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andysnape
New Member
United Kingdom
39 Posts |
 Posted - 11/13/2001 : 05:03:48
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Poll Question:
Which military operations over the last 100 years cna be said to be the biggest waste of time. True, all wars can be argued as being equally pointless but which ones took this pointlessness to new heights?
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| Results: |
| The Battle for the Somme - a blood bath where no-one gained or won anything. |
 [16%] |
9 votes |
| Italy's invasions of Ethiopea and Albania - just for Empire, no strategic value at all. |
[11%] |
6 votes |
| The Suez Crisis - cancelled just after it started because PM Eden chickened out. |
[2%] |
1 vote |
| Vietnam - what business did America have being there and what was achieved? |
[33%] |
18 votes |
| The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan - 10 years worth of humiliation |
[13%] |
7 votes |
| The Argentine invasion of the Falkland Islands - as if we the UK wouldn't fight back. |
[11%] |
6 votes |
| The UN 'PEACEKEEPING' effort in Bosnia - not much peace during that time. |
[5%] |
3 votes |
| The current bombing of Afghanistan - how many more terrorists are we giving birth to? |
[9%] |
5 votes |
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Poll Status:
Locked »» |
Total Votes: 55 counted »» |
Last Vote:
04/12/2007 23:17:04 |
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Valiant Dancer
Forum Goalie
USA
4826 Posts |
 Posted - 11/13/2001 : 07:33:48 [Permalink]
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quote:
Which military operations over the last 100 years cna be said to be the biggest waste of time. True, all wars can be argued as being equally pointless but which ones took this pointlessness to new heights?
And people said that they wouldn't fight for sheep.
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@tomic
Administrator
USA
4607 Posts |
Posted - 11/13/2001 : 08:08:53 [Permalink]
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You know what was really amazing about the Falkland war? Not that Argentina took it over. It was amazing that the British spent so much to take a worthless piece of rock back.
@tomic
Gravity, not just a good idea...it's the law! |
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Mespo_man
Skeptic Friend
USA
312 Posts |
Posted - 11/13/2001 : 09:13:12 [Permalink]
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I think ALL your choices, Andysnape, can be be summed up by what the instigator of any of the conflicts probably said at the beginning...
"Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time"
But I would take issue with your last item of "The current bombing of Afghanistan" as being pointless. Yes, I'm sure we angered many people with some of our mis-placed missles and bombs. Innocent people died. But take a hard look at recent developments. The Arab and Pakistani militants who rushed to join the Taliban are now in danger of their own lives. Afghanis know that the "outsiders" were the worst of the lot and are now hunting them down and killing them. The casualties from misguided U.S. munitions is nothing compared to the reprisals that Afghanis will bring down upon anyone who was caught on the "wrong" side.
Civil wars are very messy affairs and in Afghanistan, that is exactly what we have waded into.
(:raig |
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Donnie B.
Skeptic Friend
417 Posts |
Posted - 11/13/2001 : 09:15:29 [Permalink]
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Gallipoli.
-- Donnie B.
Brian: "No, no! You have to think for yourselves!" Crowd: "Yes! We have to think for ourselves!" |
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Zandermann
Skeptic Friend
USA
431 Posts |
Posted - 11/13/2001 : 18:55:26 [Permalink]
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Beat me to it, Donnie
Wonder if any of these choices beats Gallipoli? |
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@tomic
Administrator
USA
4607 Posts |
Posted - 11/13/2001 : 19:13:42 [Permalink]
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The drug "war"
Nowadays you just can't get any good drugs 
@tomic
Gravity, not just a good idea...it's the law! |
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andysnape
New Member
United Kingdom
39 Posts |
Posted - 11/14/2001 : 00:47:36 [Permalink]
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It may have been worthless, but it was British sovereign territory inhabited by British citizens and they had a right to be defended. And besides, a few years ago large oil deposits were discovered in their waters.
quote:
You know what was really amazing about the Falkland war? Not that Argentina took it over. It was amazing that the British spent so much to take a worthless piece of rock back.
@tomic
Gravity, not just a good idea...it's the law!
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andysnape
New Member
United Kingdom
39 Posts |
Posted - 11/14/2001 : 00:49:28 [Permalink]
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I sort of agree with both you and Donnie. The problem is I know so little about it so I decided to leave it out of the list. I've only been TOLD that it was pointless but I don't know a lot about the details.
quote:
Beat me to it, Donnie
Wonder if any of these choices beats Gallipoli?
