[quote]Jewbacca wrote:
Nah. That’s the line for the masses.
[/quote]
That’s actually what concerns me. 80% of Egyptians under 30 are unemployed, their economy is declining rapidly and they have no oil reserves to speak of.
I’ve heard this before and I’m inclined to agree. My problem is historical precedent and seeing patterns in history. When the French revolutionary armies were utterly destroyed, without shoes, clothing, pay, food (Napoleon’s troops in Italy were literally starving) and using a handful of mentally unstable revolutionary shock troops to try to keep Paris “free,” along came one Napoleon who turned things around rapidly. When In fighting amongst Roman generals who were attempted to seize dictatorial control of Rome(not for the first time of course) along came one Julius Caesar. When Germany was utterly annihilated im WWI within a generation they became the most fearsome force in Europe that took over every country anyone in Europe had even heard of in a couple of years.
Also, I have heard it said by Jewish soldiers of WWI that German troops would never engage in genocide. Jewish troops suffered the highest per capita causaulties in WWI BTW, German troops were sophisticated. All that changed rapidly. The old Prussian military became a revolutionary, genocidal force in a very short time. Sure their were a few old school who had to be taken care of but the bulk changed with the tims in a very short time.
Many examples abound. Always they require a single leader of exceptional talent. Morsi is clearly not that leader. However, the current disposition of the Egyptian Army does little to assuage my deep concerns. I really hope you’re right though.
Amongst other things stressed by Napoleon, Clauzewitz and Jomini was the paramount importance of enemy morale, psychological warfare and audacity. Operation Sea Lion(invaasion of Britain by Nazi Germany beginning with their attempt to gain air superiority in the British Isles was NOT intended as a prelude to invasion. THe Germans KNEW they had no landing craft and no possible means of passing the Royal Navy in the narrow British channel. They also knew their bombers could not reach vital industrial complexes in Britain and pass the Dowding defense system.
It was an entirely pyschological operation aimed at forcing the British(through fear) to enter into peace negotiations with Nazi Germany. Churchill’s answer was legendary. And he was right that never in the field of human conflict had so much depended on so few.
Whilst no military man I would’ve thought that the Germans breaking through France to the West cutting allied forces in half was not necessarily a strategic disadvantage at all. The advantage of the central position comes into play - a position used by Napoleon on countless occasions. But the French in particular were eager to sue for peace and British Expeditionary Force was tiny in comparison and needed to defend their own Isle - the last free country in Europe.
Read some of the well known cynical and disturbing quotes of Caesar, Napoleon and Adolf Hitler if you haven’t already,) God help us all if the “right” man comes along and bends luck to his will… Very disturbing. Very relevant to the Arab uprisings.
Rant over.