200 years ago. Same shit different day.

[Scratch 0]

I have been reading a book about Napoleon and his campaigns. It's been interesting stuff.
The Peninsula War probably being the most pertinent to 2004.

I have posted a couple of links. Do a Google if you want more
If I were North Korea and really wanted the South, I would go and go now.

http://www.pbs.org/empires/napoleon/n_war/campaign/page_9.html

http://www-cgsc.army.mil/csi/research/ComWar/comwarhuber.asp

[Skyrad 0]

Ssccch.They might hear you

When an author is too meticulous about his style, you may presume that his mind is frivolous and his content flimsy.
Lucius Annaeus Seneca

[Scratch 0]

I can see old Osama now. Recruting some disaffected S Korean nationals to go knock over a few buildings in the North.

<>

[kallend 2,117]

Quote

I have been reading a book about Napoleon and his campaigns. It's been interesting stuff.
The Peninsula War probably being the most pertinent to 2004.

I have posted a couple of links. Do a Google if you want more
If I were North Korea and really wanted the South, I would go and go now.

http://www.pbs.org/empires/napoleon/n_war/campaign/page_9.html

http://www-cgsc.army.mil/csi/research/ComWar/comwarhuber.asp

I would suggest that Hitler made the same error as Napoleon. He turned against the USSR in 1941 without having defeated Britain or having won over the populations of France, Holland, Denmark etc. Thus he had a main force enemy with a safe haven (the enormous Eurasian landmass of the USSR), another, though smaller enemy (UK) at his rear which also had a safe haven and access to the resources of the USA, and his troops faced guerilla militias all over western Europe and Montgomery in North Africa that required constant attention from his armies thus weakening his critical eastern front.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[nacmacfeegle 0]

"I would suggest that Hitler made the same error as Napoleon."
Both also underestimated both the resilience of the Russian people, and the ferocity of the Russian winters.

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He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me. Thomas Jefferson

[Kennedy 0]

By and large, North Korea doesn't have the gas to get their army to Seoul. Their nukes could reach, but their army is ineffectual. There are a large number of grunts, but no army runs without gas. Potent defensive force, and good for posturing/blackmailing the weak-kneed, but not particularly suited to offensive expeditionary warfare.

witty subliminal message
Guard your honor, let your reputation fall where it will, and outlast the bastards.
1*

[christelsabine 1]

Quote

If I were North Korea and really wanted the South, I would go and go now

Yes, "go" now. this is all they are able to to: To go. The poorest country of the world presently is trying to make some money by releasing prisoners of war, their children...

If you "find" the time, read your story again in 200 years.

dudeist skydiver # 3105

[DrunkMonkey 0]

Quote

Yes, "go" now. this is all they are able to to: To go. The poorest country of the world presently is trying to make some money by releasing prisoners of war, their children...

Boo Hoo for NK. They fucked up their own country because their dictatorial regime makes Iraq look like Walt Disney World.

They would sooner perish in Nuclear Armageddon than "lose face" by accepting international aid.

Kim Il Sung And Kim Jong IL are, without hyperbole, unfit to run a country. If China (our supposed "friend") had not given nuclear secrets to the DANKs (DANK=Dumb Ass North Korean) we wouldn't be in the shitbag mess we find ourselves.

NK is headed by a murderous despot, and should be allowed to implode. Fuck them. Cut them off and watch them wither. THey'd be able to feed their people if they did not spend billions on their Military, and funnel in-kind food aid to their soldiers....

I have no pity for NK.

Edited to add link: Clicky!

[christelsabine 1]

Calm down, I know what your're complaining.
That does not help anyone. These poor people simply are dying like flies every day.

And this idiot of Kim something has a finger on nuclear weapons. Korea simply is another (big, big)danger for the world. But I feel pity for the hungry suffering people.

dudeist skydiver # 3105

[Scratch 0]

Similar strategic military error but that was not the point.

Points of similarity between Spain and Iraq.

1. Spain was to all intents and purposes a French ally
2. Napolion's economic policies were detrimental to Spain and not followed.
3. Napolion invaded Spain on the pretext of liberating them from a despotic ruling system
4. The French were welcomed at first.
5. Collateral damage swung public opinion against the French.
6. Napolion tried to impose a French dominated and controlled government.
7. The Spanish people, although abused for generations by the Inquisition rose up against a Francophile rule.
8. Napolion then got bogged down in a situation that he neither wanted or could afford but could not back out due to the 'lose of face' that such a move would incure.

Follow so far?

As for the NK comment that was an arbitrary one but what happend 200 years ago is that Austria, which was already a conqured nation, saw their opening and rose up against the French. Russia got pulled into the conflict and the rest is history.

So as a possible senario NK moves South. An ugly conflict erupts (You guys are crazy if you think the US will easily beat them). China gets into the game. The nukes start flying.

Just conjecture but possible.

Side note on 'all they have is a lot of grunts'
Who the hell do you think is giving the US so much uphill in Iraq.
21 Days to Baghdad and more than a year later the game goes on.

[Gawain 0]

Quote

As for the NK comment that was an arbitrary one but what happend 200 years ago is that Austria, which was already a conqured nation, saw their opening and rose up against the French. Russia got pulled into the conflict and the rest is history.

So as a possible senario NK moves South. An ugly conflict erupts (You guys are crazy if you think the US will easily beat them). China gets into the game. The nukes start flying.

Just conjecture but possible.

Side note on 'all they have is a lot of grunts'
Who the hell do you think is giving the US so much uphill in Iraq.
21 Days to Baghdad and more than a year later the game goes on.

Interesting perspective, but DPRK won't need to move a single man to reign fire on Seoul. Their artillery and short range rockets can do the trick.

As to the fuel issue, that is a major hurdle for Chong-Il. Such a slow advance would mean that ROK and US troops would likely run low/out of ammunition before they ran out of men.

Now, on a counter offensive, I could see China getting involved, or, they might hold back, sacrifice their crazy friend in DPRK and make a move on Taiwan. End result, I would agree with you, that's when the nukes would start flying.

So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh
Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright
'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life
Make light!

[nacmacfeegle 0]

"Now, on a counter offensive, I could see China getting involved"

Its an interesting scenario, how do you think the world might react if China were to invade NK to remove their despotic leader, improve the lot of the little people, and neutralise their WMDs? After all, where do you think all that fuel is going?
I'd be nervous.

Scratch, interesting parallels with the Peninsular wars, there's a major difference there though, Britain jumped in to assist the Spanish against a common foe. I can't really see any formal 3rd party intervention in Iraq happening, it would be tactical suicide.
I might be tempted to draw comparisons with Gulf War 1. Likening Kuwait to Spain, and France to Iraq, with the usual suspects (the British Empire) as a common element of both conflicts.
Good discussion though, its always good to look back on historic strategies and try to find out who, what, and why.

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He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me. Thomas Jefferson