tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41226293300546778292024-03-13T01:16:04.600-07:00Commander KellyThe musings of an American Conservative in London. "The Bloggings will continue until Morale Improves!"Commander Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03602902461964252463noreply@blogger.comBlogger625125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122629330054677829.post-86498204817788166902022-03-23T11:52:00.002-07:002022-03-23T12:26:56.821-07:00Putin's Invasion of Ukraine<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpinUEYm5TnEkeVzvUowN6zgS9PWSbE_f81CEg4G3kyPANHtkR8Yjg43oU5H2jQfMP5lUKjzOhNu7t_sOdrxD2JYDep1ZseBlh-6VhQr2XBxkvklfs4dZeg3xfBU4408H_ygiUdNw-wiLSDsTCagOnmBAX1YZI08Ztr8HrKDbohcPBSNaRsqWBVUg7/s4032/IMG_7391.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpinUEYm5TnEkeVzvUowN6zgS9PWSbE_f81CEg4G3kyPANHtkR8Yjg43oU5H2jQfMP5lUKjzOhNu7t_sOdrxD2JYDep1ZseBlh-6VhQr2XBxkvklfs4dZeg3xfBU4408H_ygiUdNw-wiLSDsTCagOnmBAX1YZI08Ztr8HrKDbohcPBSNaRsqWBVUg7/w480-h640/IMG_7391.HEIC" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Winston Churchill Bust<br />Queen Mary 2</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p>Let us begin with some sage advice from Winston Churchill, "Never, never, never believe any war will be smooth and easy, or that anyone who embarks on the strange voyage can measure the tides and hurricanes he will encounter. The statesman who yields to war fever must realize that once the signal is given, he is no longer the master of policy but the slave of unforeseeable and uncontrollable events."</p><p>Clearly Putin did not give this quote much consideration before he launched an unprovoked invasion of Ukraine in March of 2022. He did not realize that Russia would incur the enormous casualties that they have sustained. He did not predict the death of at least five Russian generals and one admiral. He did not predict the desertion of Russian troops on Russian territory. He saw only smooth sailing when huge storm clouds loomed. He did not foresee that Zelenski would emerge as a global champion of freedom. He did not seem to foresee that his attacks on civilian targets would mobilize the sane world in opposition to his aggression.</p><p>Though modern media likes to focus on what happened only in the last two minutes, History <b>does</b> provide some insight into the current situation in Ukraine. <b> There has been a long historic track record of Russian ineptitude in bilateral military actions...</b></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh57ORbz48nspNwkIvhqWD9f7tmuNvQqf_bwWfiegGu1I_uo9ZxyEIRSAR2Ore9osBMEguABuReRaOLpdR1ZSrjEnMbBTTU1iuD7iirJtUfcC85p7dIRP65c_TC1jLKx4fim-bx05I9TuDyfKxGPM0ljWdgp34JLRB0Ggqw1CqsfHyyXOe5CgBCAmet/s261/Unknown-138.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="193" data-original-width="261" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh57ORbz48nspNwkIvhqWD9f7tmuNvQqf_bwWfiegGu1I_uo9ZxyEIRSAR2Ore9osBMEguABuReRaOLpdR1ZSrjEnMbBTTU1iuD7iirJtUfcC85p7dIRP65c_TC1jLKx4fim-bx05I9TuDyfKxGPM0ljWdgp34JLRB0Ggqw1CqsfHyyXOe5CgBCAmet/w400-h296/Unknown-138.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Battle of Tsushima<br />May 27-28, 1905</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b><br /></b><p></p><p>1) The Japanese humiliated Tsarist Russia in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-5. Port Arthur was captured by the Japanese and the Russian fleet, which had sailed around the world from Europe, was annihilated at the Battle of Tsushima. President Teddy Roosevelt earned a Nobel prize for mediating the peace between Russia and Japan (Biden take note!).</p><p>2) In 1940 Stalin's Soviet Union invaded Finland hoping for a walkover. Instead he got a bloody nose losing over 120,000 lives along the Mannerheim line. Adolph Hitler, based partly on this war, assumed that the Soviet Union was a broken nation. The intrepid correspondent Virginia Cowles (See earlier blog...<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4122629330054677829/6126452275842541559">https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4122629330054677829/6126452275842541559</a>) traveled to Finland and wrote this description of "the most ghastly spectacle" she'd ever seen...</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAmw6YRDpsywP3rxn48cg-hLhwol9DHmbOMwJR7h2FDC57WvitpPnDK_0J-cUaa5hZs7-1g7V1qG2DvE4iRPgMUOCmQtyUG0FlkJcGcSmcXXFq6o_dgKrxMzb_CRo-i_JlK_hEM-yzUudcnoB2-Bw6UqB9URewgq7Wwtaz5U0mqTbDHNHs5Cnk8oyH/s245/Unknown-113.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="245" data-original-width="206" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAmw6YRDpsywP3rxn48cg-hLhwol9DHmbOMwJR7h2FDC57WvitpPnDK_0J-cUaa5hZs7-1g7V1qG2DvE4iRPgMUOCmQtyUG0FlkJcGcSmcXXFq6o_dgKrxMzb_CRo-i_JlK_hEM-yzUudcnoB2-Bw6UqB9URewgq7Wwtaz5U0mqTbDHNHs5Cnk8oyH/w336-h400/Unknown-113.jpeg" width="336" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Virginia Cowles <br />Eyewitness to Russo-Finnish War of 1940</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>"For four miles the road and forests were strewn with the bodies of men and horses; with wrecked tanks, field kitchens, trucks, gun carriages, maps, books and articles of clothing. The corpses were frozen as hard as petrified wood and the color of the skin was mahogany. Some of the bodies were piled on top of each other like a heap of rubbish, covered only by a merciful blanket of snow; others were sprawled against the treason grotesque attitudes." (Source <b style="font-style: italic;">Looking For Trouble, </b>Cowles,<b style="font-style: italic;"> </b>1941).</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO_YPoZzbASrhWSShZCfyUGOCG5OXCRZfqdyxWideNKDf4a6yl7sNo-oMIPdgZRbr7nGhM5HPcLndJD69SfeiBmaBrOkwzprIlaDMGeGwFXPnb0WE_2LZHyK-wrmgLRv1-zuxQo5kY8LVinTsRFb1hvT2iBXBCfh1i5Dc43YBs3QMta-Sn5SD6Furn/s240/images-14.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="210" data-original-width="240" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO_YPoZzbASrhWSShZCfyUGOCG5OXCRZfqdyxWideNKDf4a6yl7sNo-oMIPdgZRbr7nGhM5HPcLndJD69SfeiBmaBrOkwzprIlaDMGeGwFXPnb0WE_2LZHyK-wrmgLRv1-zuxQo5kY8LVinTsRFb1hvT2iBXBCfh1i5Dc43YBs3QMta-Sn5SD6Furn/w400-h350/images-14.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Patience, Gentlemen, Patience!"</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>3) In 1979 the Brezhnev's Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan which soon became their nation's Vietnam. Over the course of ten years this war killed over 25,000 Soviet troops and drained the Soviet treasury. Ultimately, the Afghan ulcer was a factor, along with Chernobyl and the stagnant economy, that brought down the Berlin Wall and pushed Soviet Communism into the dustbin of history.</p><p>Moreover, even Russia's wars <b>with allies</b> have not gone particularly well. In World War I Tsarist Russia managed to lose despite being on the winning Allied side! Nicholas II and his family were killed at Yekaterinburg. In World War II Stalin's Soviet Union prevailed but only after sustaining well over 13 million casualties.</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7vOXALn4tNWKTNRr0sGJUocXSDgaj1SxGndWtY_Ikeh2dmN7NrbxV8iLXngYvVvSmpEGM5XcoB9tjlNCJ4l4ukMejLWjBGfSDLOPrliPicCsCxRusy4qVREm_93ZfQEGts9cQMkhBSMoYI1hF6GWd_SNz32k4WSUvKtDwXpOIvFnQR4K_h4T09gRV/s275/Unknown-140.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7vOXALn4tNWKTNRr0sGJUocXSDgaj1SxGndWtY_Ikeh2dmN7NrbxV8iLXngYvVvSmpEGM5XcoB9tjlNCJ4l4ukMejLWjBGfSDLOPrliPicCsCxRusy4qVREm_93ZfQEGts9cQMkhBSMoYI1hF6GWd_SNz32k4WSUvKtDwXpOIvFnQR4K_h4T09gRV/w400-h266/Unknown-140.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vladimir Putin</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Putin is clearly a liar and a killer ( See <b>Killing Alexander</b>...<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4122629330054677829/2043445940215711136">https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4122629330054677829/2043445940215711136</a>). He presides over a kleptocratic oligarchy in which he is the principal criminal. Putin is one third Rasputin, one third Al Capone and one third Moriarty.</p><p>Clearly Putin failed the measure the "tides and hurricanes" (see Churchill quote above) of the war with Ukraine. As of this writing Russia seems to have sustained around 15,300 casualties in the conflict including the deaths of six general officers and one admiral. Over 100 Russian planes have been shot down. The <i>Jerusalem Post</i> now reports that Russian casualties in Ukraine have now exceeded those sustained over ten years in Afghanistan (<a href="https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-702073">https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-702073</a>)! Putin is not just a thief -- he is a blunderer.</p><p>The full scope of the blame does not rest with Putin alone. Clearly there has also been a failure on the part of the West to deter Russian aggression in the first place. This is not entirely due to Biden's bumbling though he has much to answer for (disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal etc.). Angela Merkel and the German SDP led her country in the wrong direction for many years encouraging the notion that NATO would allow an invasion of Ukraine. Defense spending among NATO members was allowed to sag for years.</p><p>Moreover, what Churchill said about yielding to war fever <b>applies equally to Biden</b> and the USA and the West. </p><p>The principle foreign policy task of every US president since Harry Truman has been the necessity of avoiding World War III. Any use of nuclear weapons would be an almost unimaginable catastrophe for the entire world.