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This special episode marks the revival of the classic format edition with one-on-one conversations between Steve and a special guest, with the first in the series being author Michael Walsh, discussing his terrific new book, A Rage to Conquer: Twelve Battles That Changed the Course of Western History.
One way to get a feel for the candor and bracing character of Michael's book is this passage from the Afterword, reflecting on the ambivalent reaction to the 9/11 attack:
"The imperial Romans would have gone full delenda est on Saudi Arabia, razed its cities, destroyed the Kaaba, leveled the mosques, occupied the oil fields, seized its wealth, executed its leaders, and sold the populace into slavery; they knew an existential struggle when they were in one."
Our conversation ranges far beyond the four corners of his book, into music, Ireland (Michael's ancentral home and part-time residence today), the suicidal multiculturalism of Europe, and why the Chinese military threat is overrated.
Steve has other guests lined up for future classic format episodes, and from time to time John and/or Lucretia will join in. But you're going to have to stock up on more whisky.
Steve Hayward
Discussion (7)
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Not fer nuttin, the last war that was “won” using conscripts was WWII. The all volunteer military is a vast improvement in millitary morale and approach.
I observed first hand how redemptive the success of operations and overall faith and pride that Vietnam era veterans experienced from post Gulf War reception in US.
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Sadly I cant have whiskey anymore. Im allergic.
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One way to get a feel for the candor and bracing character of Michael’s book is this passage from the Afterword, reflecting on the ambivalent reaction to the 9/11 attack:
“The imperial Romans would have gone full delenda est on Saudi Arabia, razed its cities, destroyed the Kaaba, leveled the mosques, occupied the oil fields, seized its wealth, executed its leaders, and sold the populace into slavery; they knew an existential struggle when they were in one.”
Well, that's what we should have done. Eighteen of the nineteen hijackers were Saudis and they were here on government grants. On Sept 12, there should have been just an oil slick on the Arabian peninsula.
PODCAST ORGANIZATION
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That's okay. You can be the designated driver!
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YOu elide the very close ties between the Saudi's and our political elites of that time. Contrary to the Roman approach, W arranged safe passage for Saudis out of the US. Osama bin Laden was not his father's son. His father was one of the great builders of his time and pretty much apolitical but very supportive of the Saudi rulers. Not so Osama. The Saudis have always excelled at playing both ends from the middle, and have survived that way. We buy their oil and they allow our military to function in the Persian Gulf. Most of our elites, particularly on the Left, have been supportive of the terrorism emanating from Wahhabism, the Muslim Brotherhood, etc. The Muslim Brotherhood originated in Egypt, and during Obama's presidency achieved political control in Egypt. Obama tried to give them $4 billion worth of US military equipment and ensconce them in power permanently. El Sisi prevented that. Egypt has long since designated the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization (which it is). We are way behind the curve. But, as with Saudi, we can hardly lay waste to Egypt, or other countries in the Middle East. If we did so, Trump would be called a Roman Emperor rather than a Fascist (ironically many on the Left embraced Mussolini's Fascism, derived from Roman Empire times, including FDR,who used Mussolini's model for his NIRA, which ultimately was laughed [literally] out of the Supreme Court in the case of a Brooklyn kosher chicken purveyor on a 9-0 vote, which precipitated FDR's effort to pack the Supreme Court. He would have had to do a lot of packing to overcome a 9-0 vote. The Blue Eagle is a distant memory of when America actually attempted to enact Fascism. I find it interesting that American Eagle is now advertising their blue jeans. Blue and Eagle. That is as close [that is, not close at all] to FDR's version of fascism that American enterprise can come now, these 90 years later, much to the shrill protestations of the Left.)
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