Its prewar population was reduced by more than half, and perhaps 90 percent of Paraguays fighting-age men perished. Weekly update on whats driving U.S. national security policy. Somalia (1992-1994) 2. Ulysses S. Grant, who replaced McClellan, understood this. Considering some militants as instruments of regional influence while fighting others has had disastrous consequences. Not until 1995 did Vietnam release its official estimate of war dead: as many as 2 million civilians on both sides and some 1.1 million North Vietnamese and Viet Cong fighters. 1 Erwin Rommel Erwin Johannes Eugen Rommel, popularly known as the Desert Fox, was a German field marshal of World War II. Diem's family was one of the earliest to convert to Catholicism, a religion he took . By one estimate from Harvard University, more than 130,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed or severely wounded, in addition to the deaths of more than 7,000 Ukrainian civilians. Not later than the autumn of 1966 the leaders of both services involved in fighting the ground war in VietnamArmy Chief of Staff General Harold K. Johnson and Marine Commandant General. Perhaps Mao would have intervened anyway. The problem begins with the fact that nobody in the chain of command was really competent to critique Westmorelands performance. 4. Even a string of bad days does not guarantee entry. Santa Anna would lose Texas at the Battle of San Jacinto. How do you measure military leaders? Two years later, he lost a leg fighting the French. The Worst Civil War Generals on the Confederacy Confederate Maj. Gen. Gideon Pillow. And how might that be impacting the world? A common view holds that 138,708 Allied personnel surrendered or were killed by fewer than 30,000 Japanese. But he was overly cautious by nature. He lacked the schooling and relevant experience to understand the war and devise a viable approach to prosecuting it. Opportunistic firms in Asia and Europe have already begun to relocate investments to the United States. Yes, the landing at Inchon unhinged the initial North Korean offensive. At this point, things somehow got worse for Hull. In 1941, Graziani resigned his commission after the British counterattacked and the Tenth Army was completely defeated during Operation Compass. Over time Westmoreland asked for and received large numbers of U.S. troops, eventually totaling well over half a million. As the harsh terms of the Treaty of Versailles crippled Germany, Ludendorff effectively sabotaged the Weimar Republic by propagating the belief that he and his armies had been undefeated on the battlefield. Relations between the United States and China seem to be getting frostier by the day. From Kaiser Wilhelm to Hitler and Saddam Hussein and Gadhafi, there is no end of national leaders who squandered their nations blood and treasure in futile conflicts. While there were a host of bad generals serving on both sides during the American Civil Warmostly on the Union side unfortunatelythe one that usually gets the most credit for dragging out the war as long as he did is Union General George McClellan. We ended up, he said, with no operational plan that had the slightest chance of ending the war favorably. Westmoreland could not or would not ever bring himself to acknowledge that reality. Despite Lincoln's pleas for aggressive action, his Army of the Potomac moved hesitantly, its commander McClellan convinced himself that the Southern armies vastly outnumbered him when logic should have told him that it was the North that enjoyed an abundance of resources. Today's list: The top ten reasons Gen. Westmoreland lost the war in Vietnam By the way, here is the first review I have seen of Sorley's new biography of Westmoreland, which I read in galleys. Seldom included in. Army Chief of Staff General Harold K. Johnson put one forth in the PROVN Study, a Program for the Pacification and Long-Term Development of Vietnam. That document held that Westmorelands approach was not working and could not work because it ignored the real war in South Vietnams hamlets and villages, where the covert enemy infrastructure was through coercion and terror dominating the rural populace. Hull responded by ordering the evacuation of Fort Dearborn, and the garrison was promptly massacred by a Potawatomi war band upon leaving the fort. This was heeded about as well as any piece of parental advice, anywhere ever. Finally, there was MacArthur's insubordination. Opportunistic firms in Asia and Europe have already begun to relocate investments to the United States. The Biden administration has passed landmark legislations such as theInflation Reduction Act(IRA) and theCHIPS and Science Act, which provide subsidies in clean energy and semiconductoShow morers worth well over $400 billion. Of course they raised this issue, leading Westmoreland to declare vehemently that establishing MACV Forward had not a damned thing to do with my confidence in General Cushman or the Marines, not a damned thing. That again was not only false but, given the existing paper trail, reckless as