The logistics of war is a science often neglected.  A prime example of this was when Japan attacked the US, their soldiers went to war with 2 pounds of logistical support (supplies, shipping, etc.) while the US soldier had 4000 pounds to support him.  The result was a forgone conclusion and not even Japan’s best-case scenario (a negotiated truce where they could keep some of their gains) was possible.

     The advent of trains added new dimensions to war; suddenly campaigns could be supplied further from the homeland and war did not have to take a break during the winter when traditionally armies were broken up and dispersed widely in order to not totally plunder the land.  More men, more supplies could be moved to threatened points of conflict and the result was longer, bloodier wars.

     This book is a bit of a disappointment in that it does not fully portray the full scope of the impact of railroads.  There is an interesting discussion of A.J.P. Taylor’s thesis that railroad tables led to wars, but it is counter balanced by the strategic goals (in this case of Russia and France against Germany).  Other volumes have pointed out the huge logistical undertaking of war; while it is interesting to try to grasp that 11,000 trains were re-directed in a campaign, that number does not tell you of the freight involved.  How many meals, guns, coats, boots, etc. were moved and delivered to the right units at the right time?  Or, there is no real discussion of how the lack to railroads going in the right direction led to French armies being beaten during mobilization by the more strategically designed Prussian railway system.

     This is a good book for the novice, for someone who wants to get a very basic grasp of the impact of railways on war, but it will lead one to look for follow up volumes on the subject.

At the end of the nineteenth century, the Ottoman Empire was referred to as the “Sick Man of Europe.”  Bankrupt, corrupt, it had lost several wars and pieces of its empire were being lost to former conquered people, rebels, and foreign powers. Czarist Russia believed that it is long goal of control of Istanbul and the thereby a free access to the Mediterranean was finally within it is grasp. Although the future looked dim, a brief flame of renewal was offered by the Young Turk movement which sought to change the course of the empire before it was too late. Although the Young Turks were successful in some respects, their brutality in Armenia and the decision to join Germany in the First World War sealed the fate of the Ottoman Empire.

Is there today another “Sick Man of Europe”? A nation which is plagued by an invasion of immigrants who do not share the same values as their guest country and who are creating a crime wave not experienced since the 1920’s? A nation with the highest energy costs in Europe and whose industries seem to be in decline. A nation which was once seen as the banker of Europe but now suffers from inflation and decreasing productivity? A nation whose military is underfunded and incapable of defending itself.

Is that nation Germany?

In the article by Christopher Caldwell, he reviews how the war in Ukraine, terrorism,  immigration and an out of touch “green policy” has put strains on Germany which were unimaged just a few short years ago. The open-door immigration policy of Angela Merkel has distorted the German state so that nearly 30% (24 million) of those who live in Germany are of “migrant background”. This has slowed the coming together of the Western and the Eastern Germans as the crime and welfare in the West makes for an excellent recruiting ground in Eastern German for a strong right of center political party.

Adding to the nation’s woes is a “green policy” which has increased the cost of energy and the literal waste of billions of Euros on solar energy in a nation where the average number of sunny days is only one hundred, forty-six days a year. With the cost of energy so high, German manufacturing is at a cost disadvantage with no relief in sight.

Will there be a German version of the “Young Turks” and if so, what exact form would such a movement take? Would the millions of migrants be a target of such a movement? Would such a movement occur only in Germany, or could it spread across Europe? As with so many European problems, the United States is often seen as having a significant role to play in Europe, but that faith in the United States is under sever strain as the Europeans see the “civilizational benefits” of the United States becoming less and less attractive.

Although not offering a solution, the article will help you understand some of the strains which test both Germany and all, especially, Western Europe.

https://claremontreviewofbooks.com/germany-growing-desperate/

The immigration bill is dead. Whose fault is that? We are told even by the conservative editorial pages of the Wall Street Journal that it was a good bill, worthy of support. If the bill was so good, surely it should have found widespread support, yet even the President did not use a full court press to force passage. How strange.

