War & Peace
A little war, a little peace. War first: Just picked up what looks like a good one. In Words and Deeds: Battle Speeches in History Richard F. Miller
Dedicated to the men and women of the USS Kittyhawk; to 3/8 Marines; and 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 4th ID, due to Miller’s history of heavy embedding as a historian and correspondent for Historiy News Network and World Net Daily. Some reviews via Amazon:
“Richard Miller has compiled a superb and unique collection of battle speeches in his work In Words and Deeds. These are inspiring words that capture the emotion and historical importance of powerful moments before and during battle. This outstanding book is a must-read for all that want to understand those moments in a way the dry reading of historical facts can never convey.”–General Anthony C. Zinni, USMC (Ret)
“Drawing upon the history of warfare from the earliest recorded conflicts to the present day, In Word and Deeds masterfully analyzes speech as an enhancer of military power. This book will serve as a valuable guide in the hands of anyone seeking to motivate a group for combat or any other daunting enterprise.”–Mark Moyar, author of Triumph Forsaken: The Vietnam War, 1954-1965
“An essential component of leadership too often neglected. This book should be studied–and practiced–by all who command soldiers under stress.”–Bing West, author of The Strongest Tribe: War, Politics, and the Endgame in Iraq
“Richard Miller’s book In Words and Deeds captures the essence of historical and significant battle speeches and how those words inspired men into battle. In my military career, I had the opportunity to hear and follow great and eloquent communicators who had vision and clarity of mission. Men in battle are led through words and deeds of their higher and lower level commanders and leaders that instill discipline and focus. I commend Mr. Miller in this important literary work that clearly explains words and deeds experienced on our historical battlefields.”–Major General Paul E. Vallely, USA (Ret), host of “Stand Up America”
Just flipping through it, In Words and Deeds is not simply a collection of great battle speeches but a history and analysis of command and leadership, expressed through speeches. Looking forward to it, especially given the historian’s effort to go deep and learn something about his subject matter firsthand.
In his introduction, Miller mentions but purposefully omits the battle speeches he heard himself. Here’s one I heard. Capt. Philip Wolford, March 30, 2003.
“Once the fighting starts, if there are people in the streets, in civilian or military clothing, they are the enemy and they will die,” Wolford said, noting other units had encountered Iraqi fighters in civilian clothes and civilian vehicles.
“There are some towers and high ground. We will shoot all towers,” Wolford said. “They have used car bombs and suicide bombers … If they don’t stop, fire a burst of .762. If they turn around, then they were probably going to the store to get some Saddam beer. If they don’t stop, kill them.”
“I don’t think they are fighting for the regime. I don’t think they are fighting for the freedom of Iraq. But make no mistake about it. They will fight,” Wolford said, refering to dragooned civilians. “Like I told you a thousand times, they put one round on you, you put one thousand rounds on them, until those pajama-wearing motherfuckers stop firing. They put one AT (anti-tank) round on us, you blow the whole block up. There is no collateral damage concern that will stop us carrying our mission out. When we’re done, we’ll rename the place Assassin town, because we’ll own it.
“The brigade commander doesn’t say he wants the enemy captured. He doesn’t say he wants the enemy on the run. He says he wants the enemy destroyed. So kill him.”
On the map, Wolford pointed out the road that had been dubbed “Route Bruins.”
“My intent is to quickly seize this crossing point at the canal, start a fight with the enemy and fucking kill him,” Wolford said. “We’re not going to be jackshitting around. We’re going to be quick.”
Simple, to the point. Largely tactical, but as the unit prepared to assault an entrenched enemy of unknown strength, inspirational and encouraging nonetheless. That kind of thing may be frowned on in these post-invasion days of counterinsurgency, but it is always good to know one’s commanders don’t intend to jackshit around. Wolford had done the God and country thing earlier, before we crossed into Iraq, but this was somehow more meaningful. He was as good as his word, BTW. Wolford’s quick work with hand grenades in one situation prevented the vehicle I was riding in from being fired on point-blank by a recoilless rifle; a few hours after that he rallied grunts with a forward dash and pistol fire in a firefight with some desperate Iraqi Republican Guard holdouts. Because of the aggressive, brave but not rash or thoughtless leadership Wolford exhibited, I was prepared to follow him anywhere, and basically did.
Other Miller titles:
Harvard’s Civil War: The History of the Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry,
A Carrier at War: On Board the USS Kitty Hawk in the Iraq War
The Civil War: The Nantucket Experience
OK, moving on to the “peace” part of today’s bookfest. Emailed request by an author who wants a plug.