well. Delivered Wednesday & Sunday. Westmorelands first resort in claiming progress in the war was always body count, but in fact this was meaningless. Darius did not take the field against Alexander until a year and a half after Granicus, at the Battle of Issus. Would he be upset if he were alive to read this book today? A curated selection of our very best long reads. Delivered Wednesday. There is no Carthage. But beyond the goals of one leader in Moscow, it is also clear that Ukraine has suffered horrors of a historic nature. Soon after declaring himself dictator of Mexico, rebels who opposed the Mexican dictatorship created three new republics, one of them being the Republic of Texas. Instead the enemy proved willing to absorb horrifying losses and keep fighting. So unused to being challenged, the United States has become so filled with anxiety over China that sober responses are becoming nearly impossible. At the height of the Cold War, he dealt decisively with neither. Gamelin made the mistake of viewing the Ardennes as impenetrable and chose to defend it with ten of his weakest, least well equipped and least well trained divisions. Sure, he won big at the Alamo. Answer (1 of 4): The former Cham general/leader Che Bong Nga was killed in the battle against the enemy Dai Viet (old Vietnam) but Che Bong Nga was LUCKY to be mentioned by the enemy Dai Viet historians to allow people to remember him. General Westmoreland had complete freedom of action in deciding how to prosecute the war within South Vietnam. standing, Ukrainians are determined to keep fighting, and the West has so far stayed resolute in its support of Ukraine. In the famous Battle of the Alamo, Santa Anna struggled to defeat about 250 Texans with 2,400 Mexicans and subsequently lost nearly 600 men. 1. On the night of August 15, 1812, Tecumseh led his forces across the Detroit River, and Brock followed the next morning. Fighter Aircraft of All Time, his army being routed by a smaller force of Redcoats and Loyalists at the Battle of Camden in South Carolina in 1780, When the Germans shattered his troops and his reputation at Kasserine Pass in Tunisia in early 1943, Fredendall was only a major general and a corps commander, Listing MacArthur as one of America's worst generals will be controversial, 5 Israeli Weapons of War ISIS Should Fear, But MacArthur's strategy certainly helped unleash 300,000 Chinese "volunteers" who inflicted significant casualties on United Nations forces, But Franks, who commanded the invasion, made a bad situation worse, Critics say that Franks and senior officials, such as Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, concocted an invasion plan that used too few troops. Despite reports of the build-up of German forces and even knowing the date of the Germans attack, Gamelin did nothing, stating that he would await events. War is an extension of politics, and if commanders dont help secure the desired political ends, they get a failing grade. The Persians had a mixed record against the Greeks. The Romans marched right into the ambush that Arminius laid thus leading to the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest. (You May Also Like: 5 Israeli Weapons of War ISIS Should Fear). Lyndon Johnson had no understanding of military affairs whatever, nor did Robert McNamara. Publication of the PROVN Study, whose precepts were later implemented with great success by Westmorelands successor, illustrated a matter of fundamental importance. During the darkest days of the rebellion, when Washington's army had been kicked out of New York and King George's star seemed ascendant, the "Conway cabal" of disgruntled officers and politicians unsuccessfully schemed to out Washington and appoint Gates. Some would say that failure on the battlefield warrants censure. Hull withdrew after a series of harassing attacks by Tecumsehs highly mobile raiding parties. Persian Gulf War (1990-1991) 24. The British gained control of the fort, dozens of cannons, the brig USS Adams (recommissioned the HMS Detroit), and virtually the entire Michigan Territory. This week marks exactly one year since Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his troops to invade Ukraine. Keep up with the world without stopping yours. What is the standard of shame for induction? Find Paraguay on a map of South America. Lincoln relieved McClellan but reinstated him after the devastating Union defeat at the Second Battle of Bull Run. (Photo: Warner Bros.) Roger Ebert called "Gods and Generals" a film "Trent Lott would enjoy," referring to the Senator's praise of segregationist Strom Thurmond. My generation would likely vote for the year exactly one-half century ago as the absolutely worst year in our lifetimes. All rights reserved. The war soon ended in a Russian defeat, with hundreds of thousands of military and civilian casualties. There are issues around killing and counting unarmed civilians (non-combatants) as enemy combatants, as well as inflating the number of actual enemy who were killed in action (KIA).For search and destroy operations, as