</p><p>Biden cannot afford to escalate the war in Ukraine to the point where it involves a super power showdown. But, equally, he cannot afford to not stand up for western values of democracy and self determination epitomized by Zelenski.</p><p>It must, however, be noted that Zelenski's Ukraine is hardly a perfect vessel for western ideals. The Azov battalion, with its Neo-nazis, is a part of the Ukraine defense forces (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azov_Battalion">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azov_Battalion</a>). Another Churchill quote explains the Azov battalion best: "It isn't only the good boys who help win wars; it is the sneaks and stinkers as well." Moreover, a smattering of unsavory Ukranians is insignificant compared with the ruthless over the top brutality of the Putin's invasion in targeting civilians.</p><p>Biden now faces the greatest challenge of his presidency; he must support Ukraine but not ignite the fuse on World War III. He must emerge as the "Master of events" and not "the slave of unforeseeable and uncontrollable events." God help us all!</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3FYP6JNBlVreEFDSr5LRxH4kAfi3q8pGe4_myNpFaNvFgPLsi9fuoeql_8OIJqczND3jPthLK_6oo4emamea3pYvWCzwJFLabVt1hlfyJ-jzXfEDRA7PETbJY8I99AYsexhLhfOvU2KQ/s1425/AmericaInvadedCover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1425" data-original-width="975" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3FYP6JNBlVreEFDSr5LRxH4kAfi3q8pGe4_myNpFaNvFgPLsi9fuoeql_8OIJqczND3jPthLK_6oo4emamea3pYvWCzwJFLabVt1hlfyJ-jzXfEDRA7PETbJY8I99AYsexhLhfOvU2KQ/w274-h400/AmericaInvadedCover.jpg" width="274" /></a></div><p><br /></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="sans-serif" style="text-align: start;">You can find signed copies of our books at these web sites...</span></span><br /><div style="font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.americainvades.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.americainvades.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.italyinvades.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.italyinvades.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.anadventurein1914.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.anadventurein1914.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.americainvaded.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.americainvaded.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;">!</div></div><p class="MsoCommentText" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><br style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;" /></span></p><div style="background-color: white;"><div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Or regular copies on Amazon...</span></div><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Christopher-Kelly/e/B00RW8QZG6/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1539454238&sr=8-1">www.amazon.com/Christopher-Kelly/e/B00RW8QZG6/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1539454238&sr=8-1</a></span></div><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Or on Kindle...</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B00R1ZXKMW" style="color: #888888;">www.amzn.com/B00R1ZXKMW</a></span></div><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: large;"></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B0178GCYDO" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.amzn.com/B0178GCYDO</span></a></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B01LXD1KHQ" style="color: #888888;">www.amzn.com/B01LXD1KHQ</a></span></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B073RJQ8PK" style="color: #888888;">www.amzn.com/B073RJQ8PK</a></span></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><div style="color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Listen to my interview with Bob Cudmore...<a href="http://bobcudmore.com/thehistorians/tracks/ChristopherKelly(August2017)(29)(mp3).mp3" style="color: #888888;">http://bobcudmore.com/thehistorians/tracks/ChristopherKelly(August2017)(29)(mp3).mp3</a></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And my interview...<a href="http://www.thebook-club.com/blog/bookshelf-interview-with-christopher-kelly">www.thebook-club.com/blog/bookshelf-interview-with-christopher-kelly</a></span></div><div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">And my most recent interview...<a href="http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2018/08/17/america-invaded-christopher-kelly">http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2018/08/17/america-invaded-christopher-kelly</a></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgYRcC3kO-m3FapUW9smIa3mufSe6NCvRU1rhWZqv5ZuiIYewCBg6Hw8t63_DeYN0qejN28dxdb75zy4VBfNSMwAoSmGheF5hHBzpeATb8yoDsFIg1YGEuhj4BorURbwQUrWFOGA7_y0qR2FKkHjY_EEmOxM681-9tJbXQ6-AgaYUkLQ8VZIRlV2kDt=s600" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="405" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgYRcC3kO-m3FapUW9smIa3mufSe6NCvRU1rhWZqv5ZuiIYewCBg6Hw8t63_DeYN0qejN28dxdb75zy4VBfNSMwAoSmGheF5hHBzpeATb8yoDsFIg1YGEuhj4BorURbwQUrWFOGA7_y0qR2FKkHjY_EEmOxM681-9tJbXQ6-AgaYUkLQ8VZIRlV2kDt=w270-h400" width="270" /></a></div><div><br /></div></div></div></div>Commander Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03602902461964252463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122629330054677829.post-38811409483793444222022-03-22T12:13:00.003-07:002022-03-22T12:42:36.730-07:00Invading Grenada!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7RekuT4nLGcrdkbThzrrlKYSwyHdZ7NiddmM1sQUSR29uJsQmnGFEmfhD-A-WVot4OVxxcFeP-6BfqTU1hyvbfvbO3BnBAey-1VApsEZB1AECWMvUnQIf5r9LJriYJBRSiPxhkXv_vY-UJDYB72rYrin05Vme5C_OrtugxM59ikBLxgr_gzajltNE/s4032/IMG_7447.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7RekuT4nLGcrdkbThzrrlKYSwyHdZ7NiddmM1sQUSR29uJsQmnGFEmfhD-A-WVot4OVxxcFeP-6BfqTU1hyvbfvbO3BnBAey-1VApsEZB1AECWMvUnQIf5r9LJriYJBRSiPxhkXv_vY-UJDYB72rYrin05Vme5C_OrtugxM59ikBLxgr_gzajltNE/w640-h480/IMG_7447.HEIC" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Commander K "Invades" Grenada!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p>Thanks to Cunard and the Queen Mary 2, I had a chance to launch an entirely peaceful albeit brief "invasion" of Grenada this March (<a href="http//www.cunard.com">www.cunard.com</a>). I disembarked at St. George's and had a chance to do some hiking on this verdant Caribbean island. We hiked through an area that was fought in by US soldiers in the 1983 invasion. We did not run into any Cuban revolutionaries but there were a few treacherous river crossings to negotiate with my fellow Cunard passengers...</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi80ssHmKxpqqsyMt9d5XIbRH2F0h70rC54Bh-KG4H4lfCu1vdYN6-VIUpfylzMJRWtQl3zrHgzeN-Zx2xUnuLDByL6t9YY37S-Fjw8Zb9Q2MvhGFJ-DswOoE-9KjTxBzYBnk6fGpU5hutGIXvgRQQjn3_G9X5SozyKM4k3fpcLu_4ykuGyopC13bzN/s4032/IMG_7581.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi80ssHmKxpqqsyMt9d5XIbRH2F0h70rC54Bh-KG4H4lfCu1vdYN6-VIUpfylzMJRWtQl3zrHgzeN-Zx2xUnuLDByL6t9YY37S-Fjw8Zb9Q2MvhGFJ-DswOoE-9KjTxBzYBnk6fGpU5hutGIXvgRQQjn3_G9X5SozyKM4k3fpcLu_4ykuGyopC13bzN/w400-h300/IMG_7581.HEIC" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">River Crossing Grenada</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The Grenadians are remarkably friendly to American tourists. A Catholic priest friend of mine from New Hampshire (Monsignor Peter Dumont) who visited St George's told me that he was high-fived and thanked just for being an American! Why are Grenadians so grateful? </p><p>Perhaps with Putin's brutal an unprovoked 2022 invasion of Ukraine it is more important than ever to remember that some invasions are truly liberations. It is nice to also recall a time when American leadership under Reagan focused on Peace through Strength and was able to deter...</p><p>This is what we had to say about Grenada in 2014's <b><i>America Invades (</i></b><a href="http://www.americainvades.com">www.americainvades.com</a>)...</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkeBPU-q2MxTXDSIzbbDtNJGhMBapo3rmo0O1nOdKzIZkC9RcFVlXNhzXO-2birD8U7QZhXe3kcqBU1rvPbWI9F9Y17ufzsPnAdXhzArRw5yrPwQFsygzIzQcO5EkdbEGrKx8ovLaAlS87WfBqwZJ4cRCrMRgVAVizs_bAhBN8vj_UF6AMuRX0NbAQ/s4032/IMG_7578.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkeBPU-q2MxTXDSIzbbDtNJGhMBapo3rmo0O1nOdKzIZkC9RcFVlXNhzXO-2birD8U7QZhXe3kcqBU1rvPbWI9F9Y17ufzsPnAdXhzArRw5yrPwQFsygzIzQcO5EkdbEGrKx8ovLaAlS87WfBqwZJ4cRCrMRgVAVizs_bAhBN8vj_UF6AMuRX0NbAQ/w300-h400/IMG_7578.HEIC" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fresh Nutmeg from<br />The Island of Spice</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>"Grenada is a beautiful small island in the Caribbean with a population of about one hundred thousand, which is also known as the “Island of Spice”—it produces cinnamon, cloves, and about 20 percent of the world’s nutmeg. It’s a popular tourist destination, especially for cruise ships to its capital, St. George’s. And yes, as you already know, we have invaded it.</p><p>Grenada was a former French and, then from 1763, British colony. So inevitably there was a certain amount of French and British invading that went on then. During the British period, we first got involved militarily with Grenada. Nothing major but still worth mentioning.