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Grand Nubian
Skeptic Friend
USA
73 Posts |
Posted - 11/14/2001 : 05:32:41 [Permalink]
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Kalter Krieg weltweit:
28. Februar 1946 bis 25. Dezember 1991
Korea-Krieg:
27. Juni 1950 bis 27. Juli 1953
Suez-Krise:
Ägypten, 26. Juli bis 15. November 1956
Operation »Blue Bat.«:
Libanon, 15. Juli 1958 bis 20. Oktober 1958
Taiwan-Straße:
23. August 1958 bis Juni 1963
Kongo:
14. Juli 1960 bis 1. September 1962
Laos:
19. April 1961 bis 7. Oktober 1962
Operation »Tailwind«:
Laos, 1970
Operation »Ivory Coast/Kingoin«:
Nord-Vietnam, 21. November 1970
Operation »Endsweep«:
Nord-Vietnam, 27. Januar 1972 bis 27. Juli 1973
Operation »Linebacker l«:
Nord-Vietnam, 10. Mai 1972 bis 23. Oktober 1972
Operation »Linebacker II«:
Nord-Vietnam, 18. Dezember 1972 bis 29. Dezember 1972
Operation »Pocket Money«:
Nord-Vietnam, 9. Mai bis 23. Oktober 1972
Operation »Freedom Train«:
Nord-Vietnam, 6. April bis 10. Mai 1972
Operation »Arc Light«:
Südostasien, 18. Juni 1965 bis April 1970
Operation »Rolling Thunder«:
Süd-Vietnam, 24. Februar 1965 bis Oktober 1968
Operation »Ranch Hand«:
Süd-Vietnam, Januar 1962 bis 1971
Vietnam-Krieg:
Vietnam, 15. März 1962 bis 28. Januar 1973
Kuba-Krise:
weltweit, 24. Oktober 1962 bis Juni 1963
Operation »Powerpack«:
Dominikanische Republik, 28. April 1965 bis 21. September 1966
Sechs-Tage-Krieg:
Mittlerer Osten, 13. Mai bis 10. Juni 1967
Operation »Nickel Grass«:
Mittlerer Osten, 6. Oktober 1973 bis 17. November 1973
Operation »Eagle Pull«:
Kambodscha, 11. April bis 13. April 1975
Operation »Frequent Wind«:
Evakuierung aus Saigon, 29. April 1975 bis 30. April 1975
Operation »Mayaguezc«:
Kambodscha, 15. Mai 1975
Operationen »Eagle Claw/Desert One«:
Iran, 25. April 1980
El Salvador, Nicaragua:
1. Januar 1981, 1. Februar 1992
Golf von Sidra:
Libyen, 18. August 1981
US Multinational Force:
Libanon, 25. August 1982 bis 1. Dezember 1987
Operation »Urgent Fury«:
Grenada, 23. Oktober 1983 bis 21. November 1983
Operation »Attain Document«:
Libyen, 26. Januar 1986 bis 29. März 1986
Operation »El Dorado Canyon«:
Libyen, 12. April 1986 bis 17. April 1986
Operation »Blast Furnace«:
Bolivien, Juli 1986 bis November 1986
Operation »Praying Mantis«:
Persischer Golf, 17. April bis 19. April 1988
Operation »Ernest Will«:
Persischer Golf, 24. Juli 1987 bis 2. August 1990
Operation »Promote Liberty«:
Panama, 31. Juli 1990
Operation »Just Cause«:
Panama, 20. Dezember 1989 bis 31. Januar 1990
Operation »Nimrod Dancer«:
Panama, Mai 1989 bis 20. Dezember 1989
Operation »Ghost Zone«:
Bolivien, März 1990 bis 1993
Operation »Sharp Edge«:
Liberia, Mai 1990 bis 8. Januar 1991
Operation »Desert Farewell«:
Südwest-Asien, ab 1. Januar 1992
Operation »Desert Calm«:
Südwest-Asien, 1. März 1991 bis 1. Januar 1992
Operationen »Desert Sword« / Desert Sabre«:
Südwest-Asien, 24. Februar 1991 bis 28. Februar 1991
Operation »Desert Storm«:
Irak, 17. Januar bis 28. Februar 1991
Operation »Imminent Thunder«:
November 1990, Operation »Desert Shield«, 2. August 1990 bis 17. Januar 1991
Operation »Eastern Exit«:
Somalia, 2. Januar bis 11. Januar 1991
Operation »Productiv Effort/Sea Angel«:
Bangladesh, Mai bis Juni 1991
Operation »Fiery Vigil«:
Philippinen, Juni 1991
Operation »Victor Squared«:
Haiti, September 1991
Operation »Quick Lift«:
Zaire, 24. September bis 7. Oktober 1991
Operation »Silver Anvil«:
Sierra Leone, 2. Mai bis 5. Mai 1992
Operation »Distant Runner«:
Ruanda, 9. April bis 15. April 1994