Yet, the real question should be, why the sudden urge to create and pass such a bill? For three years we have been told that the border was closed and that we had operational control of the border. Why the sudden need for a bill that did not address any of the major concerns regarding illegal immigration? Did the bill limit the number of immigrants? No. Did it give more power to the immigration service to battle the cartels who are making more money from transporting the illegals than they do from drugs? No. Does it disincentivize the illegals from crashing our borders by not allowing them to work? No, in fact it provides work permits to any illegal who makes it across the border.

Could it be that the bill was a bit of political theater given that this is an election year? Heaven forbids, how could anyone be so suspicious! But, since those Republicans decided to oppose the bill, the President does have a new set of talking points with which to throw at the Republicans.

The link below will take you to an article that provides, in one location, the numbers behind the true disaster which the past three years of open borders have inflicted on our nation. But the pain is just beginning for no one speaks of the 100,000 unaccompanied children that have crossed who have disappeared. How many of them will be victims of sex trafficking? What will be the cost to U.S. citizens in the decades to come as they see their tax dollars diverted from social services, schools, police protection, etc. and use to house, feed, education and provide free medical care to millions of illegals?

The wounds caused by the open border policies of this administration will fester for decades , but have no doubt, there will be political forces which will profit from the open border policy; they will profit, and the average U.S. citizen will pay on ongoing price.

The linked article is sobering.

An Immigration Crisis Beyond Imagining – Imprimis (hillsdale.edu)

Hannah Arendt, the noted political theorist and philosopher was on the receiving end of her fellow Jewish intellectual’s fury when she coined the phrase,” banality of evil” to describe Adolf Eichman. The question was asked, “How could she use such a phrase to describe those who had been responsible for the murder of six-million Jews? Surely those men were monsters, outside the norm of humanity.”  Yet she did not make that statement in a vacuum, but rather after covering the trial of Adolf Eichmann for The New Yorker magazine. Friends and compatriots turned on her as she even dared to suggest that some Jews made the work of the Nazi’s easier by co-operating with the Nazis.

In The Good Old Days, we investigate the letters home, photo albus, confidential reports and diaries of those involved in mass murders. The title is drawn from a caption in a photo album belonging to the last commander of Treblinka. During its operation, it was visited by a professor of medicine who “was appalled” by what he saw, yet in his diary he notes the excellent food and “first-rate vanilla ice cream.”  This was only one of many references from the letters and diaries of others including ordinary policy battalions (there were about one hundred fifty such battalions). The police battalions contained ordinary police officers which were formed to “police” the rear areas of Eastern Front. Shipped to the East with no special training, they were  instructed to proceed with the murder of mostly Jews in the occupied territories. On the site they were instructed as to the types and depth of the trenches where the victims were led, the order of execution, and so forth. As time went on, the men became more proficient and were able to conduct the executions much more quickly.

How did the men of the police battalions react to their commanding officers’ instructions for their first mass killing? Most of the men went along with and followed the instructions although the commanders made it truly clear that if any individual felt they could not comply, there would be no serious repercussions. A few, very few accepted the offer and were normally given kitchen duties or placed in charge of the latrines. Those few might be subject to comments from the rest of the battalion and a few of the dissenters would eventually relent and join their comrades in the killing.

Throughout the book, one is aware of the banality of the men. They complained about their sore feet, wrote home about “items” they picked up while doing their duty, noted especially tasty food, and longed for the day when they could return to their police duties back home. Some felt that they were doing a great service to mankind, but few would qualify as sadistic in the sense that they took pride in taking clean shots in order to minimize the suffering of the killed. At the same time, the drivers of the gas vans were responsible for cleaning the vans of blood, feces, hair, etc. and seemed to have seen it as another necessary if dirty job.