the objective was not to . The Roman Empire has a long, proud tradition of producing some of the finest generals in human history- and just as many of the worst. Panama (1989) 2. He graduated second in his class at West Point (well ahead of classmates Stonewall Jackson, George H. Gordon, and George Pickett). McClellan and Burnside in particular. Vast areas dotted with villages were blasted with artillery, bombed from the air. In his single-minded pursuit of that objective, Westmoreland (despite his repeated claims to the contrary) essentially ignored two other crucial aspects of the war, improvement of South Vietnams armed forces and pacification. Gen. Charles Cornwallis. He was called the "inevitable general." A West Point graduate, he served in World War II and Korea. Applications for the Gettysburg College-Gilder Lehrman MA program are open and considered on a rolling basis. Still, he choked in the big game. In fact, he did a lot to ensure that Germany would find itself in another war that it couldnt win, but, since he died in 1937, he gets extra credit for being a bad World War II general from beyond the grave. In a war that saw more than its share of unskilled politically appointed generals, Pillow was arguably the worst on either side. James K. Polk upon the outbreak of war between Mexico and the U.S. and offered to become an agent for the U.S. (again). In stereotypically McClellan fashion, he was promptly checked by a vastly inferior force under John Bankhead Magruder. The stabbed in the back myth did much to propel the ascent of Adolf Hitler, and Ludendorff was a key participant in the Beer Hall Putsch. Thus it was under Darius rule that the Persian Empire fell and was conquered. On March 24, 1976, Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery, 1 st Viscount of Alamein, hero of World War II, died at home in England. 15. If Putin had hoped to weaken NATO, the very opposite has happened, with Finland and Sweden on the cusp of joining the transatlantic military alliance. Little Mac would prove himself to be a superb organizer who kept his army well supplied, efficiently run, and happy. The latest news, analysis, and data from the country each week. If there was a saving grace for America, it was that he wasn't commanding an army. The Vietnam War body count controversy centers on the counting of enemy dead by the United States Armed Forces during the Vietnam War (1955-1975). DE AGOSTINI PICTURE LIBRARY/Contributor/Getty Images, Biden Proposal Puts Climate Agenda Above Americas Defense, Russias New START Breach Means U.S. Nuclear Weapons Modernization Is a Must. McClellan truly disappointed president Lincoln at the Battle of Antietam where the North and South would fight the bloodiest battle of the war. Darius quickly lost everything and became nothing but a fugitive. General William Westmoreland. If it couldn't or wouldn't govern the country, who would? - 1 Best: 1996 Chicago Bulls. He overestimated the American peoples patience and tolerance of friendly losses. But the inducements encourage U.S. companies to invest only at homenot elsewhere. Its quite exclusive: combat leaders who had the fate of their people in their hands and squandered it all. On September 2, 1945, hours after the Japanese signed their unconditional surrender in World War II, communist leader Ho Chi Minh proclaimed the independent Democratic Republic of Vietnam, hoping. Jamie founded Listverse due to an insatiable desire to share fascinating, obscure, and bizarre facts. 13,091. It would be nice if all American generals were great. After the Germans attacked, Gamelin was eventually removed from his post, but by then it was too late. Westmorelands strategy throughout the war was to win through Attrition Warfare (pounding the enemy through greater numbers and resources) which military strategists including Sun Tzu caution against using. Instead of sweeping around the French defenses in a massive flanking movement, the Germans were checked at the First Battle of the Marne. According to a Time magazine reporter who wrote about the Dak Son massacre, Viet Cong guerrillas shouted "Sons of Americans!" as they launched their assault on the village. His battlefield losses marked the end of the Persian Empire. While Muammer Al-Gaddafi isn't into the funny business in his politician reign, he most certainly is one of a highly egotistical leader and a member who represents more of the "self" rather than all else. Caepio may have been a terrible general, but he was apparently an exceptional thief. Simultaneously, he contacted Maximilian to offer the young emperor his services. But then MacArthur thrived on controversy like bread thrives on yeast. The deplorable conduct of Charles Lee at the Battle of Monmouth has been immortalized by Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Benedict Arnolds name is synonymous with traitorous behavior. A Texan with the U.S. Army's 1 st Infantry Division, Nolan reportedly slipped away from his basecamp in Tay Ninh Province on Nov. 22, 1967 and turned himself over to the Viet Cong. Who