. Why are we there at all? Supporting Zio-Nazis in Tel Aviv and Washington.
Since this Stack started off with Dr Peter McCullough's contributions, a medical freedom orientation I feel emboldened to "hijack" the thread back to the medical freedom origins of it via the "do it like the Romans used to do it" segue John provided!
How about we start off with what Romans did to ward off infectious disease: a fascinus. They wore a fascinus around their necks, had them in their homes, it protected them from illness and dis-ease.
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/romans-used-to-ward-off-sickness-with-flying-penis-amulets
https://gizmodo.com.au/2020/09/how-ancient-amulets-tried-to-ward-off-disease/
The Winged Phallus was the facemask of Roman times. Its value was purely symbolic - "beware! a dangerous pathogen is in the air about us, take due care!" Because that was the ONLY thing masks were/are used for. Symbolism. Behavioral Science (BS)-informed epidemiology intended to alert and frighten us into "social distancing" and avoiding human contact. Prescribed for everyone as Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions due to the psychological (BS) effect masks are known to produce, "Fear Amplification." Because the masses were diagnosed as 'suffering' from "Optimism Bias." 'Wrongly' believing we had (have) little to fear about a dangerous, scary pathogen in the air about us that we could infect each other with. Remember, masks were only worn by bank robbers and plane hijackers prior to 2020 because they "amplify fear," aka "terrorize" people into compliance with their demands. Sames. Masks are terrorizing to the human amygdala, provokes the same exact fight, flight, freeze response most people get when seeing a snake. Psychology studies attest to this fact known by the BS'er epidemiologists.
At least the Winged Phallus protected without terrorizing the population. And wasn't accompanied by the disgusting, infectious side effect that wearing dirty mask petri dishes on one's face comes with.
Another benefit that the Winged Phallus used in Roman times had was it also protected against the Evil, all-seeing Eye, aka "Envy":
https://www.finestresullarte.info/en/works-and-artists/the-fascinus-of-ancient-rome-the-phallus-shaped-amulet-that-protected-against-the-evil-eye
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fascinus
The "All-seeing eye." Also, Envy. A deadly sin:
https://www.britannica.com/topic/envy-behaviour
Which the Romans also knew as, "Invidia." Another important Roman symbol to acquaint oneself with is the Invidia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invidia
If that's a word that looks familiar to you the similarity isn't accidental:
https://wccftech.com/nvidias-name-origins-history-roman-mythology/
https://web.archive.org/web/20171116192021/http://fortune.com/2017/11/16/nvidia-ceo-jensen-huang/
NVidia. Big Tech giant, one of the largest market caps of any company in the world. Because it makes the best CPU for emerging AI technology, the natural evolution of videogaming that NVidia is built on. About those AI Data Centers. "All-Seeing Eyes." Envy. Just like its Roman namesake.
One of NVidia's founders started one of those 'benevolent' charitable trusts. The Priem Foundation:
http://www.priem.org/
Priem Foundation's largest recipient of donations is EMPAC. EMPAC is developing human-computer interfaces:
https://empac.rpi.edu/about
Human-computer interfaces are the prerequisite to transhumanism:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/chuckbrooks/2020/08/27/the-merging-of-human-and-machine-two-frontiers-of-emerging-technologies/?sh=164f98bb1fad
The above and more found in this Stack of mine from August, 2023:
https://freedomfox.substack.com/p/curiouser-and-curiouser
From facemasks to theories on infectious disease to population control via government-sanctioned terror, to 24/7 surveillance, even of human thought, mind control, transhumanism, the Romans had a lot of the issues of our times already figured out. Perhaps we would be better off doing it like the Romans. In dire need of a modern-day Winged Phallus to protect us from the AI surveillance state being built all around us. That is a much greater peril to us, our way of life than anything going on in the Middle East, Iran. Just a distraction from the true evil being constructed and imposed on us at home.