Peace: A World History Antony Adolf.
I’m intrigued by the concept, because I have a theory. Peace doesn’t actually have a history. It has never actually existed except as a dream; an illusion; a lull between wars in the form of exhaustion, regrouping and refitting; an armed Cold War standoff or an Pax Romana, under the credible and merciless threat of arms; or the false peace of 25 years of low-grade terrorist actions, building to an ultimate moment of undeniability. OK, reviews:
“I, for one, feel greatly enriched for having taken this particular ‘history course’ … the journey through Peace becomes more enlightening with each new chapter.”
Roses and Thorns“Essential reading for anyone concerned with the promotion of peace, the study of peace, and the making of peace. Anthony Adolf’s writing is articulate and accomplished. The very reading of the book is satisfying in itself. The content is presented authoritatively and thoroughly. The writer knows his stuff!”
Journal for the Renewal of Religion and Theology“In an unbiased historical context and accessible discourse, Adolf’s analysis steadily makes a case not only for peace being an imperative for mankind’s survival, but one achievable through dedication and a now well-lit precedent.”
Prick of the Spindle“The reader of this book will be impressed by the abundance of information but also by the capacity of the author to realise an objective analysis of the historical events and figures.”
Cultura“In Peace: A World History, Antony Adolf admirably demonstrates that peacemaking has not been a peripheral pursuit in human history. Adolf’s work ably synthesizes the growing literature in peace history while offering its own interpretive contribution. It offers a viable alternative reading of history that locates peacemaking as a concept at the heart of the ideas and events that have shaped the world.”
Michael Clinton, Gwynedd-Mercy College“A naive peace is inevitably the peace of the grave. A rational peace begins when we learn collectively how to live well within the limits of our circumstances; it is the peace of preservation and renewal. Adolf’s Peace: A World History shifts the focus of history from the necessities of war to the imperatives of peace and, in doing so, provides invaluable insights for comprehending the dynamic principles of future peaces.”
Monty G. Marshall, Center for Systemic Peace
Well, that last one is the only one that begins to make any sense, but I remain unconvinced the imperatives of peace can be divorced from the necessities of war. Here’s the dustjacket material:
How peace has been made and maintained, experienced and imagined is not only a matter of historical interest, but also of pressing concern. Peace: A World History is the first study to explore the full spectrum of peace and peacemaking from prehistoric to contemporary times in a single volume aimed at improving their prospects.
By focusing on key periods, events, people, ideas and texts, Antony Adolf shows how the inspiring possibilities and pragmatic limits of peace and peacemaking were shaped by their cultural contexts and, in turn, shaped local and global histories. Diplomatic, pacifist, legal, transformative non-violent and anti-war movements are just a few prominent examples.
Proposed and performed in socio-economic, political, religious, philosophical and other ways, the diversity of peace and peacemaking Adolf presents challenges the notions that peace is solely the absence of war, this negation is the only task of peacemakers, and that history is exclusively written by military victors. “Without the victories of peacemakers and the resourcefulness of the peaceful,” he contends, “there would be no history to write.”
Sorry, but I’m getting “wankfest” off that. I’m still waiting for the armies of peace to actually show up for human-shield duty like they said they would and do more than just lift their pink T-shirts in front of pols. Tempted to have fun inverting that last sanctimonious quote, but … who knows, maybe he’s got a point. May need to have a look, investigate this “peace” thing, so strange, unknown in living memory.
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Topics: history, military, peaceniks
Posted by Jules Crittenden at 12:51 pm Comments (2) on Wednesday, November 25, 2009
2 Responses to “War & Peace”
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November 25th, 2009 at 3:24 pm
“Without the victories of
peacemakersrighteous warriors and the resourcefulness of thepeacefulpragmatic survivors,” he contends, “there would be no history to write.”Fixed that for you. Of course, there are qualifications, in that the term “righteous warriors” does NOT include mindless religiosity or a totalitarian mindset, and “pragmatic survivors” doesn’t include cannibals of all stripes.
In any case, if the West doesn’t adopt Capt. Wolford’s attitude, we are doomed.
November 25th, 2009 at 3:27 pm
I should probably explain my use of “cannibals” for the clueless. I mean what we know as “progressives” these days. Rightwingnuts will have already understood what I meant. The rest will be scratching their heads and/or hopping up and down in frothy indignation.