Quotes July 17, 2020

“Their notion of training was to march the men up and down in parades and reviews: these were nice to look at and gave them the impression of military discipline and precision, but as a preparation for a modern war they had no value whatsoever.”
Orlando Figes, A People’s Tragedy: The Russian Revolution: 1891-1924
 
 
 
 
“There are more good people than bad people, and overall there’s more that’s good in the world than there is that’s bad. We just need to hear about it, we just need to see it.”
Tucker Elliot, The Day Before 9/11
 
 
 
 
“The simple and terrifying reality, forbidden from discussion in America, was that despite spending $600 billion a year on the military, despite having the best fighting force the world had ever known, they were getting their asses kicked by illiterate peasants who made bombs out of manure and wood.”
Michael Hastings, The Operators: The Wild and Terrifying Inside Story of America’s War in Afghanistan
 
 
 
 
“Chickenshit can be recognized instantly because it never has anything to do with winning the war.”
Paul Fussell, Wartime: Understanding and Behavior in the Second World War
 
 
 
 
“Troops are everywhere in their modern, digital camouflage, designed to blend in anywhere at any time. Yet at night we wear bright yellow reflective belts.”
Glenn Dean, Soldier / Geek: An Army Science Advisor’s Journal of the War in Afghanistan
 
 
 
 
“Give me a scholar, therefore, who is able to think and to write, to look with an eye of discernment into things, and to do business himself, if called upon, who hath both civil and military knowledge; one, moreover, who has been in camps, and has seen armies in the field and out of it; knows the use of arms, and machines, and warlike engines of every kind; can tell what the front, and what the horn is, how the ranks are to be disposed, how the horse is to be directed, and from whence to advance or to retreat; one, in short, who does not stay at home and trust to the reports of others: but, above all, let him be of a noble and liberal mind; let him neither fear nor hope for anything; otherwise he will only resemble those unjust judges who determine from partiality or prejudice, and give sentence for hire: but, whatever the man is, as such let him be described.”
Lucian of Samosata, Lucian’s True History;
 
 
 
 
“For God and country—Geronimo, Geronimo, Geronimo. Geronimo E.K.I.A”
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