If one is looking for some special glimpse into the psyche of mass murderers, one will be disappointed by this book. In fact, it goes a long way to confirm Hannah Arendt’s phrase and observation. After the war, out of the one hundred and fifty battalions (up to 75,000 men), only a handful were convicted of war crimes. Most members when back to their old jobs, to their old towns and lived ordinary lives. Reunions were well attended and in their own way, celebrated the good old days.

Despite the best efforts of the far Left (and their allies, the regular Democratic party,) I still believe that I won the lottery in life when I was born in the United States. I went back to “the old country” and after that visit, I was even more thankful for the bravery and sacrifices of my grandparents for immigrating to the United States. Without their bravery, I could picture myself growing up in a Communist nation with little freedom and little opportunity.

Their migration to the U.S. was not easy and like most immigrants, they decided to live in an ethnic neighborhood (south side of Chicago), near steady work (steel mills). I remember one of my grandmothers talking about how she thought Chicago was so backward; the sidewalks were wood (unlike Warsaw which used concrete) and the bathroom was in the back yard (unlike Warsaw which had indoor plumbing). They worked hard, saved, invested their money and their children spoke perfect English and could and did go to college. The great American dream fulfilled.

A friend of mine came over to the U.S. much later and he still talks about how the immigration process was so strict. You could only come over if you had the promise (in writing) of a job and a sponsor. You had to register where you lived, and he had an immigration officer visit him to make sure he was working and at that address! He received no welfare of any type because if he did, back he would go to “the old country.”  He married, opened a business and his four children are all strong Americans.

How times have changed! You can easily read of cities and states where non-citizens, including illegal and legal immigrants, foreign students and diplomats can vote in local elections, get driver’s licenses, etc. (Washington D.C., Minnesota, Rhode Island, Vermont, etc.)  The state of California just announced that despite its deficit of nearly seventy-billion dollars ($70,000,000,000), it will provide free health care to all illegals in the state. Where will the state find the money? Take a guess; the citizen who pays the legal taxes due. Of course, illegals already receive a free education and yes, many receive welfare.

At the same time, citizens need to pay for their health care, pay their state and Federal taxes, are required to show identification when boarding an airplane (unlike illegals), can lose their car if they are guilty of drunk driving (unlike illegals in California), etc. Something is very wrong with this picture! The backbone of any successful society in the West is a strong middle-class and yet it seems our governments at various levels are doing all they can to denigrate and destroy that group.

It may be a good time to ask, why is American citizenship being so degraded by many of our political leaders? What exactly is the upside for our nation of allowing five, or eight or ten million illegals into our nation? Most do not speak English, most have no real job skills; yet we give them free food, shelter, clothing, work permits, cell phones, etc. Millions of people around the world would love to become U.S. citizens, so it is not out of fear that no one would show up if we enforced our own laws. What is the purpose of ignoring all the laws, rules and guidelines that are there for our nation’s benefit? Immigration is designed to benefit the receiving nation; that is the first priority. We can have the pick of the best and brightest, the ones who would be thrilled to be U.S. citizens, but instead we let in millions of unknowns and who picks up the bill? Have you watched the news in the last three years? Those who pick up the bill see their neighborhoods overrun, their children’s schools being turned into migrant camps and the crime rate spiraling out of control. Who pays? It is the millions of U.S. citizens and legal immigrants who play by the rules, pay their taxes, and expect a minimum amount respect from our elected officials. Apparently, that is asking too much.

When one thinks of Russia, the image of the Kremlin comes to mind.  In modern times (since 1917), the Kremlin has stood as the powerful image of a country which is difficult to grasp regarding its size, peoples and politics.  And, for most of history, the Kremlin has been used as the political seat of power in Russia.  Possession of this complex, which was built of wood for most of history and which has been destroyed by fire numerous times, has legitimized and symbolized the power of its owner.

Peter the Great moved his seat of government from Moscow to his new city on the sea (St. Petersburgh, then Petrograd, then Leningrad and finally St. Petersburgh) in order to start anew, away from the boyars (nobles) so he could make Russia look to the West.  The Bolsheviks moved the seat of power back to the Kremlin to show their break with the past and today the Kremlin remains the seat of Russian power, poised half way between the West and the East.  The Kremlin symbolizes the strength, stability and secret nature of the Russian state.