General Kellogg's comment merely serves to reinforce the view that most Americans are profoundly ignorant of history as well as geography. Just as many Jews regard Gentiles as subhuman and therefore insignificant, Americans tend to regard everything that has happened outside their own country or before its founding as unimportant.
Crassus was killed in the battle which he had foolishly provoked. Various legends circulated afterwards: that the Parthians had poured liquid gold into his dead mouth to mock his greed, and that his head was used as a prop in a performance of Euripides' "The Bacchae". (Showing, incidentally, that the Parthians were cultured and familiar with Greek drama).
Under the ensuing Sassanid dynasty, the Persians more than held their own against the Roman Empire. The emperor Gordian III was murdered by his own soldiers after being defeated by Shapur I, while the emperor Valerian was captured and lived out his life as a prisoner. Later Rome advanced to the Tigris, but lost all its gains after the death on campaign of the emperor Julian.
The big problem is Netanyahu. His wet dream is the end of Iran's political and military institutions. That leaves no room for negotiations. Why would Iran negotiate with Netanyahu in power?
The effective regime change may be the removal of Netanyahu.
I rather disagree. Horrible and inhuman as Mr Netanyahu is, I fear that his ideas are quite in line with those of many - if not most - Israelis.
If you tell people that they are superior to others, history shows that they find it hard to resist the flattery. Greeks thought everyone foreign to be intrinsically inferior; the word "barbarian" stems from their perception that those who did not speak Greek merely babbled "bar-bar-bar..." Aristotle seriously considered that non-Greeks might be born for slavery. The Romans... well, we've covered them! Then there were the Chinese, the Japanese, Arabs, the Spaniards, the Dutch (yes!), the French, the Austrians, the Poles, the British, and now the Americans and the Israelis. And many more.
Just as Germans were quite open to the idea that they were intrinsically superior, the Israelis are today. Actually I find the American feeling of superiority hardest to understand, since it goes alongside their "melting pot" theory that people from every corner of the world become superior just by entering the USA. Somehow the blessed Constitution - which they resolutely ignore most of the time - sanctifies and elevates them.
I would say “most Israelis”. I understand that most Israelis have no problem with the rape of Palestinian prisoners. But this goes way beyond Israel. To the U.S., with its large number of “Christian”Zionists, neocons and geopolitically, geographically and economically ignorant.
My vague memory of barbarians is that they were a tribe from the north who were particular fierce fighters.
Reagan removed all but American history (according to himself) and World History (that affected the US so very little real World History) first from the Californian public school curriculum and then the entire nation's school curriculum. I don't think Modern European History was taught in the U.S. in most schools at all. Certainly Middle Eastern History has never been part of the curriculum. So we have at least five generations who know very little history and most of that comes from B-grade films Reagan could remember being in (as though they actually happened as written in his scripts) despite having active Alzheimer's. He also removed the arts and dumbed down literature where you learn empathy.
Treason has high costs indeed. Trump is not the first president to dismantle our democracy, such as it was at the time.
Reagan also remove the requirement that all students must study the Constitution before graduating from high school. Wokeness is one of many negative outcomes of Reagan's dastardly deed.
For all the good that supposedly did. "Civics" taught; tariffs were good for protectionism (they're actually unconstitutional, as Excises and Duties are required to be uniform), and the Constitution provide for "three" branches of government (there are two; the Judiciary is an appointed subsidiary, and the Articles of Confederation define the Supreme Court as the Congress itself).
'What most Americans know they have learned from movies and TV. Hardly any Americans read books, much less serious ones. Back in those days when I was a university professor, I recall a lecture I gave on the Russian revolution. A student interrupted me and said, “that’s not the way [it] happened in the movie.”
'At first I thought he was making a joke, but he was serious. He was challenging my explanation based on years of study with a Hollywood movie'.
- Paul Craig Roberts https://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2021/07/06/western-civilization-has-been-destroyed-by-diversity/
Thank you Tom, for that bit of history, always interesting...