</p><p>During the Revolutionary War, for instance, American privateers targeted ships leaving Grenada’s ports. Mind you, we didn’t have it all our own way. There were also privateers operating out of Grenada that preyed upon American shipping.</p><p>Then during World War II, US forces occasionally visited the island, on one occasion allegedly attempting to set up an artillery post on Richmond Hill, but finding no suitable site.</p><p>Grenada gained its independence from Britain in 1974 but remains part of the Commonwealth.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIrrk_lrsuesHSPBJc4mLd7zvJjCYHO0dPbQnv_IEJcZRyVHMS5eEIe5u39ySGi_5ZCW2hZKn_UWpdyqLrUWGdwHt0hYWG0229bAk_JNuafKQo73hsuY7XOiDUAQq5tahbOsPpmxrfczCT5LgFRk1oN15e0ZS_yGiJbwr4rQ7BZ9rXxou7vppFi1pk/s4032/IMG_7081.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIrrk_lrsuesHSPBJc4mLd7zvJjCYHO0dPbQnv_IEJcZRyVHMS5eEIe5u39ySGi_5ZCW2hZKn_UWpdyqLrUWGdwHt0hYWG0229bAk_JNuafKQo73hsuY7XOiDUAQq5tahbOsPpmxrfczCT5LgFRk1oN15e0ZS_yGiJbwr4rQ7BZ9rXxou7vppFi1pk/w300-h400/IMG_7081.HEIC" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reagan did put "boots on the ground" in Grenada...<br />Reagan Presidential Library, Simi Valley, CA</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p>In 1983, Grenada was the site of America’s largest military intervention since the Vietnam War. Ronald Reagan had defeated Jimmy Carter in the election of 1980 to become our fortieth president. Reagan took a more aggressive view about confronting Communism than his Cold War predecessors. Political upheaval on the island of Grenada gave Reagan an opportunity to reverse militarily what he saw as a dangerous expansion of Cuban and Soviet influence.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5fIj82IcTumTflnjByD4U2i37mbDNJ4sV0XVSwXNCzprBpABCz3CAgYmBEXZU5JQayPNpaMIe4aHOPXq3B_2VgtxWZq2NA62wrcP2M7dbSjamUPse84cl4YlbLUJhXvVFohQQilrn7oaA9cB5BOHi-HdxbMewBo1voiwmBAqNY6RHh6LjQ4CPiDzs/s267/Unknown-137.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="188" data-original-width="267" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5fIj82IcTumTflnjByD4U2i37mbDNJ4sV0XVSwXNCzprBpABCz3CAgYmBEXZU5JQayPNpaMIe4aHOPXq3B_2VgtxWZq2NA62wrcP2M7dbSjamUPse84cl4YlbLUJhXvVFohQQilrn7oaA9cB5BOHi-HdxbMewBo1voiwmBAqNY6RHh6LjQ4CPiDzs/w400-h282/Unknown-137.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reagan avenged the death of<br />Grenada's Maurice Bishop</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>On October 19, 1983, Bernard Coard, a hard-line Communist deputy prime minister, led a coup against Prime Minister Maurice Bishop, a Marxist who had assumed power after a coup in 1979. A few days later, Bishop and two other members of his cabinet were assassinated.</p><p>Even before the coup, Reagan had been agonizing about exactly what was happening on Grenada and what it meant for the United States. There were intelligence reports indicating that Russia and Cuba had been building military infrastructure, in particular a ten-thousand-foot airstrip. That summer, he had already told vice president George Bush to make contingency plans, and now Reagan didn’t hesitate for long in enacting them.</p><p>With the Organization of East Caribbean States calling for a military response from the United States and despite being warned that there would be “a harsh political reaction” to a US invasion, on October 22, just a few days after the coup, Reagan decided the invasion should go ahead.</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtQSS_9RWpO8HS6q-cvi6u_xVM3ht5kCJcfBsP-KBLm0ktkFOWd8T9PS0ikEr93UNXdEo7-yZi1Xlk10OluEcEYPTg-lsg255jpYTTr326mwdkiV4AhgGEZRUR6SSmVP_17h6TdSkahYjWfT4xsjm_8Exk3OUIcj50RFCrIchzupDa3fFVUGwMuaIH/s4032/IMG_9593%202.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtQSS_9RWpO8HS6q-cvi6u_xVM3ht5kCJcfBsP-KBLm0ktkFOWd8T9PS0ikEr93UNXdEo7-yZi1Xlk10OluEcEYPTg-lsg255jpYTTr326mwdkiV4AhgGEZRUR6SSmVP_17h6TdSkahYjWfT4xsjm_8Exk3OUIcj50RFCrIchzupDa3fFVUGwMuaIH/w400-h300/IMG_9593%202.HEIC" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Navy Seal Badge<br />US Navy Seal Museum<br />Fort Pierce, FL</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p>Operation Urgent Fury was launched on October 25, 1983. The US Army Rapid Deployment Force, including Ranger battalions, the 82nd Airborne Division, marines, and Navy SEALs (see...<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4122629330054677829/3366282885862768943">https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4122629330054677829/3366282885862768943</a>), was augmented by a few hundred troops from Jamaica and other countries. These forces engaged about fifteen hundred troops from the Grenadian Army and about a few hundred Cuban military special forces. The fighting was short (three days) and sometimes sharp, costing nineteen American lives and over one hundred total fatalities, including some civilians.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZbr0DeOQj3fmMWfbOYfdxKrOvqUJzGSQ8lLAMbOHWMLdmjv08j3FGXnIKa-ofbgh7NRkhsI7XltAJ7osfaQmiVhoO0dcE084IUgpiXM1jkT7PddyXKZDgz0ToItBytoYGvAr2_agDw8XkWWw1nz2PODQrXwV-iktK5ky3E3o8oc7DLbSNXq7ueBkH/s4032/IMG_7106.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZbr0DeOQj3fmMWfbOYfdxKrOvqUJzGSQ8lLAMbOHWMLdmjv08j3FGXnIKa-ofbgh7NRkhsI7XltAJ7osfaQmiVhoO0dcE084IUgpiXM1jkT7PddyXKZDgz0ToItBytoYGvAr2_agDw8XkWWw1nz2PODQrXwV-iktK5ky3E3o8oc7DLbSNXq7ueBkH/w300-h400/IMG_7106.HEIC" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grenada tested the "Special" Relationship<br />Reagan Presidential Library<br />Simi Valley, CA</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p>The UN General Assembly condemned the US invasion calling it “a flagrant violation of international law” and voting 108 to 9 against it. Reagan’s ideological soulmate, Prime Minister Thatcher, was thrust into an awkward position by the US invasion as Grenada was still a member of the Commonwealth. Thatcher was disappointed by the American lack of consultation prior to taking action in Grenada.</p><p>However, there was also widespread American support for the invasion, particularly after the ABC broadcast Nightline featured an interview with American medical students from St. George’s University School of Medicine who expressed their gratitude for the invasion and towards the US Army Rangers. Americans were obviously particularly anxious about the potential for hostage taking after the Iranian crisis of 1979, so anything that took Americans out of a potentially dangerous political situation was likely to be popular.</p><p>US troops were withdrawn in December of 1983, and Grenada held elections in December of 1984. The operation can be seen as having laid to rest some of the inevitable reluctance for overseas military interventions evident in the period after the end of the Vietnam War.</p><p>October 25, the day American forces arrived, is celebrated in Grenada as a national holiday—Thanksgiving Day. The airport has been renamed “Maurice Bishop International Airport” in honor of the assassinated prime minister." (Source: <a href="http://www.americainvades.com">www.americainvades.com</a>).</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRARiCFs5Sen0NeAIRKio95skJ4lhW-bp0qgCPOtvC-lpJKToqw75M5r4UsG4OWv7bcbszxlLBF94RH4ngC72Z3Wujx-0gyzmvZrmYUkZ7O9LLFxqBXozd9vXuOvEy4j4DbehdpHyzu4puhgBscsSQnnUJxpJklbWjmGsPOsOwwfOxbcNmkgNuAKFr/s4032/IMG_7584.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRARiCFs5Sen0NeAIRKio95skJ4lhW-bp0qgCPOtvC-lpJKToqw75M5r4UsG4OWv7bcbszxlLBF94RH4ngC72Z3Wujx-0gyzmvZrmYUkZ7O9LLFxqBXozd9vXuOvEy4j4DbehdpHyzu4puhgBscsSQnnUJxpJklbWjmGsPOsOwwfOxbcNmkgNuAKFr/w300-h400/IMG_7584.HEIC" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful Grenada!</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3FYP6JNBlVreEFDSr5LRxH4kAfi3q8pGe4_myNpFaNvFgPLsi9fuoeql_8OIJqczND3jPthLK_6oo4emamea3pYvWCzwJFLabVt1hlfyJ-jzXfEDRA7PETbJY8I99AYsexhLhfOvU2KQ/s1425/AmericaInvadedCover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1425" data-original-width="975" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3FYP6JNBlVreEFDSr5LRxH4kAfi3q8pGe4_myNpFaNvFgPLsi9fuoeql_8OIJqczND3jPthLK_6oo4emamea3pYvWCzwJFLabVt1hlfyJ-jzXfEDRA7PETbJY8I99AYsexhLhfOvU2KQ/w274-h400/AmericaInvadedCover.jpg" width="274" /></a></div><p><br /></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="sans-serif" style="text-align: start;">You can find signed copies of our books at these web sites...</span></span><br /><div style="font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.americainvades.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.americainvades.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.italyinvades.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.italyinvades.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.anadventurein1914.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.anadventurein1914.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.americainvaded.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.americainvaded.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;">!</div></div><p class="MsoCommentText" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><br style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;" /></span></p><div style="background-color: white;"><div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Or regular copies on Amazon...