Observations Military

Quotations and personal observations

We are an Army of free men, defending a nation of free men and women who have a right to know what we are doing in their names.
Col. Hal Moore on why he allowed the press to accompany his battalion & brigade on ops in Vietnam, 1965-66

This isn't a panty raid! This is war! Doug Durbrow, on Desert Storm

The air war is like sanctions with an attitude. ibid.

War is the cruelest and most honest test of states.
Foud Ajami, US News 11 MAR 91

The phrase "had we known" is the fingerprint of intelligence failure. Gen Michael Dugan Ret., former chief of staff, USAF, in US News 18 MAR 91

Surreptitious Demobilization: Letting the air out of the tires or other vehicular sabotage.
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Colin Powell's Rules

On the use of force: If you do use it, you go with everything you can carry. Don't be timid. Don't be slow.

From the card he carries:

1. It ain't as bad as you think. It will look better in the morning.
2. Get mad. Then get over it.
3. Avoid having your ego so close to your position that, when your position falls, your ego goes with it.
4. It can be done!
5. Be careful what you choose. You may get it.
6. Don't let adverse facts stand in the way of a good decision.
7. You can't make someone else's choices. You shouldn't let someone else make yours.
8. Check small things.
9. Share credit.
10. Remain calm. Be kind.
11. Have a vision. Be demanding.
12. Don't take counsel of your fears or naysayers.
13. Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier.
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Ships must return to port of origin or a non-prohibited port. If they refuse, "Use such measures commensurate with the specific circumstances as may be necessary."
U.N. Res. 665-Ban on Iraqi shipping

War is a remedy of our enemies choosing. Therefore, let them have as much as they want. Gen. William T. Sherman


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Moral Code for Conflict- Adopted by Geo. Bush, 1991

Principles for launching war:

JUST CAUSE: A war can be started only for just reasons. They may include: Vindication of justice, restoring a just international order, protecting innocent life and restoration of human rights.

COMPETENT AUTHORITY: War can be started only by those with responsibility for public order and legitimate authority for engaging the nation in war.

RIGHT INTENTION: A just war is only a means to gain peace and reconciliation - not humiliation and punishment.

LAST RESORT: All nonviolent alternatives should be exhausted.

PROBABILITY OF SUCCESS: If a successful end is futile, war should not be started.

PROPORTIONALITY OF PROJECTED RESULTS: The good expected from war must be greater than all the foreseen costs.

RIGHT SPIRIT: War must be engaged only with an attitude of regret.

Principles for conducting war:

PROPORTIONALITY IN THE USE OF FORCE: No action should be taken that creates more harm than good. Deadly force should be used only in the proportion needed to achieve a just objective.

DISCRIMINATION: There must be no intention to harm innocent civilians.

AVOIDANCE OF EVIL MEANS: No cause justifies evil means, such as executing prisoners, taking hostages, pillaging and descrating holy places.

GOOD FAITH: Enemies should be treated with dignity - as much as possible, in ways that keep open the possibilty of evential reconciliation.
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"One of the serious problems in planning against American doctrine is that Americans do not read their manuals nor do they feel any obligation to follow their doctrine"
From a Russian document

"The reason that the American Army does so well in wartime is that war is chaos, and the American Army practices chaos on a daily basis."
A German General

"If we don't know what we are doing, the enemy certainly can't anticipate our future actions."
An American Colonel
Bob Stevens' Ten Rules of Aviation
1. Do not bust your butt.
2. Do not let antone else bust your butt for you.
3. Remember-the pilot is always the first to arrive at the scene of an accident.
4. When in doubt-get out!
5. In instrument flying, one peek at the ground is worth a thousand cross checks.
6. It's the same with thunderstorms and ice as it is with being pregnant-there is no such thing as 'just a little bit.'
7. Remember, airplanes fly because of Bernoulli, not Marconi (e.g., don't drop the airplane to fly the mike).
8. If a crash is inevitable, hit the softest, cheapest thing you can find, as slowly as possible.
9. What you don't say you don't have to take back at the hearing board.
10. Don't forget rule one!

The origin of these pearls of wisdom is lost in antiquity, yet the message is as current as today's news. These rules rate with the ode "Why I Want to be a Pilot" as an aviation classic. Rule 3 is as old as Icarus. 5 through 9 came after blind flight and aircraft accident boards.

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To amuse myself and to use in case of emergency I compiled a set of student rules for simple aviators - no, I mean a set of simple rules for student aviators:
To Descend: Cut the motor, peak, and pray.
To See if the Way is Clear For Landings: Unlace your shoe and tie the stick in place. Then climb out on either wing and take a good look around.
To Land to the Mark: Get directly over a given point. Head the machine toward the point and hold her there until the ambulance comes.
To Land Safely in a Forest: Pick out a soft pine tree and head for it.
To Land in a River with Minimum Splash: Bank the machine and ease her in wing first.
To Land Safely on Housetops: Wait until the occupants are visiting relatives.
To Determine whether a Town is Inhabited: Drop a piece of Limburger cheese on it.
To Have A Long And Happy Life: Get in some other service.
1st Lt. Lewis Clifford Plush, US Air Service, 1 Apr 1918, in Air & Space Dec/Jan 97/98
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Luck plays a part in all things, but particularly in war. Julius Caesar