Operationen »Quiet Resolve« / »Support Hope«:
Ruanda, 22. Juli bis 30. September 1994
Operation »Uphold/Restore Democracy«:
Haiti, 19. September 1994 bis 31. März 1995
Operation »Golden Pheasant«:
Honduras, ab März 1988
Operation »Wipeout«:
Hawaii, ab 1990
Operation »Support Justice«:
Südamerika, 1991 bis 1994
Operation »Coronet Nighthawk«:
Zentral- und Südamerika, ab 1991
Operation »Desert Falcon«:
Saudi-Arabien, ab 1991
Operation »Southern Watch«:
Irak, ab 1991
Operation »Provide Comfort«:
Kurdistan, 5. April 1991 bis Dezember 1994
Operation »Provide Comfort Ii«:
Kurdistan, 24. Juli 1991 bis 31. Dezember 1996
Operation »Provide Hope 1-V«:
GUS, 10. Februar 1992 bis 10. Mai 1999
Operation »Provide Promise«:
Bosnien, 3. Juli 1992 bis März 1996
Operation »Maritime Monitor«:
Adria, 16. Juli 1992 bis 22. November 1992
Operation »Sky Monitor«:
Bosnien-Herzegowina, ab 16. Oktober 1992
Operation »Maritime Guard«:
Adria, 22. November 1992 bis 15. Juni 1993
Operation »Desert Strike«:
Irak, 17. Januar 1993, 26. Juni 1993, 3. September 1996: Cruise missile-Angriffe und Bombardements
Operation »Deny Flight«:
Bosnien, 12. April 1993 bis 20. Dezember 1995
Operation »Steady State«:
Südamerika, 1994 bis April 1996
Operation «Quick Response«
Zentralafrikanische Republik, Mai 1994 bis August 1996
Operation »Able Sentry«:
Serbien-Mazedonien, ab 5. Juli 1994
Operation »Vigliant Warrior«:
Kuwait, Oktober 1994 bis November 1994
Operation »Sharp Guard«:
Adria, 15. Juni 1993 bis Dezember 1995
Operation »Safe Border«:
Peru / Ecuador, ab 1995
Operation »United Shield«:
Somalia, 22. Januar 1995 bis 2. Juli 1995
Operation »Nomad Vigil«:
Albanien, 1. Juli 1995 bis 5. November 1996
Operation »Quick Lift«:
Kroatien, Juli 1995
Operation »Outermined Effort«:
Bosnien, Juli 1995 bis Dezember 1995
Operation »Vigliant Sentinel«:
Kuwait, ab August 1995
Operation »Deliberate Force«:
Republika Srpska, 29. August 1995 bis 21. September 1995
Operation »Joint Endeavor«:
Bosnien-Herzegowina, Dezember 1995 bis Dezember 1996
Operation »Decisive Enhancement«:
Adria, Dezember 1995 bis 19. Juni 1996
Operation »Decisive Endeavor / Decisive Edge«:
Bosnien-Herzegowina, Januar 1996 bis Dezember 1996
Operation »Nomad Endeavor«:
Taszar, Ungarn, ab März 1996
Operation »Laxer Strike«:
Südafrika, ab April 1996
Operation »Assured Response«:
Liberia, April 1996 bis August 1996
Operation »Desert Focus«:
Saudi-Arabien, ab Juli 1996
Operation »Paelfle Haven/Quick Transit«:
Irak - Guam, 15. September 1996 bis 16. Dezember 1996
Operation »Guardian Assistance«:
Zaire/Ruanda/Uganda, 15. November 1996 bis 27. Dezember 1996
Operation »Determlned Guard«,
Adria, ab Dezember 1996
Operation »Northern Watch«:
Kurdistan, ab 31. Dezember 1996
Operation »Guardian Retrieval«:
Kongo, März 1997 bis Juni 1997
Operation »Noble Obelisk«:
Sierra Leone, Mai 1997 bis Juni 1997
Operation »Bevel Edge«:
Kambodscha, Juli 1997
Operation »Phoenix Scorpion l«:
Irak, November 1997
Operation »Noble Response«:
Kenia, 21. Januar 1998 bis 25. März 1998
Operation »Phoenix Scorpion II«:
Irak, Februar 1998
Operation »Shepherd Venture«:
Guinea-Bissau, 10. Juni 1998 bis 17. Juni 1998
Operation »Determined Falcon«
Kosovo/Albanien, 15. Juni 1998 bis 16. Juni 1998
Operation »Joint Force«:
ab 20. Juni 1998
Operation »Joint Guard«:
Bosnien-Herzegowina, 20. Juni 1998
Operation »Dellberate Force«:
Bosnien-Herzegowina, ab 20. Juni 1998
Operation »Resolute Response«:
Afrika, ab August 1998
Operation »Infinite Reach«:
Sudan/Afghanistan, 20. August 1998
Operation »Determined Force«:
Kosovo, 8. Oktober 1998 bis 23. März 1999