</span></div><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Christopher-Kelly/e/B00RW8QZG6/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1539454238&sr=8-1">www.amazon.com/Christopher-Kelly/e/B00RW8QZG6/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1539454238&sr=8-1</a></span></div><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Or on Kindle...</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B00R1ZXKMW" style="color: #888888;">www.amzn.com/B00R1ZXKMW</a></span></div><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: large;"></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B0178GCYDO" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.amzn.com/B0178GCYDO</span></a></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B01LXD1KHQ" style="color: #888888;">www.amzn.com/B01LXD1KHQ</a></span></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B073RJQ8PK" style="color: #888888;">www.amzn.com/B073RJQ8PK</a></span></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><div style="color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Listen to my interview with Bob Cudmore...<a href="http://bobcudmore.com/thehistorians/tracks/ChristopherKelly(August2017)(29)(mp3).mp3" style="color: #888888;">http://bobcudmore.com/thehistorians/tracks/ChristopherKelly(August2017)(29)(mp3).mp3</a></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And my interview...<a href="http://www.thebook-club.com/blog/bookshelf-interview-with-christopher-kelly">www.thebook-club.com/blog/bookshelf-interview-with-christopher-kelly</a></span></div><div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">And my most recent interview...<a href="http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2018/08/17/america-invaded-christopher-kelly">http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2018/08/17/america-invaded-christopher-kelly</a></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgYRcC3kO-m3FapUW9smIa3mufSe6NCvRU1rhWZqv5ZuiIYewCBg6Hw8t63_DeYN0qejN28dxdb75zy4VBfNSMwAoSmGheF5hHBzpeATb8yoDsFIg1YGEuhj4BorURbwQUrWFOGA7_y0qR2FKkHjY_EEmOxM681-9tJbXQ6-AgaYUkLQ8VZIRlV2kDt=s600" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="405" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgYRcC3kO-m3FapUW9smIa3mufSe6NCvRU1rhWZqv5ZuiIYewCBg6Hw8t63_DeYN0qejN28dxdb75zy4VBfNSMwAoSmGheF5hHBzpeATb8yoDsFIg1YGEuhj4BorURbwQUrWFOGA7_y0qR2FKkHjY_EEmOxM681-9tJbXQ6-AgaYUkLQ8VZIRlV2kDt=w270-h400" width="270" /></a></div><div><br /></div></div></div></div>Commander Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03602902461964252463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122629330054677829.post-67328001421470838292022-03-17T20:21:00.003-07:002022-03-19T20:27:43.871-07:00Hitler: Only the World Was Enough<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiIEqkCQGeDOMtZI9F8zioL_QILO4DAanNV7zAWE_UCeW6rzKvP6A58gcBz2ltP5lSSg_EWGPyYIEv4AcKZMR51e19UE7q5Z-G8pR73rEUW7LLPbkXyJAIzhV0td3x136NzctTIpsOJmbgnwVh1IwwBJBuQyAWx8hAAB6jGvHiHdLiJORUfZ6QWsrNz=s288" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="288" data-original-width="175" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiIEqkCQGeDOMtZI9F8zioL_QILO4DAanNV7zAWE_UCeW6rzKvP6A58gcBz2ltP5lSSg_EWGPyYIEv4AcKZMR51e19UE7q5Z-G8pR73rEUW7LLPbkXyJAIzhV0td3x136NzctTIpsOJmbgnwVh1IwwBJBuQyAWx8hAAB6jGvHiHdLiJORUfZ6QWsrNz=w389-h640" width="389" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Only the World was Enough</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>The old rule of debating holds that the first side to use the word "Hitler" automatically loses!</p><p>Putin's invasion of Ukraine, however, makes it more important than ever for us to gain a better understanding of Hitler, dictators and the use of propaganda in human conflict.</p><p>Brendan Simms' <b><i>Hitler</i></b> (published in 2019) is a fascinating reexamination of the life of history's greatest villain (<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hitler-Only-World-Was-Enough-ebook/dp/B07N13J5RL/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1MMT1DA179MTM&keywords=hitler+simms&qid=1647375789&s=books&sprefix=hitler+Simms%2Cstripbooks%2C88&sr=1-3">https://www.amazon.com/Hitler-Only-World-Was-Enough-ebook/dp/B07N13J5RL/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1MMT1DA179MTM&keywords=hitler+simms&qid=1647375789&s=books&sprefix=hitler+Simms%2Cstripbooks%2C88&sr=1-3</a>). Simms is a Cambridge history professor who has tapped a huge mine of new research to develop a new take on the Fuhrer -- the man who, more than any other, propelled the world into the bloodiest war in human history..</p><p>Simms' central thesis is that Hitler was obsessed with America and the British Empire from his experiences as a soldier in the trenches in World War I. This obsession with and opposition to the Anglosphere was the driving force behind so many of his later actions. As a private in the 12th Royal Bavarian Infantry brigade, Hitler came into contact with two American prisoners in July 1918. Simms writes, "Hitler was convinced that these 'doughboys' were the descendants of German emigrants, lost to the Fatherland for lack of 'living space' to feed them, who had returned as avengers in the ranks of an unstoppable enemy army." Hitler's mission would be to reforge Germany in order to take on the Anglo-American world order -- a capitalist system that he both envied and detested. His virulent anti-semitism was a product of his disdain for the Anglo-American system as he believed that Jews ran the economies of all western allied nations.</p><p>There is no evidence that Adolph Hitler, born in Austria on April 10, 1889, was abused as a child, nor was he the product of a 'broken' home. His father Alois, Roman Catholic and not anti-semitic, died in 1903. Hitler expressed gratitude to Eduard Bloch, the Jewish doctor who unsuccessfully cared for his cancer-stricken mother who died in 1907. The start of World War I in 1914 saw him join the Bavarian army with some enthusiasm. His experiences in the trenches on the western front were formative in shaping his outlook for the rest of his life. He served for four years in the war as a regimental dispatch runner, where he was wounded, gassed and decorated. But he showed almost no early signs of leadership ability during the four years of the Great war.</p><p>The "humiliation" and occupation of Germany which followed the Treaty of Versailles would provide grist for Hitler's political career in the 1920s and beyond. He famously launched a beer hall putsch in Munich in the fall of 1923. Imprisoned at Landesberg, he wrote the first volume of his famous tortured work <b><i>Mein Kampf</i></b>. Early readers could already discern his desire to get rid of "international Jewry" and his faith in the need for <i>Lebensraum</i> for the resettlement of the German people. The rise of Mussolini it Italy with the 1922 March on Rome provided inspiration for those with fascist sympathies though little tangible assistance for his Nazi party.</p><p>Hitler would likely have remained a minor footnote in Weimar political history had it not been for the onset of the Great Depression which was kicked off with the Wall Street crash of October 1929. High unemployment swelled the ranks of the Nazi party bringing them to power in 1933.</p><p>Simms argues, convincingly, that Hitler was obsessed throughout his adult life by the economic and military power of the British Empire and the United States of America. He admired their control of vast amounts of land and their 'Anglo-Saxon' work ethic. He deplored the migration of Germans to lands under their control. He saw America's Great Plains as a perfect answer to the challenge of Lebensraum. During WW2, he directed German industry to construct Amerika jet bombers for the Luftwaffe despite the fact that jet fighters / interceptors would have been much better for the war effort. Yet, almost inexplicably, Hitler never bothered to actually visit Britain, the USA or any English speaking country during his lifetime. How would history and our world have been different had he done so?</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjq0_AWTyRWGHcUoxXe97ZCd8XwZee0BPr7JxAtPLXpytIg39y8ARYAPp7_CzBdzh4RMuz7NuGIIixL90at3A1aqPKonH2znTBq56Mba0Q0wTzqZ3Yj8csjnkhjOuFwNdDQifwk_jQPZxDv33RLJmP-44Hhxhy-xsDHmWu1csbTHbIjmqhZB9OsYzTP=s2400" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="2400" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjq0_AWTyRWGHcUoxXe97ZCd8XwZee0BPr7JxAtPLXpytIg39y8ARYAPp7_CzBdzh4RMuz7NuGIIixL90at3A1aqPKonH2znTBq56Mba0Q0wTzqZ3Yj8csjnkhjOuFwNdDQifwk_jQPZxDv33RLJmP-44Hhxhy-xsDHmWu1csbTHbIjmqhZB9OsYzTP=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dwight Eisenhower<br />1890 - 1969<br />Grosvenor Square, London</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Simms' work becomes particularly intriguing when it focuses on the many Americans of German descent who helped enormously to defat the Nazis. Dwight Eisenhower, architect of the D-day landings, was the descendant of "pacifist Menonites who left the Saarland for Pennsylvania in the 18th century". General Clarence Hubner (commander of US V Corps) has a grandfather from Stuttgart. Carl Spatz (later 'Spaatz') , commander of the US Strategic Air Forces in Europe that pounded German cities into dust, was of German ancestry. Bertram Hoffmeister (Canadian 5th Armored Division) had a grandfather from Hamburg. Simms neglects to mention Admiral Chester Nimitz of the US navy who commanded American forces at the decisive battle of Midway; Nimitz was from the German community in Fredericksburg, Texas.