Is there Glory in War?

By | April 25, 2021

[April 25, 2021]  War is a common condition of humans.  In truth, it can be convincingly argued that the history of our human condition is perpetual war.  Peace is an aberration.  I want to address a comment I hear often … “Given that war is so common, is there glory in war?” To begin, I want to be… Read More »

Undue Command Influence

By | April 23, 2021

[April 23, 2021]  With recent comments by U.S. President Joe Biden about the trial of police officer Derek Chauvin, undue command influence has made a comeback as a topic of senior leader conversations.  Leaders exert influence; that is what they do.  But when leaders bias an otherwise independent agency or process, things can go bad quickly. Leadership is… Read More »

Unfinished Business of World War II

By | April 22, 2021

[April 22, 2021]  Like so many Americans, I learned about the righteousness of the Allied fight against Hitler’s and Mussolini’s fascism and Japan’s imperialism during World War II.  Yet, there was plenty of unfinished business of the war that would plague the world for decades – a new book by Sean McMeekin challenge’s that view. In his book,… Read More »

He Chose … Poorly

By | April 19, 2021

[April 19, 2021]  We’re all guilty of doing it, rushing through to a major decision.  Doing so is shortsighted, and it can affect us most regrettably.  In one of the Indiana Jones films, a bad guy hopes to obtain immortality by drinking from a golden, jewel-encrusted cup.  He dies.  The guardian of the cup says he chose …… Read More »

A Leader with an Apron

By | April 18, 2021

[April 18, 2021]  My maternal grandmother was fond of saying that we are placed here on this earth to help others.  She was a Christian, a mother of four children, and strong-willed.  We called her Bigmama, and she was a leader with an apron. “I won’t tell you how to be a good boy.  I’m telling you to… Read More »