General Giap dies at 102

[Admiral Yi]

He's an interesting figure. I imagine he's pretty important in terms of theory.

Was anything he did really new though?  He seems to have cribbed most things from the Chinese.

Although Din Bin Foo is definitely interesting from an operational POV.

[derspiess]

I think Derspiess is at this very moment planning the beginnings of the Teaparty insurgency.

I think derspiess doesn't know what "penultimate" means, other than turning the "ultimate" dial to 11.

Go fuck yourself, Tim.

[mongers]

This thread reminded me i need to get The Last Valley off my amazon wish list. 

I've got it, unread sitting about 8 feet from me, is it really not worth reading?

Dont know, but I will be finding out.  Probably order it next week. I have a gun show to go to tomorrow. Got to find more powder.

Cheers, I thought you meant taking it off your wish list, rather than removing it to put it in 'the basket'.

Reviews say it's detailed, which suits me. 700+ pages isnt it?

Heh, knew exactly where it was but couldn't see it, the books in that bookcase are hidden behind piles of maps.   

725pages, for what it's worth has blurb on the front from Max Hastings, but on the back Richard Holmes sings it's praises. 

[derspiess]

Although Din Bin Foo is definitely interesting from an operational POV.

Surround isolated enemy, apply pressure, disregard any losses from frontal assaults.  Rinse, lather, repeat.

[11B4V]

IMO DBP is more interesting than Khe Shan.

[derspiess]

IMO DBP is more interesting than Khe Shan.

Well, yeah.  It worked.

[Ed Anger]

IMO DBP is more interesting than Khe Shan.

B-52's arc lighting the shit out of 2 NVA divisions less interesting?

COMMIE!

[Sheilbh]

Was anything he did really new though?  He seems to have cribbed most things from the Chinese.

Although Din Bin Foo is definitely interesting from an operational POV.

I don't know, all I know about him is from 'The Utility of Force' and I don't know much about Mao in the civil war or WW2. I think the argument for him is that he brought together different bits of theory and implemented them well. Maybe not a great tactician but one of the great strategists.

The thing that strikes me from the obituaries is that he was a huge fan of Napoleon and how many of his successes seem quite influenced by that. They depended on speed, logistics and density of force which all seem - to me - very Napoleonic virtues.

Edit: Here's an interesting, admiring piece:
smallwarsjournal.com/documents/wadsworth.pdf‎

[Admiral Yi]

Surround isolated enemy

...transport enough heavy weaponry to pulverize enemy fortifications, prevent resupply and reinforcement by air, plus ammuniton, plus food, all across trackless jungle, and far from sources of supply, without the enemy being aware.

[mongers]

IMO DBP is more interesting than Khe Shan.

As a young child, I recall seeing black and white tv news reports perhaps about or from there, I can't be certain, but it's quite a vivid memory.

[derspiess]

Surround isolated enemy

...transport enough heavy weaponry to pulverize enemy fortifications, prevent resupply and reinforcement by air, plus ammuniton, plus food, all across trackless jungle, and far from sources of supply, without the enemy being aware.

All that was an accomplishment, save for the very last part.  It was the French.

[Valmy]

All that was an accomplishment, save for the very last part.  It was the French.

Man you just totally went on my shitlist.  MAY THE CARDS FOREVER LOSE IN FOUR.

I am going to call Art Briles and see if he can go for 100.

[11B4V]

All that was an accomplishment, save for the very last part.  It was the French.

Man you just totally went on my shitlist.  MAY THE CARDS FOREVER LOSE IN FOUR.

You guys have the Legion, that counts for some cool points in my book.

[Sheilbh]

The French were too arrogant, but then so were the Americans later on.

[PDH]

Man you just totally went on my shitlist.  MAY THE CARDS FOREVER LOSE IN FOUR.

Wow, Valmy went all Murat on Spicey.  A frontal assault that managed to destroy the baggage train too.  Now I wonder if he can counter charge and get out of there.