Pax Britannica.

This is coolbert:

During the Victorian Age [1837-1901], it was said that there existed a Pax Britannica. Peace established and maintained by England. Well, this was so, but mainly for Europe, and only then in a general sense [there were many conflicts in Europe during this time, but no overall general conflict as had been seen during the time of Napoleon].

Overseas, the British still fought a large number of wars, as would probably be expected from a colonial world power.

* The Opium War against China.

* The Crimean War against Russia.

* The Zulu War.

* The Ashanti War.

* The Sepoy Mutiny.

* Various wars in Afghanistan.

* The war against the dervishes in the Sudan [jihadis in the 1800's were collectively called dervishes, where ever they were found].

* And finally the Boer War, in South Africa. So we can see that British forces all over the world were involved in many conflicts during this Pax Britannica.

And the record of victories and losses was very spotty for the British forces during the Victorian era as well.

* The Crimean War is generally felt to be a draw among the combatants.

* The Zulus were able to inflict a major defeat [Isandhlwana] on the British before finally succumbing to superior British firepower [Ulindi].

* During the Sepoy Mutiny, the British Army had both major successes [Lucknow] and major failures [Cawnpore] in the effort to suppress the rebellion, which they ultimately did.

* On three occasions the British invaded Afghan and were also thrown out with heavy losses.

* The insurgents in the Sudan under the "Mad Mahdi" defeated the British decisively and then a number of years later were only beaten by once again superior British firepower.

* And the Boer War was a major embarrassment for the British Army. A numerically far superior force was hamstrung by a guerilla army that confounded the British [British victory was final in the end]. The British Army had to serious do a self-examination of itself after the Boer War.

Even having superior technology, and what was the wealthiest and most advanced society in the world at the time [the nineteenth century was said to be the British century], British armies in their battles all over the world both did well and poor.

Being top dog doesn't always ensure victory!

The U.S. leadership should keep this in mind as it fights war all over the world and assumes the leadership of the world, to the liking of others or not. This "role" has been defaulted to the U.S. Again being top dog does not ensure you will not be challenged or alway victorious.

coolbert.