Kellogg has devolved into little more than a frosted flake
Stop defaming Frosted Flakes!
well for what it's worth I deliberately did not use caps (but ought to to have stated "with apologies to Frosted Flakes"...)
555 (ha ha ha in Thai)
Hahaha
555 (ha ha ha in Thai)
John, could I be mistaken but my sense is Kellogg was referring to Roman tactics in general, in which he is correct, not specifically to Roman attempts to conquer Persia, however much I agree Trump's Zionist alliance to obliterate Iran, assassinate top leaders has to be one of the dumbest policy decision of any US President, his minions merely kissing his feet regardless of caked ion manure.
Having listened to the clip, my main impression is of General Kellogg's confusion and inarticulacy. But he definitely does seem to be suggesting that the Romans were successful putting "boots on the ground". That merely begs the question, though: sometimes they put boots (or perhaps sandals) on the ground successfully, and sometimes unsuccessfully. The Iranian situation reminds me most of the Thueringer Wald, where P. Quinctilius Varus and his three legions were wiped out to a man after rashly intruding on territory where the enemy held a great advantage.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Teutoburg_Forest
And of course the discrepancy between Roman weapons and modern ones renders any comparison completely useless.
https://www.thefocalpoints.com/p/remembering-the-battle-of-teutoburg
A handy summary of the disaster (from the Roman point of view). One thing they did wrong was to take Arminius (perhaps “Herrmann”) hostage as a young boy, bring him up and educate him in Roman ways, train him as a military officer (seriously!) and then send him back home. Surely, if not a sign of overt contempt, certainly too complacent. Perhaps they thought that, once “civilised”, he would not “revert to barbarism”. But he did - like a shot. His patriotism and hatred for the invader easily outweighed everything he had been taught in Rome.
It was said that all the Roman officers captured in the battle were burnt alive as a sacrifice to the German gods. Horrible, but no worse than being caught inside a burning tank, ship, or aircraft.
Pygmalion GB Shaw's "his way to" Chicago --sculptors "in love" already infest every corner of everywhere & when -- & performs the Teach that Blackbeard's Eddie Murphy to Trade Places with himself:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fupg2r1EJ9w
Not sure I follow the connections. The movie trailer looks good - but how else with such actors?
The theme dates back to the 1880s and probably much earlier: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vice_Versa_(novel)
Thorne Smith had a take on it: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turnabout_(Thorne_Smith_novel)
I'm reminded in the Kellogg quote starting with "We", of the punchline to a Lone Ranger and Tonto joke, "What you mean 'We', white man".
Kellogg says the Americans need to do it like the Romans did it? Really??? The Roman leader-gods morphed into hedonistic monsters…, and Rome fell!
USA seems to be well on the way!
TW, like with leake, you got to love the historical juxtapositions. I dont seem to comprehend, what is wrong with the USofA: Iraq wars, all of them, Aphganistan, Iran..What the hell are we doing, other than destablizing the world. Is it unreasonalbe to think the Zionist agenda is driving all this, and if so, how ? Bush II no doubt, Trump completely..but I just dont get the pressure points. txs The why yes, never conceed, always destroy, never make peace (except for greater war) just greater Israel at all costs, bu tth how I dont get other than the perrenial holocaust blackmail that has destroyed so many politicians (Bush i for instance, Senator Percy in the 70's)
FOX news was the voice of insanity during the Iraq stupidity, too. They beat the WMD war drum as loudly as anyone.
Trump has trapped himself into something he said he would never do. To complete any regime change, one must use troops, and a lot of them. Iran is not going to negotiate at the level Netanyahu demands. So Trump either escalates or takes a hit to his ego and walks away.
Nothing about this adventure will be quick. If you think differently, you might want to look and see if you're sucking at a Neocon teat.
And then America will get socialists, come Nov.
This attack was a massive blunder. The Neocons convinced Trump that all would be over quickly. They say that every time.
