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January 5, 2009
What Happened to the Page?
Okay. I know the blog page is hosed up. I dont how it happened or how to fix it at this point. I have tried to apply new styles with no luck. I have even reverted to the default MT4 templates to see if that would fix it. No joy. All of the entries and archives are at the bottom of the page, not on the left.
No time to mess with it now but I'll work on it later.
Posted by robertgreen at 11:53 PM | Comments (0)
General Victor H. Krulak, USMC, 1913-2008
Victor H. Krulak, 1913-2008 "Military Innovator Who Sought New Approach to Battle in Vietnam," by. Stephen Miller. The Wall Street Journal, Vol. CCLIII, No. 2, Saturday/Sunday, 03-04 January 2009.
General Victor Krulak, 95, passed away on Monday, 29 December 2008. This is a nice review of his career and shows many ways in which he was a creative thinker. I recall discussing his ideas on how to win in Vietnam in my war college seminar and we all agreed that it was the only way to win that war. In fact, in places where it had been implemented, results were being realized. Unfortunately the American public was growing tired of the war and the method would take several years to win the war.
There are many parallels between General Krulak and General Petraeus. Both are innovative and sometimes unconventional. They have both forwarded ideas that were met with resistance. And, in the end, I think they both were correct while their critics were wrong.
His plan to win in Vietnam included winning the hearts and minds of the Vietnamese people on a village by village basis one person at a time. It also included placing mines in Haiphong harbor which President Johnson thought might anger the Russians and/or Chinese. Therefore the President did not embrace this plan, passed over General Krulak for Commandant of the Marine Corps, and resulted in his retirement. As for the outcome of the war, well that is history.
Posted by robertgreen at 12:16 AM | Comments (0)
January 4, 2009
General David is Top "Public Intellectual"
General David Petraeus is the top "public intellectual" according to Prospect (HT: Free Republic). In their January 2009 article Intellectual Surge they state "we know an original thinker when we see one, especially one who uses brainpower to achieve change in the most difficult of circumstances." I've had several discussions with colleagues and many argue that General Petraeus is an anomaly within the military. I don't see him so much as an anomaly as I do a leader of the type of military officers we can expect in the future. I would love the opportunity to work for this man.
Posted by robertgreen at 11:52 PM | Comments (0)