Burned, rebuilt, burned again and again, many treasures of the Kremlin have been lost, rebuilt and lost over the centuries.  Precious icons, jewels, rich gowns not to mention at times, the nations gold reserves were stored in the Kremlin.  Additionally, numerous churches and palaces of the closest noblemen were within it walls and all subject to the drives and whims of the Czar. It is as if Ft. Knox, the Library of Congress and the Smithsonian were all gathered together in a few square acres and closed to the public.  Then, time after time again the complex suffered from massive fires.

No one really knows the full extent of the secret rooms and tunnels within the compound. And, it represents an opportunity for miracles to the Russian people; a few years ago a sacred icon rumored to have been destroyed by the Bolsheviks were “found” as they had been secretly preserved by workers when they were sealed behind a false wall.  Although church attendance in Russia is falling, the “miraculous” recovery of the long-lost icon showed again the eternal strength and power of the Kremlin and its current “Czar” Vladimir Putin.

Over the holidays, our good friends from Belgium stopped by as they were on their way to New Zealand and other points in that area.  They came baring gifts, including a package of wonderful Neuhaus Belgian chocolate and a three-bottle tasting package of Gouden Carolus Belgian whiskey.  That was enough to open any door and be welcomed!

The Neuhaus chocolates are famous not only in Belgium; on a cruise in the Baltic last year, a coffee shop in Lithuania boasted that they carried Neuhaus chocolate!  The quality of chocolate is excellent, and they are very creative in their fillings.  Unfortunately, I limit myself to one treat a day as who knows when our friends shall return!  Onto the whiskey tasting!

You will find that more and more beer distillers are beginning to come out with a line of whiskey.  Why?  Because they both use the same basic materials and some of the same steps, so adding whiskey to a brewers’ offering makes sense. By brewing standards, Carolus is new to the game, officially starting beer production in the late 19^th century.  Their line of whiskey is even newer but let us take a look at what they are offering.

First Sample: Sherry Oak

This whiskey has a sweet smell and there is a slight fruity taste to it along with a hint of dark chocolate.  The fruitiness comes in part from the use of Oloroso sherry barrels, made from 100% American oak.  It has the darkest color of the three samples, but it is a beautiful rich gold in color that just entices you to give it a try. 

For the novice whiskey drinker, this could be a good introduction to whiskey and certainly would encourage further exploration of the blends.

Second Sample: Blaasveld Broek

            The name of the product refers to a beautiful nature preserve next to the Molenberg distillery in Blaasveld.  It was from that area that peat has been harvested for centuries as a fuel and for drying out malted barley.

            This product is not as sweet and has a hint of peat.  It is a new formula and uses a specialty prepared wash containing peated malt.  The result is a hint of smokiness combined with a tad of vanilla.  This would be a good second step for a novice and might lead one to try a smoky scotch or two.

Third Sample: Imperial Mask Whiskey

            This is the newest addition to the line and in fact, it is not even shown on the corporate website.  Gouden Carolus (Golden Charles) Imperial Day is celebrated on 24^th February which was the birthday of Emperor Charles V. The first batch was distilled in 2015 and allowed to age for more than five years in oak casks.

            This is a very smooth whiskey with a bit of fruit flavor from apricot and vanilla. Like the other two, this is a gentle whiskey and can be enjoyed with a bit of dark chocolate or a nice cigar.  The dueling favors of the cigar and whiskey is quite nice.

PRICE:  About $60.00 a bottle

The recent court decision against former President Trump re: E. Jean Carroll points out some disturbing actions in terms of altering basic Constitutional protections, political manipulation of the justice system regarding elections and the politization of said system.

The attached article by Victor Davis Hanson should open the eyes of many readers. As you read it, you should picture yourself in former President Trumps position. It does not matter if you hate him or love him; would you want to be treated in such a manner?

