Auftragstaktik

[quoted original message omitted]

> --- "K.H.Ranitzsch" <KH.Ranitzsch@t-online.de> wrote:

Karl, You have hit with great effect on the major
problems of the modern military era.   The media has
been allowed to politicize the battle front and the politicians have far too
much voice in the (small
unit) conduct of the war.   Those who sit in judgement
(from the VERY SAFE rear areas) are quick to condemn those who must carry out
the orders.

Trying to end a rant, before it gets going too far!

Bye for now,

On Wed, 5 May 2004 00:32:53 -0700 (PDT) John Leary
> <john_t_leary@yahoo.com> writes:
<snip>
> Trying to end a rant, before it gets going too far!

That was skillfully done, sir!

Gracias,

John Leary schrieb:
> > I have read discussions by Bundeswehr officers that

> You have hit with great effect on the major

Actually, I was thinking more of the military chain of command rather than the
politicians and media. But yes, those play a role in that development, too.

On the other hand, I don't think political involvement and public opinion have
been irrelevant in earlier wars. Communications were slower and more patchy,
but remember Clausewitz' phrase about warfare as politics by other means. I
think it doesn't just refer to foreign
policy vis-a-vis the enemy, but also to allies and to domestic policy.
Support for a war was always needed, or recruits wouldn't have been available,
cities would surrender at first sight of the enemy, allies would send excuses
instead of troops etc. And it is an old phenomenon. Sun Tzu advises that
commanders in the field should be able to operate independently from the King
in the capital, and Caesar may have written his commentaries to justify his
actions to the Roman public ( OK, to the Roman nobility)

Greetings Karl Heinz

> Karl wrote:

> and Caesar may have written

Nope, you got it right the first time, Caesar was writing for the people of
Rome, he cared not one whit what the nobility thought provided they backed
him...which most failed to do hence the Rubicon and all that followed (but the
people didn't mind because Caesar had succesfully wooed them to his side!).

Go back further to the Punic wars, and before that to the Peloponesian war,
all of which were heavily politically motivated, and influenced. Politics is
the major influence on whether wars are won or lost, history is very clear on
that. The demagogues in of the Athenian democracy and the consequent
catastrophe at Syracuse are a perfect example of this.

Regards,

Matt:
***
> Karl wrote:

> and Caesar may have written...

Nope, you got it right the first time,...
***

Ok, still off topic, as it's not likely to be useful for working out the
particulars of a scenario, but you might try to shoe-horn it into the
FH.
;->=

And yes, I know someone will try to suggest 'but you could use it in the fluff
for the scenario...' That's still FH, global('tuffleyversal') tied to
local...

The_Beast