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgleoV3oYqCcjrKCgABmNcJSCYMbX9KpyiqqvbQWrEEt_85A5wAQRcKJNuz2wLWVgUMghmXkuRfR-HBUEi1JQQhKEY_GQtsOCvxVlLmxy7hb9Tyleg6IdW9bda_pWJyQwMIvwholH6iyoGdWn2h3gJWJJlAbDPQRKiwSLj7nVA7ApWFrQxKi24Hq9Kw=s1396" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1396" data-original-width="888" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgleoV3oYqCcjrKCgABmNcJSCYMbX9KpyiqqvbQWrEEt_85A5wAQRcKJNuz2wLWVgUMghmXkuRfR-HBUEi1JQQhKEY_GQtsOCvxVlLmxy7hb9Tyleg6IdW9bda_pWJyQwMIvwholH6iyoGdWn2h3gJWJJlAbDPQRKiwSLj7nVA7ApWFrQxKi24Hq9Kw=w255-h400" width="255" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John Basilone<br />Italian-American Medal of Honor winner</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Understandably in a Hitler biography, Simms does not elaborate on the contributions to the Allied war effort made by other "Axis-Americans". Around one out of twelve American servicemen in the war were of Italian-America descent (see <b><i>Italy Invades: How Italians Conquered the World </i></b>for much more...<a href="http://www.italyinvades.com">www.italyinvades.com</a>). Enrico Fermi was an Italian physicist who helped make the American atomic bomb. Japanese-Americans serving in the 442nd regimental combat team ("Go For Broke") won an extraordinary number of medals. And so on...</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhiN7sAPVjvpsWW2Y-mP_UygQOPP5Dk227_fMDmdP3MOvZJe0VMo9HW7h00hOMVuMI68Kyezq5vTigeT5BIKMIDQ8X6P9DjdSaCKmAr2mT00ky9grBNc1C8IfmBw22vJP2HBezCvsJb81o42Y_KNL_Ev4YlIWTyQyC-sd_9HxdI403jVQH59DT1TkqL=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhiN7sAPVjvpsWW2Y-mP_UygQOPP5Dk227_fMDmdP3MOvZJe0VMo9HW7h00hOMVuMI68Kyezq5vTigeT5BIKMIDQ8X6P9DjdSaCKmAr2mT00ky9grBNc1C8IfmBw22vJP2HBezCvsJb81o42Y_KNL_Ev4YlIWTyQyC-sd_9HxdI403jVQH59DT1TkqL=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">442nd Medal<br />"Go For Broke"</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Simms emphasizes Hitler's prioritization of politics over economics. Hitler explains, "The economy is only of secondary importance. The main thing is national pride, love of country." Hitler consistently opposed free trade and capitalism. He wanted to exert national control over the levers of international financial manipulation to supplant what he perceived, or really misperceived, to be a lurking Jewish cabal.</p><p>Hitler held deeply ambivalent views about the German <i>Volk</i> or people. He fretted over the racial coherence of the Fatherland. He worried that that the best elements of the Reich had emigrated weakening the Volk. He was more than willing to destroy those of his confederates who were most loyal to him -- in June of 1934 he personally arrested at gunpoint Ernst Rohm of the SA who was murdered in custody soon after. He later forced Rommel to commit suicide. He was always willing to ruthlessly crush anyone who opposed him, regardless of ideology or nationality.</p><p>As a strategist in World War II, Hitler displayed, to put the matter in chess terms, a strong opening game, a flawed middle game and a catastrophic end game. (It seems that Putin, by contrast, cannot even manage a strong open with his invasion of Ukraine.). Hitler essentially used the German <i>Volk</i> as his pawns in the world war. See also...<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4122629330054677829/7925457983853508406">https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4122629330054677829/7925457983853508406</a>)</p><p>Simms concludes that "If Hitler's relationship with the British Empire and the United States was ultimately antagonistic, it was also admiring and entangled, He long hoped for a British alliance and he never ceased to exalt the supposed racial qualities of the 'Anglo-Saxons' on both sides fo the Atlantic, and to believe that they represented Germany's 'better' racial half. Anglo-America was Hitler's model, much more so than Stalin's Russia or even Mussolini's Italy. The original for the <i>Lebensraum</i> project was the British Empire, and especially the American colonization of the west. Hitler and the Third Reich were thus a reaction not to the Russian Revolution but to the dominance of Anglo-America and global capitalism. The Holocaust was not a distorted copy of Stalin's Great Terror. but a pre-emptive strike against Roosevelt's America."</p><p>Ironically, Hitler's Reich would be pulverized by the industrial capacity and aerial might of 'Anglo-Saxon' nations that were his model (See <b><i>Mission: Jimmy Stewart and the Fight for Europe</i></b>...<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4122629330054677829/752507954240654469">https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4122629330054677829/752507954240654469</a>). Hitler, in conversations with Albert Speer, shared his fevered dreams about a New York in flames. Instead of putting a torch to Manhattan with his new super jets, the Fuhrer managed 1) to nearly annihilate the German people, 2) to welcome Stalin into Eastern Europe and 3) to set America on a path to becoming a superpower.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3FYP6JNBlVreEFDSr5LRxH4kAfi3q8pGe4_myNpFaNvFgPLsi9fuoeql_8OIJqczND3jPthLK_6oo4emamea3pYvWCzwJFLabVt1hlfyJ-jzXfEDRA7PETbJY8I99AYsexhLhfOvU2KQ/s1425/AmericaInvadedCover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1425" data-original-width="975" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3FYP6JNBlVreEFDSr5LRxH4kAfi3q8pGe4_myNpFaNvFgPLsi9fuoeql_8OIJqczND3jPthLK_6oo4emamea3pYvWCzwJFLabVt1hlfyJ-jzXfEDRA7PETbJY8I99AYsexhLhfOvU2KQ/w274-h400/AmericaInvadedCover.jpg" width="274" /></a></div><p><br /></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="sans-serif" style="text-align: start;">You can find signed copies of our books at these web sites...</span></span><br /><div style="font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.americainvades.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.americainvades.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.italyinvades.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.italyinvades.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.anadventurein1914.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.anadventurein1914.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.americainvaded.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.americainvaded.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;">!</div></div><p class="MsoCommentText" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><br style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;" /></span></p><div style="background-color: white;"><div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Or regular copies on Amazon...</span></div><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Christopher-Kelly/e/B00RW8QZG6/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1539454238&sr=8-1">www.amazon.com/Christopher-Kelly/e/B00RW8QZG6/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1539454238&sr=8-1</a></span></div><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Or on Kindle...</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B00R1ZXKMW" style="color: #888888;">www.amzn.com/B00R1ZXKMW</a></span></div><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: large;"></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B0178GCYDO" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.amzn.com/B0178GCYDO</span></a></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B01LXD1KHQ" style="color: #888888;">www.amzn.com/B01LXD1KHQ</a></span></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B073RJQ8PK" style="color: #888888;">www.amzn.com/B073RJQ8PK</a></span></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><div style="color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Listen to my interview with Bob Cudmore...<a href="http://bobcudmore.com/thehistorians/tracks/ChristopherKelly(August2017)(29)(mp3).mp3" style="color: #888888;">http://bobcudmore.com/thehistorians/tracks/ChristopherKelly(August2017)(29)(mp3).mp3</a></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And my interview...<a href="http://www.thebook-club.com/blog/bookshelf-interview-with-christopher-kelly">www.thebook-club.com/blog/bookshelf-interview-with-christopher-kelly</a></span></div><div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">And my most recent interview...<a href="http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2018/08/17/america-invaded-christopher-kelly">http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2018/08/17/america-invaded-christopher-kelly</a></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgYRcC3kO-m3FapUW9smIa3mufSe6NCvRU1rhWZqv5ZuiIYewCBg6Hw8t63_DeYN0qejN28dxdb75zy4VBfNSMwAoSmGheF5hHBzpeATb8yoDsFIg1YGEuhj4BorURbwQUrWFOGA7_y0qR2FKkHjY_EEmOxM681-9tJbXQ6-AgaYUkLQ8VZIRlV2kDt=s600" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="405" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgYRcC3kO-m3FapUW9smIa3mufSe6NCvRU1rhWZqv5ZuiIYewCBg6Hw8t63_DeYN0qejN28dxdb75zy4VBfNSMwAoSmGheF5hHBzpeATb8yoDsFIg1YGEuhj4BorURbwQUrWFOGA7_y0qR2FKkHjY_EEmOxM681-9tJbXQ6-AgaYUkLQ8VZIRlV2kDt=w270-h400" width="270" /></a></div></div></div></div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><span><br /></span></p>Commander Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03602902461964252463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122629330054677829.post-61264522758425415592022-03-14T13:20:00.002-07:002022-03-14T13:23:34.122-07:00Looking For Trouble<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhgMrZVhmqYBgczaAeQP_bRbPd3PKV_4_MNI3BEiH7gHvgUU5t2hnyEvZKs9wPaeRu1F6v2eA1rVhaS_Qn0h-SS-LqmUMRRBVvKWJVoZY_qdwCWw4Mu_tHqnCB551Trbz2AxWTCOIm5zSo9wS5-sEM8i1JpH-D2zAptlE7EgkAp_f6BpqU3PQb_PY8N=s224" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="224" data-original-width="224" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhgMrZVhmqYBgczaAeQP_bRbPd3PKV_4_MNI3BEiH7gHvgUU5t2hnyEvZKs9wPaeRu1F6v2eA1rVhaS_Qn0h-SS-LqmUMRRBVvKWJVoZY_qdwCWw4Mu_tHqnCB551Trbz2AxWTCOIm5zSo9wS5-sEM8i1JpH-D2zAptlE7EgkAp_f6BpqU3PQb_PY8N=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><p>Virginia Cowles was an astonishing woman who wrote an amazing memoir about her experiences as a war correspondent in Europe from 1936 until 1941. She called her memoir <b><i>Looking For Trouble/The classic memoir of a trailblazing war correspondent...