Rudyard Kipling"
“When you're left wounded on Afganistan's plains and
the women come out to cut up what remains, Just roll to your rifle
and blow out your brains,
And go to your God like a soldier”
General Douglas MacArthur"
“We are not retreating. We are advancing in another direction.”
“It is fatal to enter any war without the will to win it.” “Old soldiers never die; they just fade away.
“The soldier, above all other people, prays for peace, for he must suffer and be the deepest wounds and scars of war.”
“May God have mercy upon my enemies, because I won't .” “The object of war is not to die for your country but to make the other bastard die for his.
“Nobody ever defended, there is only attack and attack and attack some more.
“It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.
The Soldier stood and faced God
Which must always come to pass
He hoped his shoes were shining
Just as bright as his brass
"Step forward you Soldier,
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To My Church have you been true?"
"No, Lord, I guess I ain't
Because those of us who carry guns
Can't always be a saint."
I've had to work on Sundays
And at times my talk was tough,
And sometimes I've been violent,
Because the world is awfully rough.
But, I never took a penny
That wasn't mine to keep.
Though I worked a lot of overtime
When the bills got just too steep,
The Soldier squared his shoulders and said
And I never passed a cry for help
Though at times I shook with fear,
And sometimes, God forgive me,
I've wept unmanly tears.
I know I don't deserve a place
Among the people here.
They never wanted me around
Except to calm their fears.
If you've a place for me here,
Lord, It needn't be so grand,
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don't, I'll understand."
There was silence all around the throne
Where the saints had often trod
As the Soldier waited quietly,
For the judgment of his God.
"Step forward now, you Soldier,
You've borne your burden well.
Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,
You've done your time in Hell."
How France Fought a Lightning War in Mali (Op Serval)
Monday, May 15, 2023
This conflict really is a masterclass in logistics and the title of the video describing it as a "lightning war" is not at all clickbait. 6 weeks of constant mobile combat across 3,000 miles is absolutely insane. That's like driving from Miami to Seattle while constantly having someone shoot at you every time you stop for gas.
"Amateurs study tactics; professionals study logistics.” — Omar N. Bradley. The initial Gazelle run was super risky and could easily have been a disaster. Incredibly brave of those to undertake that mission in such light aircraft against what would have been an unknown force strength and composition with insufficient time to prepare. France leaves: three months later headline like:
'Moura massacre: the explosive UN report', 'Mali junta announces two-year delay until democratic rule' 'Over 500 killed in Mali clashes as military junta loses grip' really makes you realise just how much Mali depended on the French to keep the peace and to maintain ethics in the military.
As a French I am really happy that you went over this conflict, it is mainly misinterpreted and people get easily misinformed about it