Operation »Eagle Eye«:
Kosovo, 16. Oktober 1998 bis 24. März 1999
Operation »Phoenix Scorpion III«:
Irak, November 1998
Operation »Phoenix Scorpion IV«:
Irak, Dezember 1998
Operation »Desert Fox«:
Irak, 16. Dezember 1998 bis 20. Dezember 1998
Operation »Cobalt Flash«:
Kosovo, ab 23. März 1999
Operation »Sustain Hope/AIIied Harbour«:
Kosovo, ab 5. April 1999
Operation »Shining Hope«:
Kosovo, ab 5. April 1999
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Mespo_man
Skeptic Friend
USA
312 Posts |
Posted - 11/14/2001 : 06:02:33 [Permalink]
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Here's another one from the U.S. perspective...
Somalia - a UN effort that ran amuck. American Rangers took it on the chin in Mogadishu and were rewarded with a complete U.S. pullout.
(:raig |
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Garrette
SFN Regular
USA
562 Posts |
Posted - 11/26/2001 : 06:47:12 [Permalink]
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I concur with Somalia. We went in because of the media. We danced for the media while there. We got out because of the media.
"Blackhawk Down" (the movie) comes out the end of December. Read the book if you haven't yet.
My kids still love me. |
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Lisa
SFN Regular
USA
1223 Posts |
Posted - 11/26/2001 : 14:22:23 [Permalink]
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The commanders on the ground knew they were in trouble and had requested back-up. Some higher up wonk decided against it. They were afraid that tanks would make us look bad. Lt. Col. Hackworth ran down the whole sorry mess on his website.
Lisa
If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much room. |
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Trish
SFN Addict
USA
2102 Posts |
Posted - 11/27/2001 : 11:25:39 [Permalink]
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I'm only about ten pages into *Black Hawk Down* (the book - I hate to say this - I left it sit for several months and have just found it). Anyway, I haven't gotten to the *cluster fuck* part of it yet. So far worth the read.
It is by the goodness of God that in our country we have those three unspeakably precious things: freedom of speech, freedom of conscience, and the prudence never to practice either of them. -Mark Twain |
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Espritch
Skeptic Friend
USA
284 Posts |
Posted - 11/27/2001 : 19:31:49 [Permalink]
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You forgot the Iran Iraq war. 10 year, hundreds of thousands dead. And after all that, all Saddam had to show for it was a sliver of land that he promptly gave back to Iran to get back in their good graces after the invasion of Kuwait.
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gezzam
SFN Regular
Australia
751 Posts |
Posted - 11/27/2001 : 20:01:38 [Permalink]
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From an Australian perspective....Gallipoli in the first world war.
The Brits sent the Australians and New Zealanders out as cannon fodder for the Turks....we whittled down their numbers whilst amassing thousands of casualties.....
There's a movie with Mel Gibson about it when he was about 18 years old, oddly enough it is called "Gallipoli" and it was before he got that funny accent.......;-) lol
"Damn you people. Go back to your shanties." --- Shooter McGavin
Edited by - gezzam on 11/27/2001 20:37:05 |
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Topic Locked