</i></b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Looking-Trouble-Virginia-Cowles-ebook/dp/B006GACKY2/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1644513830&sr=1-1">https://www.amazon.com/Looking-Trouble-Virginia-Cowles-ebook/dp/B006GACKY2/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1644513830&sr=1-1</a>.</p><p>Reading her memoir in the uncertain times in which we live is a refreshing and ultimately hopeful experience. She writes about times that were unquestionably dark. She met Mussolini. She attended a Nazi rally. She covered both sides of the Spanish Civil War which was an extremely dangerous thing to do. She visited Stalin's Soviet Union.</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgjwTzZx-O6v_hGrn9RVFAePdpf_ecX1pZi2ubENN-8yleRfw-LbHfwwOTMk9anVbwEJ9gIrBBnkjhwvnL2esY38ax2enDQhT7K3m2nncn3gIjgpVY-8RKDXMGCxvQSmZrXRTrBMb73SbVzm2-Jdj1ImogW6EBSmUFaF9r4Qpxm06issq26iEOMhqvW=s245" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="245" data-original-width="206" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgjwTzZx-O6v_hGrn9RVFAePdpf_ecX1pZi2ubENN-8yleRfw-LbHfwwOTMk9anVbwEJ9gIrBBnkjhwvnL2esY38ax2enDQhT7K3m2nncn3gIjgpVY-8RKDXMGCxvQSmZrXRTrBMb73SbVzm2-Jdj1ImogW6EBSmUFaF9r4Qpxm06issq26iEOMhqvW=w336-h400" width="336" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Virginia Cowles<br />1910 - 1983</td></tr></tbody></table><p>She began her career as a war correspondent with virtually no prior experience. She had covered the fashion and society beat for the Hearst papers. Yet she was determined to be even handed in her coverage of the Spanish Civil War. She toured Republican Spain which was subdivided into many factions ranging from Trotskyites to Socialists. She also visited with Franco's Nationalist forces who were aided by significant support from Mussolini's Italy and Hitler's Germany.</p><p>She met Ernest Hemingway and was a friend of his wife Martha Gelhorn. Hemingway confided in her declaring that war was "the nastiest thing that human beings can do to each other...but the most exciting." Ghoulish but accurate!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh2aWtVwdgoO6nkZROkIoxOxdSYeJJy-inh_cthc2E4vJ072ZZzAYKZu-8hBFaibnVZYzCDYvXrklFPDA8E8htbloxYHFSFnPSUlP4h_4y5VtXcLTwaehyHBb0DNGyWjtFq9T_-ZVnbyB9VKa6nJCXqQw4_70oTs3ipqaR_uepJlvF0tMf-_O6KMIAx=s1352" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1352" data-original-width="914" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh2aWtVwdgoO6nkZROkIoxOxdSYeJJy-inh_cthc2E4vJ072ZZzAYKZu-8hBFaibnVZYzCDYvXrklFPDA8E8htbloxYHFSFnPSUlP4h_4y5VtXcLTwaehyHBb0DNGyWjtFq9T_-ZVnbyB9VKa6nJCXqQw4_70oTs3ipqaR_uepJlvF0tMf-_O6KMIAx=w270-h400" width="270" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Benito Mussolini<br />1883 - 1945</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p>Cowles met Mussolini in Rome at his Palazzo for a personal interview. She found the Italian dictator to be aggressive and flamboyant. Cowles concluded, "You can the Italians what to do, but, thank God, you can't tell me!" </p><p>She attended a rally of Nazis at Nuremberg, taking note of the flaming torches and fanaticism of the participants. </p><p>Cowles tried to be scrupulously fair and open minded. She visited Stalin's Soviet Union where she discovered totalitarianism of the Left to be anything but a worker's paradise. </p><p>Again and again Cowles goes looking for trouble. She was in Czechoslovakia before the Germans took it over in 1938. She was in Paris just before the fall of France in 1940. She was an eyewitness to war and the humanitarian disasters that inevitably follow in its wake. </p><p>In analyzing fictional works there is often a discussion of the progress of a character through the work. Perhaps the most astonishing thing about Cowles' work is her own progress through this volume. She begins in 1936 as earnest reporter attempting to portray both sides of the Spanish Civil War. By late 1940 (following the invasion of Poland in September 1939 and the Battle of Britain in the summer of 1940) Cowles emerges as an eloquent advocate for American intervention on the Allied side against the Axis. <b>She was clearly repelled the extreme cynicism of the dictators</b> (sound familiar in the context of Putin's propaganda against Ukraine now?). Hitler claims to be interested in the minority rights of the Sudeten Germans while he wants simply to devour Czechoslovakia whole. Stalin's Soviet Union supports Republican Spain but also holds onto Spain's gold reserve. Hitler and Stalin dispense with ideological differences in order to carve up Poland with the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact.</p><p>Cowles the journalist was disgusted by the grotesque propaganda deployed by Hitler and others. She wrote, "To-day, it is no exaggeration to claim that out of the eleven countries smashed and overrun by Germany, half of them were destroyed, not by tanks, but by propaganda."</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiRwpod9fO2gcONWQ00UXOxGs3q2SvjLm03LiAyP73DiQutgmC-USCj8m0aYP52FZi9aWnFNr8CSihSn7yw93Aq4RojQGBjl0fn-zKpUHgXIrPbFOyWaoknKpTRywtex2vQLmdTqNX1WfjZSnGF9rtHZuBsj9aA_TwIEnR_i8Qvi0dZ2S2R_DBXyzkM=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiRwpod9fO2gcONWQ00UXOxGs3q2SvjLm03LiAyP73DiQutgmC-USCj8m0aYP52FZi9aWnFNr8CSihSn7yw93Aq4RojQGBjl0fn-zKpUHgXIrPbFOyWaoknKpTRywtex2vQLmdTqNX1WfjZSnGF9rtHZuBsj9aA_TwIEnR_i8Qvi0dZ2S2R_DBXyzkM=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">RAF Bomber Command Memorial<br />Green Park, London</td></tr></tbody></table><p>It was not, of course, Cowles's eloquence or Murrow's reporting that propelled the United States into war but rather the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. But Cowles, Murrow and others laid the groundwork for the Anglo-American alliance the would eventually ground Germany into dust. Cowles herself formed her own "special relationship" marrying an RAF pilot (Aidan Crawley) in 1945.</p><p>With Putin's invasion of Ukraine it is abundantly clear that we live in uncertain and worrying times. Remember the Chinese curse, "May you live in interesting times!" We certainly do live in interesting times. The dictator Putin is now employing propaganda tactics that would make Goebbels blush (Ukraine requires denazification, etc.). </p><p>Perhaps the ultimate value of a work such as Cowles' work <b><i>Looking For Trouble</i></b> is the reassuring message that other women and men have faced similar challenges with honesty and courage, endured much suffering but eventually emerged triumphant. The West can and must rise to the challenge posed by the cynical propaganda-spouting dictators of the 21st century.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3FYP6JNBlVreEFDSr5LRxH4kAfi3q8pGe4_myNpFaNvFgPLsi9fuoeql_8OIJqczND3jPthLK_6oo4emamea3pYvWCzwJFLabVt1hlfyJ-jzXfEDRA7PETbJY8I99AYsexhLhfOvU2KQ/s1425/AmericaInvadedCover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1425" data-original-width="975" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3FYP6JNBlVreEFDSr5LRxH4kAfi3q8pGe4_myNpFaNvFgPLsi9fuoeql_8OIJqczND3jPthLK_6oo4emamea3pYvWCzwJFLabVt1hlfyJ-jzXfEDRA7PETbJY8I99AYsexhLhfOvU2KQ/w274-h400/AmericaInvadedCover.jpg" width="274" /></a></div><p><br /></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="sans-serif" style="text-align: start;">You can find signed copies of our books at these web sites...</span></span><br /><div style="font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.americainvades.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.americainvades.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.italyinvades.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.italyinvades.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.anadventurein1914.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.anadventurein1914.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.americainvaded.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.americainvaded.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;">!</div></div><p class="MsoCommentText" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><br style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;" /></span></p><div style="background-color: white;"><div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Or regular copies on Amazon...</span></div><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Christopher-Kelly/e/B00RW8QZG6/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1539454238&sr=8-1">www.amazon.com/Christopher-Kelly/e/B00RW8QZG6/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1539454238&sr=8-1</a></span></div><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Or on Kindle...