A Medal Isn't Always A Medal

A medal isn't always a medal. It's true. Rather the term 'medal' is commonly used to refer to one of three awards - an order, a decoration or (you guessed it) a medal. This article examines the differences in an accesible way providing real life anecdotes such as why, despite both being Knights of the British Empire, Rudy Giuliani is a KBE and Richard Branson a Sir.

The Victoria Cross - For Valour

The ongoing conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan have brought the Victoria Cross back into the headlines again. It's been a while - the highest honor available to British military personnel has not been awarded for a quarter of a century. After this hiatus however the medal has now been issued twice in the past two years. This article takes a brief look at the unique and fascinating history of the Victoria Cross.

The United States is Not Gearing Up for War With Iran

The anti-US propaganda mass world media machine is completely out of control and actually inciting a future war between the United States and Iran. One headline read that the US was gearing up for a war with Iran - that is crazy indeed. Just the insinuation that the United States might not be fully prepared for such an unfortunate potential eventuality is silly indeed. Why would the US need to gear up for a military conflict with Iran?

Military Retirement - Is It Different Than Civilian

The Retirement Society is what all baby boomers could and should be paying attention to.

Rules of Engagement - Terrorists Ambush Rescue Team

We sure here a lot of talk about the rules of engagement and the Geneva Convention, yet we find the International Terrorists could care less about fair rules. The international terrorists shot down a NATO Helicopter and in wartime, one could suppose this is indeed a target, but next they attacked the rescue team - medical personnel?

Cell Phone Tower Dirigibles to Restore Battlespace Communications

Wars are often a chaotic mess and the defending nation must have open communication lines to properly stave off the advancing strike forces. Once the communication is knocked out the defending nation will lose much of its ability to execute its defense strategy against the attacking army. In the future robotic armies will be defending entire nations. However, an electronic attack prior to an invading army strike will most likely render the nations capability to operate its tele-robotic unmanned fighting vehicles, which considering the cost of acquisition, maintenance and replacement this is not pretty.

After First Military Strike - Now What?

Today's major conflicts consist of a hard fought a quick paced battle for the higher ground, indeed currently the highest ground is already owned by NATO forces and the United States and that would include Space. Yes, space, that is to say the satellites that help coordinate communication and the flow of information to the entire net-centric system. Indeed, eyes in the sky and AWACS are also in control of the high ground. Yet air-superiority and dominance allows attack aircraft and helicopter to control the battle.

Mobile Missile Launchers - Hiding from Satellites

In the age of robotic mobile missile launchers and autonomous or tele-robotic border patrol sentry units any defending nation, which anticipates a surprise attack will strategically place their weaponry to protect it from the incoming attack. Tactics such as camouflage and turning off electronic signatures will be employed. We know from Gulf War I and Gulf War II that the opposing military often attempted to hide their military equipment inside of structures, behind buildings or dug into the local terrain. Indeed none of this is too surprising - it is just using caution to better the odds.

Will Solar Flares Make US Spy Satellites Blind Against the Enemy?

The US Spy Satellite Network is robust and we can see into the backyards of our enemies and those that threaten free nations of the world or those nation states which sponsor international terrorists. But what if the Solar Flares knock out the spy satellites?

Robotic Wars of the Future - What about Isaac Asimov's Three Laws for Robotics

The future of human wars is changing and it is obvious to see that unmanned vehicles will continue to invade the battle field and eventually our wars will be fought by robots and not humans. We have all heard the saying; All is Fair in Love and War. Indeed it is amazing how many people believe just that and in the heat of battle ones strict adherence to rules will be challenged more often than not. What about Isaac Asimov's famous Robot Rules?

Business, Sports, War and Competition

Sometimes it seems that many military men who specialize in the history and philosophy of human warfare fail to see the similarities of human conflict with sports, business, politics and competition in general. If one were to remove themselves from the death and destruction caused by such acts, perhaps they might indeed readily see the truth of such.

The Spartans & King Leonidas

The Spartans fighting specialty was as a single impenetrable unit, forward thrusting, one way & notably elite assault unit. They were documented as a fearsome & formidable army, made stronger by their laws for which forbids them to neither retreat nor surrender. Suicidal tendency is prevalent within such a school of thought.

German Memory - Dresden Bombing & the World's Reaction

Overall, Anglo-American bombing of German cities claimed between 305,000 and 600,000 civilian lives. But the devastation in Dresden made a great impact on neutral countries at that time. Howard Cowan, an Associated Press war correspondent, subsequently filed a story saying that the Allies had resorted to terror bombing. Before the bombing, Dresden was regarded as a beautiful city and a cultural center, and was sometimes known as Elbflorenz, or Florence on the Elbe. Its notable architecture included the Zwinger Palace, the Dresden State Opera House, and the Dresden Frauenkirche, its historic cathedral.

German Memories - Victory of Roman Forces over Germanic Teutons & Cimbri

In 103 BC, the Cimbri and their Proto-Germanic allies, the Teutons, had turned towards Spain where they pillaged far and wide. During this time Roman general Gaius Marius had the time to prepare and in 102 BC, he was ready to meet the Teutons and the Ambrones at the Rh?ne River. These two tribes intended to go into Italy through the western passes, while the Cimbri and the Tigurines were to take the northern route across the Rhine and later across the Tyrolian Alps.

German Memories - Attack on Roman Forces by Germanic Teutons & Cimbri

During the late 2nd century BC, the Teutons were marching south along with their neighbors, the Cimbri and the Ambrones, and attacking Roman Italy. The Cimbri were ferocious warriors who did not fear death. The host was followed by women and children on carts. Aged women dressed in white sacrificed the prisoners of war and sprinkled their blood, the nature of which allowed them to see what was to come. After several battles with the Boii and other Celtic tribes, the Cimbri and other tribes appeared 113 BC in Noricum ( the today's Austria), where they invaded the lands of one of Rome's allies, the Taurisci.