Interesting conversation. FYI from the Canadian side, bayonet training isn't mandatory, but some instructors still work it into the BMQ when they can.

I'd say this is nothing to get too worked up about, certainly not indicitive of the 'wussification' of the military, and not a huge loss. On the flip side, there certainly is benefit to giving the troops a little time to get mean and stick some straw men.

Personally, for what its worth, I'd say that unarmed combat deserves more emphasis than bayonet and edged weapon training. And not just the 'hard' response, snap his neck stuff, but the 'soft' options; tactile, subject control, etc.

A side story on the whole issue. Canada's national, publicly funded broadcaster, the CBC, has posted a searchable database of all the wikiliki Significant Incident reports involving the Canadian military. It is encouraging readers to search the database and report any interesting finds....

Although the CBC didn't release these documents to the world, it has made them easy available, and searchable. Essentially then, Canadian tax payers money is funding a giant, beautifully archived after action report for the enemy.....

What a strange world it is....I personally wrote some of these Sig Act reports during my time in Khandahar. Talking about these details amongst ourselves, in the mess, in the gym, was a big no no. Bringing it back to Canada and sharing it with friends, just as bad. And now it's released to the world. Detailed reports on specific incidents, reporting how we act, and react. Which Afghani's were friendly. How many we lost in specific incidents. What forces we have available, our reaction times, etc. A goldmine for the enemy.

Good analyis of the Canuck side here:

http://cjunk.blogspot.com/2010/08/anatomy-of-cowardice.html

"I agree that Political/Societal will is important to a more successful war effort. This fact does not validate all wars or explain the tough questions about the prudent national course in any conflict. In other words, a lack of will may be a blessing, not a curse."

Point well taken. Although I am of the opinion that if you take so dramatic a course of action as go to war, you'd best muster every last drop of will, might, and fury that you have and unleash it....oddly enough, this is often the humane thing to do because it tends to shorten wars immensely.

I prefer the term 'societal will'...which encompasses not only a societies tolerence towards our own losses in lives and treasure, but also the will to inflict loss upon the enemy. In the west, in general, we are lacking in both these areas of will.

If I might avoid talking strategy, aims, and victory for the moment, I will say that as confused and asymmetical and boundaryless as the current conflicts may seem, they are not new, and the challenge is minor in historical terms.

Interesting analysis, and the idea that it all boils down to matter of will is spot on, in my opinion.

I think he hit on an interesting point about soldiers interest in the politics of war. I spent 10 months in Afghanistan with the Canadian Forces, and that would be my analysis as well. The soldiers I served with often get so embroiled in the day to day job, they don't look past it. I tried to follow the bigger picture, and the political and moral angles while I was there, but I must say that I was in the minority among my comrades.

Re: Luke. It is a shame that Canada announced a specific date for withdrawl, and a travesty that the government has done such a poor, or even non-existent job of explained to Canadians why we are there, and what we are trying to accomplish.

On Czechoslovakia; between the wars the Czechs enjoyed a small sliver of freedom. In that small period of time they managed to build up one of the most industrial and technologically advanced nations in Europe. My family originated there, and as "White Mountain Refugees", were welcomed back to the country in that short prosperous period.

Little good those advances did when the barbarians came knocking. The Czechs, it seems, were geologically cursed. 7 years under Hitler(who's armied used Czech tanks and guns extensively), followed by another 45 under the Communists when the west abandoned them for a second time.

That sort of history has done much to shape modern Czechs. They are untrusting of outsiders, and certainly independent. Sadly, when I visited there in 2009, they seemed swept up in Obama-mania, like the rest of Europe. I'm not sure what they think of him now...

As for Czechs and Poles being the future of Europe, I'm afraid their influence, and physical size, is just too small. Should Europe fall again to barbarians, they would be swallowed up as well.