</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B00R1ZXKMW" style="color: #888888;">www.amzn.com/B00R1ZXKMW</a></span></div><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: large;"></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B0178GCYDO" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.amzn.com/B0178GCYDO</span></a></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B01LXD1KHQ" style="color: #888888;">www.amzn.com/B01LXD1KHQ</a></span></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B073RJQ8PK" style="color: #888888;">www.amzn.com/B073RJQ8PK</a></span></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><div style="color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Listen to my interview with Bob Cudmore...<a href="http://bobcudmore.com/thehistorians/tracks/ChristopherKelly(August2017)(29)(mp3).mp3" style="color: #888888;">http://bobcudmore.com/thehistorians/tracks/ChristopherKelly(August2017)(29)(mp3).mp3</a></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And my interview...<a href="http://www.thebook-club.com/blog/bookshelf-interview-with-christopher-kelly">www.thebook-club.com/blog/bookshelf-interview-with-christopher-kelly</a></span></div><div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">And my most recent interview...<a href="http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2018/08/17/america-invaded-christopher-kelly">http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2018/08/17/america-invaded-christopher-kelly</a></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgYRcC3kO-m3FapUW9smIa3mufSe6NCvRU1rhWZqv5ZuiIYewCBg6Hw8t63_DeYN0qejN28dxdb75zy4VBfNSMwAoSmGheF5hHBzpeATb8yoDsFIg1YGEuhj4BorURbwQUrWFOGA7_y0qR2FKkHjY_EEmOxM681-9tJbXQ6-AgaYUkLQ8VZIRlV2kDt=s600" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="405" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgYRcC3kO-m3FapUW9smIa3mufSe6NCvRU1rhWZqv5ZuiIYewCBg6Hw8t63_DeYN0qejN28dxdb75zy4VBfNSMwAoSmGheF5hHBzpeATb8yoDsFIg1YGEuhj4BorURbwQUrWFOGA7_y0qR2FKkHjY_EEmOxM681-9tJbXQ6-AgaYUkLQ8VZIRlV2kDt=w270-h400" width="270" /></a></div><div><br /></div></div></div></div>Commander Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03602902461964252463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122629330054677829.post-42921754631597487352022-01-14T10:38:00.003-08:002022-01-14T15:35:31.364-08:00Mutually Assured Destruction<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgAw1y-XTrmwFsPrNAiZhbU_vwjBAxpCK7By6OmQZDX1HvX1cihx564U2zGGSrJN5fk5Ln8oBDJtTVGeaWqHIUyovKMt_iziaZ8nlieu7u7WXHKUo-B2hujhyg6cboEl0brWXSr5OKAiHHPM9So7RXiaFyrqfMUNRZol9KTmpwJ6qoZYyMbSEwSQxBI=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgAw1y-XTrmwFsPrNAiZhbU_vwjBAxpCK7By6OmQZDX1HvX1cihx564U2zGGSrJN5fk5Ln8oBDJtTVGeaWqHIUyovKMt_iziaZ8nlieu7u7WXHKUo-B2hujhyg6cboEl0brWXSr5OKAiHHPM9So7RXiaFyrqfMUNRZol9KTmpwJ6qoZYyMbSEwSQxBI=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Titan Missile Museum<br />Sahuarita, Arizona</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Today we live in an age of vast and growing uncertainty. When will the brutal Covid-19 pandemic end? Will Putin send his tanks into the Ukraine? Will Chinese paratroopers start falling from the skies over Taiwan? Will North Korea or Iran do something crazy? No one can really provide satisfactory answers to these questions. And so we tramp on through a forest of doubt.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/frAEmhqdLFs" width="320" youtube-src-id="frAEmhqdLFs"></iframe></div><p><br /></p><p>During the Cold War, however, things were different. We enjoyed the certainty of Mutually Assured Destruction or MAD. All of us, on both sides of the Berlin Wall, knew that a third World War would mean the extinction of humanity. As Tom Lehrer out it, "We'll all go together when we go."</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhf0lwXgSNEFO10iMrsxUw6TQmzON2fSwmH7T9jDCGIvqov_1E3TXcN-kF6RK5Ix6hopPJmmFE74mWQLXfq0Qak139FInR_f_TjRy9PzEd3EsUTms9mU0p3zJ_tqkHXN586eqbV3by1Su4MIP8Yt5_NsUjphm6l0er5bIP8DktuurgbJv_36c8zULvc=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhf0lwXgSNEFO10iMrsxUw6TQmzON2fSwmH7T9jDCGIvqov_1E3TXcN-kF6RK5Ix6hopPJmmFE74mWQLXfq0Qak139FInR_f_TjRy9PzEd3EsUTms9mU0p3zJ_tqkHXN586eqbV3by1Su4MIP8Yt5_NsUjphm6l0er5bIP8DktuurgbJv_36c8zULvc=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Commander K at the Control!<br />Titan Missile Museum<br />Sahuarita, Arizona</td></tr></tbody></table><p>A visit to the Titan Missile Museum near Tucson Arizona demonstrates the hardware that created these Cold War certainties...<a href="https://titanmissilemuseum.org">https://titanmissilemuseum.org</a>. This abandoned missile silo for a Titan rocket was converted into a museum that gives us a glimpse into the Cold War. The Strategic Air Command had Missile locations built in three states...Arizona, Kansas and Arkansas.</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgqzntwFwikvHD2fuha9iL4ZtKBiVfSGECAgTcgkoOGmjBIJbLcZfLM__tBPm1oBV9EdwT1WjyKxKRs1E95h1xL-MslVVEdSX2pBB8abrW5FUYFPzDANoL0Vq3dr0jMT-8riBGp0RmZueG70uerUDrnC-IhWmiUgIaMj3n8puYiG0I_ur4dabsD4zk1=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgqzntwFwikvHD2fuha9iL4ZtKBiVfSGECAgTcgkoOGmjBIJbLcZfLM__tBPm1oBV9EdwT1WjyKxKRs1E95h1xL-MslVVEdSX2pBB8abrW5FUYFPzDANoL0Vq3dr0jMT-8riBGp0RmZueG70uerUDrnC-IhWmiUgIaMj3n8puYiG0I_ur4dabsD4zk1=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Titan Missile Museum<br />Sahuarita, Arizona</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Very young men, and later women, manned these bases. The Air Force tested them on a weekly basis for mental stability. They worked underground in 24 hour shifts. Cigarette smoke was ubiquitous.</p><p>The Titan missiles were fairly safe though one 1965 accident in Arkansas did claim fifty-three lives. A welding rod was apparently tossed into a hydraulic line igniting a fire with the oxidizer. Most of the victims were asphyxiated.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhBr7TzdEpS4p9SWDthNffg1L8LSnRkZ1g2PZUk0kdBzWCiJozilCZNPm3bhIDwKlxc9I1kySkEXnDpzUFO9sdN78QYb8cvhRK7ZFKAK_25BSAG_WBoVtmgfZVe9sK8gCyUmNvplVVVc75qzgr8UJbu3uE7r0eE6WEDktBwmzmhLB86AwqkTaesA4E-=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhBr7TzdEpS4p9SWDthNffg1L8LSnRkZ1g2PZUk0kdBzWCiJozilCZNPm3bhIDwKlxc9I1kySkEXnDpzUFO9sdN78QYb8cvhRK7ZFKAK_25BSAG_WBoVtmgfZVe9sK8gCyUmNvplVVVc75qzgr8UJbu3uE7r0eE6WEDktBwmzmhLB86AwqkTaesA4E-=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't High Five a Cactus!<br />Green Valley, AZ</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p>Tom Lehrer got it essentially correct in his 1960 song <b><i>The Wild West is Where I Want to Be</i></b>. "'Mid the yucca and the thistles, I'll watch the guided missiles while the old FBI watches me..."</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh04QhX1BeAqjN2V40jQ2tfjsTxnO5q9M4zLzXgbo9866kxryuBgaYM_Roe8EsUpP5le0dyYtppRtyeYIMVZr8buMUMD0al4ikPBD6EEDJdI6zqgrWCiz5FMa7QgpXRaHeIwkVCmOLlOzpSnV9J7tFCj8QdRazCSOSDbsAAfwsUzE4MZx-NwpPo93Ay=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh04QhX1BeAqjN2V40jQ2tfjsTxnO5q9M4zLzXgbo9866kxryuBgaYM_Roe8EsUpP5le0dyYtppRtyeYIMVZr8buMUMD0al4ikPBD6EEDJdI6zqgrWCiz5FMa7QgpXRaHeIwkVCmOLlOzpSnV9J7tFCj8QdRazCSOSDbsAAfwsUzE4MZx-NwpPo93Ay=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Strategic Air Command<br />Titan Missile Museum<br />Sahuarita, Arizona<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Eventually the Titan missile program was replaced by the Minuteman ICBM Missile program. The third iteration of Boeing-built missiles remain in active service in Montana, North Dakota and Wyoming. Each missile can deliver a 300+ kiloton payload (equivalent to about 20 Hiroshimas) around 8,700 miles with an accuracy of around 800 feet. These are slated for replacement by a new generation of Northrop ICBMs around 2030.</p><p>So the air in Arizona is no longer "radioactive," leaving the fortunate residents of nearby Green Valley safe to play pickle ball. All of the fissionable materials were removed long ago from the Titan missile locations. Many of these abandoned Titan sites have been purchased by private citizens. A decommissioned site in Arkansas has been turned into a luxury Cold War hotel...<a href="https://www.expedia.com/Vilonia-Hotels-Luxury-Decommissioned-Titan-II-Nuclear-Missile-Complex.h53961576.Hotel-Information">https://www.expedia.com/Vilonia-Hotels-Luxury-Decommissioned-Titan-II-Nuclear-Missile-Complex.h53961576.Hotel-Information</a>!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1U2fpzw4qNI" width="320" youtube-src-id="1U2fpzw4qNI"></iframe></div><p><br /></p><p>This may have been MAD but it all seemed to work. The fear of Mutually Assured Destruction deterred both superpowers from ever pushing the nuclear button. Nixon bombed Hanoi but he never authorized the use of atomic weapons. Nor did the Soviets turn Kabul into glass.</p><p>Now in 2022 the Nuclear Club is much larger than during the Cold War. It includes India, Pakistan, North Korea and soon it seems Iran. Mutually Assured Destruction depended upon the rationality of the participants in order to work. Can we count upon the rationality of Kim Jung Un and other leaders? The future is murky and foreboding leaving us nostalgic for the Cold War. </p><p>We live in an age on uncertainty. Of this we are certain.