Please copy the link below and post it on your header.

https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/83-million-just-beginning-donald-trump-soldier-on

This is a well-balanced history of Churchill’s interaction with the British navy both as a Sea Lord, head of the Exchequer and war time leader.  Churchill had a real love affair with the Navy and was blamed for the disaster at the Dardanelles, the budget cuts after WWI, the fiasco in Norway as well as the loss of Force Z in the Pacific.  Yet despite these “errors”, he returned again and again to positions of power to lead his country during their darkest hours.  And, despite his love of Empire, he knew that the price for defeating Hitler would be the loss of Empire but he was willing to do what needed to be done (taking a back seat to the rising power of the United States and being humiliated by Roosevelt to Stalin) in order to attain his goals.

Each of the disasters attributed to Churchill are carefully examined and other historians’ arguments are discussed in trying to reach a meaningful conclusion.  For example, even though Churchill was looking for a different strategy from that of frontal attacks during WWI, he was initially against the Dardanelles attack but was brought around to supporting it and when he supported something, Churchill pulled out all the stops!  In the end, the timidity of the British Admirals and the poor choice of landing beaches caused in large part by poor intelligence lead to disaster and it was hung on Churchill.  Bell goes through each of the other scenarios and one comes away with a much more balanced picture of Churchill and his decision making process.

Was Churchill a genius or a meddling fool; these seem to be the two extremes offered by most historians.  In reality, he was a leader who did not shirk the responsibilities of his office and who had to make hard and difficult decisions which ran risks but had to be balanced against the enemies and limitations he faced.

A well written book not for the novice, but for the naval historian a very valuable addition to your library.

As depicted by Hollywood and popular culture, Casanova was a noted womanizer who had no conscience, made a habit of fleeing from irate husbands through second story bedroom windows and was always one step from receiving his just desserts.  Casanova was a major womanizer (although the number of his “conquests” pale in comparison with today’s rock, sport and Hollywood celebrities) but he was also much more, having successfully lived in the courts of Spain, France and even Russia; he conversed with Voltaire and assisted Mozart and his librettist Lorenzo Da Ponte on the composition of Don Giovanni.  Moving from country to country (he had been exiled from his native Venice), he lived by his wits, by gambling and late in life, by his writing. 

Some of his most amazing adventures (with and without women) occurred in Venice before his exile.  Venice at the time was still ruled by a clique of powerful families who were slowly dying out.  They controlled the morals, politics and fortunes of the city and despite their lessening physical strength, kept the Republic under a tight control by means of spies and strict moral guidelines.  The nobility, both men and women, when in public wore rigid white masks (often too in private) and Venetian laws specified severe punishments for those who violated the code.  Women’s masks were held in place with a button held between the front teeth (it was therefore called the “silent mask”).  In order to protect the “honor” of the younger women, they were placed in convents, but the girls found ways to slip away from the convents and cavort with their lovers such as Casanova even in the city.  They were able to do this as the guild which controlled the gondolas insured that all members were sworn to secrecy; that secrecy provided them a sure stream of passengers who had their trysts in the enclosed areas of the gondolas.  In fact, according to a French visitor, the “nuns (in the convents) are the most attractive among all the women in Venice…(and) their costume enhanced their good looks”.

Viewing the French Revolution, he realized that his world was being destroyed and in the last few years of his life he worked for eighteen hours a day on his biography which consisted of millions of words.  He wanted to be remembered but he provided an outstanding view of his world and the circles in which he moved.  While living on the good graces of the Prince de Ligne, he died in 1798.  Yet his biography and writings lived on, first being published in 1822 in German, then in 1826 in French although those were poor versions.  In 1943 his manuscript survived a direct bomb hit by an Allied bomb and in 1945 was saved by Allied forces.  In 2010, the Bibliotheque national de France purchased the manuscript for over $9,000,000, the institution’s most expensive acquisition to date.  In death, Casanova gained the fame and honor he sought all his life.