I agree with your assessment. As you rise in the ranks of any large organization you tend to become more politically minded. There are some rare exceptions, but generally you are thinking about self-promotion and self-preservation. You have more to lose than the average person in the organization. This definitely clouds your perspectives and advice.
Arguably, Lt. Gen. Kellog is advocating exactly what the Romans DID do successfully in both Persia and Britain. In the latter case, the legions also fared poorly against the Picts in what is now Scotland, so they took the lowlands and built Hadrian's Wall (and other fortifications) to insulate their controlled territory from the uncontrollable. I imagine that is why they held on to what they did in Western Persia, taking what they needed for security and wisely leaving the rest. That would seem to be what Kellog is actually suggesting. Strategic control of critical locations, buffer-supporting allies (Kurds, for instance in the case of Iran)...things Trump and team are looking at are very "Roman." The problem with Iran in its current state is that--unlike Sadaam's Iraq, they have never shown themselves content to just leave anyone else alone. They are even now so determined to be a regional power that they would prefer reducing their population to pre-industrial survival mode than broker a peace agreement. Why? Because they are devotees of Shia Islam and they maintain a 1500 year old blood feud the Sunni population in the other surrounding states. Their feelings in that respect are not much more positive than toward Israel and the USA. That antagonism is never going to be resolved unless the Iranian government ceases to be a Theocracy and embraces a concept of diplomatic co-existence that is utterly alien to the existing goverment.
Ide(a)s of March … Remember, remember the 22nd of November, yet another gunpowder treason & plot.
Even a frosted flake can be accidentally broke-clock lined up with the time.
Does anybody really know what time it is?
Could it be Groundhog Day?
Spartans vs Persians https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTNcs3NSYWI
Without assenting, General Kellogg may have been thinking about the Roman destruction of Carthage. After the 3rd Punic War, Rome destroyed Carthage and plowed the land with salt.
As Tacitus said of the Romans, 'They made a desert and called it peace.'
Victor Davis Hansen has observed that the Western way of war is to fight a decisive battle. In many ways, on the necessity of war, a strategy of decisive battle limits the civilian deaths that a long conflict incurs. Vietnam is the exemplary case of having forgotten that lesson.
In other news, John, I'm impressed that you liked a comment invoking "Zio-Nazis in Tel Aviv and Washington." Does that view power your plaint?
Kellogg is a nutjob. If it were up to him he would spend $2T a year on the military and draft every single person between the ages of 18 and 25 into the military and attempt to conquer the entire earth. Those he couldn't conquer he would nuke. Megalomaniacs like him are the scourge of humanity.
“Be the first one on your block to bring your boy home in a box” https://youtu.be/ft0vkKCadgk?si=21mbpTfwgvlhYqzp
QUOTING: An old friend with a distinguished career as a Naval aviator once told that the closer you get to being a flag officer in the Navy or a general in the Army, the more of a political animal you have to be.... and WHO WOULD THAT SO CALLED NAVAL OFFICER BE?
My father in law RIP was a ViceAdmiral Flag rank officer of the Pacific Fleet.. two I can put his Wikilink up.. yes.. Cecil Joseph Kempf, born in Maud, Okahoma from a truly humble roots, passed the Naval Academy exam on a dare: and was awarded a scholarship to the Naval Academy~
He was my father in law.. WONDEFUL HUMBLE MAN who walked with his God.
https://prabook.com/web/cecil_joseph.joseph_kempf/2492035; and there are many other obituaries. He was a HUMBLE MAN,, and never once did HE EVER MENTION POLITICS: ever. Of course, since he was anti submarine warfare and a NAVAL aviator he had the kind of clearances PEOPLE DO NOT TALK ABOUT. so.. ANYONE who actually was a "Naval Aviator and Vice Admiral" would not be "talking out of SCHOOL.. as it is called in the military with anyone. Half the people I used to know are now dead and buried in Arlington or elsewhere.. and as I remember a "security clearance" meant that one did NOT LEAK.. or talk about POLITICS. FULL STOP PERIOD.