[February 16, 2023] During my first combat tour in Iraq, I had two photos. One of my children, nicely framed and sitting where I could see them every day. And a second of a motivational poster starring Jane Fonda sitting on a North Vietnamese anti-aircraft gun surrounded by NVA soldiers. The poster read, “Treason. Yes, it was –… Read More »
[February 15, 2023] All the great men I’ve known had a remarkable capacity for controlled aggression. That aggression was closely contained so they could use it carefully when needed. And in doing so, they gave them dignity, which made others around them respect them. Many suspect those men were tough, experienced, intelligent military men, but that is not… Read More »
[February 14, 2023] Love. Are the origins of Valentine’s Day a story of love? Is it a myth? Is it even true? Followers of St. Valentine understand that we will never know the origins, yet that is not important. What the origins tell us is the recognition of heroism in the classic sense. It’s the story of doing… Read More »
[February 13, 2023] Regular readers of this blog know that one of my jobs is to highlight others who can point out lessons we can learn from the mistakes people make. Petter Hörnfeldt (Mentour Pilot), a Swedish Captain, shows airline failures, mechanical problems, and the human element and explains why aircraft crashes occur. Hörnfeldt is the creator and… Read More »
[February 12, 2023] We all make mistakes, and while that may seem obvious, it is not so obvious what those mistakes may turn out to be and why they are mistakes. A few days ago, I wrote that men often don’t realize they are making mistakes until it’s too late. Within the theme of raising awareness, here are… Read More »
[February 11, 2023] Several readers wrote to me pointing out that recently captured Russian military gear (e.g., helmets, body armor, boots) are for sale on eBay, Etsy, and several other sites. The claim is that this gear, mostly individual combat equipment, was captured during the Ukraine War and is being offered as a war trophy. The question is… Read More »
[February 10, 2023] Why do terrible things happen worldwide? The answer is quite simple; it’s because you’re not good enough and because you don’t tell the truth, and you know it, and because you can’t make a decision. A basic rule of leadership is, “Make a decision.” That’s what real leaders do. “Be decisive. Right or wrong, make… Read More »
[February 9, 2023] Men make mistakes that have negative results for them and those around them. Men often don’t realize they are making these mistakes until it’s too late. So, to help raise awareness, here are a few mistakes men make. “All men make mistakes, but a good man yields when he knows his course is wrong and… Read More »
[February 8, 2023] I’m still laughing. Moments ago, I listened to a video podcast of a real tiger of a woman, Jedediah Bila. She’s funny, witty, and really out there on today’s women (and men) affairs and how these they have destroyed themselves when it comes to long-term relationships, family, and security. Jedediah Bila is an American television… Read More »
[February 7, 2023] My favorite military historian Victor Davis Hanson has a recent article on the uses and abuses of military history. Once again, he is turning our heads toward a better understanding of our responsibility to encourage learning about war so we don’t repeat past mistakes. “War accelerates and intensifies the human experience.” Military history is based… Read More »