was the worst general in history? Varus placed his legions in a position where their fighting strengths would be minimized and that of the Germanic Cherusci tribesman maximized. After months of inactivity, McClellan was finally spurred to action by Pres. Create an FP account to save articles to read later and in the FP mobile app. As for the British, they had lost the most valuable jewel of the Imperial crown. There is now little doubt that Putin failed in his initial goals: Kyiv is still Show morestanding, Ukrainians are determined to keep fighting, and the West has so far stayed resolute in its support of Ukraine. But the worst of all was McClellan, the so-called "Young Napoleon" from whom Lincoln and the Union expected great things. After the war, the phrase lions led by donkeys came to be associated with the British army for what should be obvious reasons. While Maximus was conducting negotiations with the Cimbri, a Germanic tribe that had invaded the Roman province of Transalpine Gaul, Caepio rashly attacked the Cimbri army on October 6, 105 BCE. At Yorktown, he allowed himself to be taken by surprise and outmaneuvered by Washington and the French fleet. The Soviets saw the American humiliation in Vietnam as a turning point. What does that mean for trade and globalization? The enemy simply kept sending more and more replacements to make up his losses. Hull, convinced that he was hopelessly outnumbered (he wasnt), surrendered Fort Detroit and its 2,000-man garrison without firing a shot. Join FPs Ravi Agrawal for a frank discussion about the Biden administrations China policy and alternatives that it ought to consider. While serving in Vietnam . Even now, the easiest way to get into an argument at a V.F.W. In order, from most culpable down. Starting with the battle of Long Island, he lost way more fights than he wonyet he managed to win the war. Michael Ray oversees coverage of European history and military affairs for Britannica. And, to further demonstrate progress in reducing enemy strength, Westmoreland arbitrarily and entirely on his own removed from the order of battle several categories of enemy forces that had long been carried there, including during the three years Westmoreland had already been in command of U.S. forces in Vietnam. But with that kind of advantage in troops and firepower, who wouldnt? A more minor case, but one revealing of Westmorelands character, stemmed from his unwillingness to level with his senior Marine subordinate at the time of the 1968 Tet Offensive. The 1970s were scary times. Gods and Generals (2003) Loss $61 million These are actually Civil War reenactors and probably the only people who paid to see the movie. Seared into all who fought it and many who merely lived through it that conflict remains a bitter stew of second-guessing and recriminations. To counter these, Major General William R. Peers commenced Operation Greeley using elements of the 4th Infantry Division and the 173rd Airborne Brigade. Yet Fredendall's solution was to order an Army engineer company to build a giant bunker a hundred miles from the front lines. They dramatically upped their game, pressing the U.S. worldwide. Darius never showed up for the first battle and defeat (Battle of Granicus) because he didnt see Alexander as much of a threat to his empire. Lebanon (1982-1984) 240. FPsRavi Agrawalsat down with U.S. Trade RepresentativeKatherine Tai, the Biden administrations top official tasked with mapping out and implementing the White Houses trade policy. Best Defense: There were available better concepts of how to prosecute the war. When all is said and done, it doesnt matter how nice, brave, courageous, gutsy, loyal, or brilliant commanders theyve been. In a war that saw more than its share of unskilled politically appointed generals, Pillow was arguably the worst on either side. Although he outnumbered Magruders Army of the Peninsula 10-to-1, McClellan settled in for a monthlong siege. Haig had largely dismissed the effect of the machine gun on the battlefield, believing that previous Allied failures owed to something other than an impenetrable wall of lead traveling at ballistic velocity. At Brownstown, south of Detroit, two dozen warriors under Tecumseh routed more than 200 American militiamen escorting a supply column intended for Detroit. When two able and progressive Nationalist generals, Pai Chunghsi and Li Tsung-jen, begged the generalissimo to adopt similar methods, Chiang rejected them outright. This might have ended okay for Germany, provided they didnt do something like provoke a previously neutral country with Allied sympathies and an effectively bottomless war chest. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, Pillow pulled the troops back to the fort to resupply them. In 334 BC, Alexander the Great invaded the Persian Empire. FPsRavi Agrawalsat down with U.S. Trade RepresentativeKatherine Tai, the Biden administrations top official tasked with mapping out and implementing the White Houses trade policy.
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