Van Creveld.

This is coolbert:

I see that the distinuished Israeli military historian Martin Van Creveld has made some acerbic comments on the U.S. war in Iraq.

Van Creveld is considered to be perhaps the most eminent military historian in the world at the present time. His perspective is ALWAYS highly sought after by pundits, journalists, etc.

Van Creveld has been quoted as saying: [and I am paraphrasing here]

"this war in Iraq is the stupidest, most insane, craziest war fought in the last 2014 years!!!"

That is quite a statement by such a distinguished historian and commentator.

Furthermore, according to Van Creveld: [again, I am paraphrasing here]

"not since the Emperor Augustus sent three legions to destruction in Germany has such a foolish war been waged!!"

This is of course the Battle of the Teutoburger Wald [7 B.C.]. Three Roman Legions were annihilated by German tribesmen. I have blogged about this event before as being a watershed and high water mark in history. Which it was.

Problem, however, with the comment of Van Creveld.

It WAS NOT the Emperor Augustus that sent the three Roman Legions into Germany.

It was the consul Quintillius Varus that sent the Legions to their destruction.

Sent the Legions forward to their doom through the trickery and deceit of the turncoat Germanic Prince Arminius [Armin/Hermann].

Augustus did not even know the Legions had been sent across the Rhine into Germany until well after the disaster was over. That the Legions had even been employed in such a manner was a total surprise [and an unwelcome one too!!] to the Emperor.

That Van Creveld, being the distinguished observer and historian and accomplished person that HE IS, would make such an error is just beyond me.

Perhaps the professor was misquoted. Or perhaps he had his facts wrong [a professor is NOT supposed to have his facts wrong]. Or perhaps he was speaking in an exaggerated sense in this case [I think not].

Well, what then!!??

Some may say that I am quibbling. Well, for a history professor to NOT know his history and NOT state the facts correctly is just plain wrong, whatever the motivation.

Would I agree that this war in Iraq is, "the stupidest, most insane, craziest war fought in the last 2014 years!!!"

NO!!!

coolbert.