Over the last days I've heard many references to Tuchman's book "The Guns of August"

[kairos12]

as a template to the situation we now find our country.

I disagree. A part of Tuchman's thesis was the understanding that countries supported Allies once hostile intentions were apparent.

The difference now.

The U.S. has, essentially, no allies in this coming conflict.

We are on own.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. This puts NATO in a tough spot.

Article 5 obligates member nations to come to the defense of the US if it is attacked but the others clearly want no part of this goatfuck. Soldiers from NATO countries other than the US are stationed at the Al-Assad base, and I suppose they could be withdrawn as well. There are no reports of casualties there but obviously that could change.

[Strelnikov_]

2. I disagree . . . my read was that all parties, except the British, wanted to rumble

to avenge past offenses.

The British were dragged in as an ally to France . . and by necessity . . being that if they did not shore up the west flank against von Kluck's 1st Army, Germany would prevail both in the west and east.

And they all thought their plan would succeed . . and they would be home before the leaves fall.


"No country has ever gone to war thinking they would lose".
Sir John Keegan, A History of the First World War

[uponit7771]

3. K&R, Kaiser Wilhelm Trump isn't going to get a Coalition Of The Wanting to help him