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3FYP6JNBlVreEFDSr5LRxH4kAfi3q8pGe4_myNpFaNvFgPLsi9fuoeql_8OIJqczND3jPthLK_6oo4emamea3pYvWCzwJFLabVt1hlfyJ-jzXfEDRA7PETbJY8I99AYsexhLhfOvU2KQ/s1425/AmericaInvadedCover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1425" data-original-width="975" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3FYP6JNBlVreEFDSr5LRxH4kAfi3q8pGe4_myNpFaNvFgPLsi9fuoeql_8OIJqczND3jPthLK_6oo4emamea3pYvWCzwJFLabVt1hlfyJ-jzXfEDRA7PETbJY8I99AYsexhLhfOvU2KQ/w274-h400/AmericaInvadedCover.jpg" width="274" /></a></div><p><br /></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="sans-serif" style="text-align: start;">You can find signed copies of our books at these web sites...</span></span><br /><div style="font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.americainvades.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.americainvades.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.italyinvades.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.italyinvades.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.anadventurein1914.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.anadventurein1914.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.americainvaded.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.americainvaded.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;">!</div></div><p class="MsoCommentText" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><br style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;" /></span></p><div style="background-color: white;"><div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Or regular copies on Amazon...</span></div><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Christopher-Kelly/e/B00RW8QZG6/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1539454238&sr=8-1">www.amazon.com/Christopher-Kelly/e/B00RW8QZG6/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1539454238&sr=8-1</a></span></div><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Or on Kindle...</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B00R1ZXKMW" style="color: #888888;">www.amzn.com/B00R1ZXKMW</a></span></div><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: large;"></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B0178GCYDO" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.amzn.com/B0178GCYDO</span></a></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B01LXD1KHQ" style="color: #888888;">www.amzn.com/B01LXD1KHQ</a></span></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B073RJQ8PK" style="color: #888888;">www.amzn.com/B073RJQ8PK</a></span></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><div style="color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Listen to my interview with Bob Cudmore...<a href="http://bobcudmore.com/thehistorians/tracks/ChristopherKelly(August2017)(29)(mp3).mp3" style="color: #888888;">http://bobcudmore.com/thehistorians/tracks/ChristopherKelly(August2017)(29)(mp3).mp3</a></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And my interview...<a href="http://www.thebook-club.com/blog/bookshelf-interview-with-christopher-kelly">www.thebook-club.com/blog/bookshelf-interview-with-christopher-kelly</a></span></div><div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">And my most recent interview...<a href="http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2018/08/17/america-invaded-christopher-kelly">http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2018/08/17/america-invaded-christopher-kelly</a></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgYRcC3kO-m3FapUW9smIa3mufSe6NCvRU1rhWZqv5ZuiIYewCBg6Hw8t63_DeYN0qejN28dxdb75zy4VBfNSMwAoSmGheF5hHBzpeATb8yoDsFIg1YGEuhj4BorURbwQUrWFOGA7_y0qR2FKkHjY_EEmOxM681-9tJbXQ6-AgaYUkLQ8VZIRlV2kDt=s600" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="405" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgYRcC3kO-m3FapUW9smIa3mufSe6NCvRU1rhWZqv5ZuiIYewCBg6Hw8t63_DeYN0qejN28dxdb75zy4VBfNSMwAoSmGheF5hHBzpeATb8yoDsFIg1YGEuhj4BorURbwQUrWFOGA7_y0qR2FKkHjY_EEmOxM681-9tJbXQ6-AgaYUkLQ8VZIRlV2kDt=w270-h400" width="270" /></a></div><br /><div style="color: #222222;"><br /></div><div style="color: #222222;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></div></div></div><p> </p>Commander Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03602902461964252463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122629330054677829.post-71517187231826438922022-01-11T16:35:00.000-08:002022-01-11T16:35:59.938-08:00Battle of Elwood<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiquVRGCy9FM7Q7Z3Um-S9OqTfDuOCvZLt4uDxegvHN1UHtdW20AWkn-jqkbQF__NC-ShL1URI_76W4h_Th_g2hvSBXzIHJhutMCuZUeM7omNVLaGKqPOoIdKwFGJEX62KxqZ3lpZNrv3P4WvYL4jwlMck7X8p0WSMBnuAQK5HPVOio89vhDoJMqvhX=s3088" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2316" data-original-width="3088" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiquVRGCy9FM7Q7Z3Um-S9OqTfDuOCvZLt4uDxegvHN1UHtdW20AWkn-jqkbQF__NC-ShL1URI_76W4h_Th_g2hvSBXzIHJhutMCuZUeM7omNVLaGKqPOoIdKwFGJEX62KxqZ3lpZNrv3P4WvYL4jwlMck7X8p0WSMBnuAQK5HPVOio89vhDoJMqvhX=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Commander K at Haskell's Beach<br />Goleta, California<br />Near Ritz Carlton Baccara</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>California, my home state, prides itself upon its peaceful laid back attitudes. But California has not always been peaceful. The state was, for example, fought over during the Mexican-American War. The Battle of San Pascqual, fought near San Diego, featured the legendary frontiersman Kit Carson who walked some thirty miles in his bare feet to call for reinforcements. I have written earlier invasions of California that have shaped the Golden state in numerous ways...<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4122629330054677829/6084681580602878101">https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4122629330054677829/6084681580602878101</a>.</p><p>Many Californians seem to prefer to ignore the state's violent and colorful history. But we must remember ALL history if we are to truly understand the past -- the good the bad and the ugly. Everyone knows about the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 -- the 1942 Rose Bowl was played in North Carolina as a result! But many would be astonished to learn that the beautiful California coastline was actually attacked during World War II. The "Battle of Elwood" was fought almost eighty years ago near the town of Goleta. This is what we had to say in the California chapter of <b><i>America Invaded: A State by State Guide to Fighting on American Soil</i></b>...</p><div class="page" title="Page 53"><div class="layoutArea"><div class="column"><p><span style="font-family: ACaslonPro; font-size: 11pt;">"On February 23, 1942, </span><span style="font-family: ACaslonPro; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic;">I-17 </span><span style="font-family: ACaslonPro; font-size: 11pt;">surfaced near Santa Barbara. The Japanese sub used her 140mm deck guns to shell the Ellwood oil refinery with sixteen to twenty-four rounds. Damage was minimal and no one was killed or injured in the attack, but Radio Tokyo crowed, “Sensible Americans know that the submarine shelling of the Pacific coast was a warning to the nation that the Paradise created by George Washington is on the verge of destruction.”</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEguKWsVdaLeGJCQkXHhB0G9yw06j2CW584V-UrLx3UtBaVhqWdBH19mOrSqzQm2d1OEPGtF_kbfaH4zqbgCNoknW4lMt18b3YO6EHIzVsJ9crD0xt6zrHQBvQyGhg6-ZB_LHQ_MMLS_SIFokwe2_LLCNdDmdhtSZNleGjQVSYyd5tsdJMVgzJWzBDs3=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEguKWsVdaLeGJCQkXHhB0G9yw06j2CW584V-UrLx3UtBaVhqWdBH19mOrSqzQm2d1OEPGtF_kbfaH4zqbgCNoknW4lMt18b3YO6EHIzVsJ9crD0xt6zrHQBvQyGhg6-ZB_LHQ_MMLS_SIFokwe2_LLCNdDmdhtSZNleGjQVSYyd5tsdJMVgzJWzBDs3=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Battle of Elwood Plaque<br />Sandpiper Golf Club<br />Goleta, California</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: ACaslonPro; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: ACaslonPro; font-size: 11pt;">In the early morning hours of February 25, 1942, the air-raid sirens of Los Angeles sounded after an unknown aircraft triggered a blip on the radar. Anti-aircraft guns fired over ten tons of ordnance into the night sky. Eight citizens died during the “raid,” mostly due to heart attacks. The phantom raid had involved no Japanese planes. Panic had swept the West Coast. This incident later inspired Stephen Spielberg’s movie </span><span style="font-family: ACaslonPro; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic;">1941</span><span style="font-family: ACaslonPro; font-size: 11pt;">." (Source: <a href="http://www.americainvaded.com">www.americainvaded.com</a>).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: ACaslonPro;"><span style="font-size: 14.666666984558105px;">Oil had been discovered in the Santa Barbara area in 1927. An ARCO oil refinery was built in Goleta in 1938. This was the target of the 1942 submarine bombardment. In 1972 the site ws developed by Ken Hunter as the Sandpiper golf course. In 2003 billionaire Ty Warner purchased Sandpiper Golf Club...<a href="https://www.sandpipergolf.com">https://www.sandpipergolf.com</a>. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: ACaslonPro;"><span style="font-size: 14.666666984558105px;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: ACaslonPro;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjPUblQLr7EmT9SmwzymE1_ioYiZRvwklY7sinLoX1MxCRdOVlLkF9cndo8TX6hyr9-lncun1sGgQwyw3e9OGzzwaGkFg1Cv7SKsZYOrWUjPIHpdIb80Gr-AvIz-ag-uzzq9LdVTemrKsHmfVVA7q_XnQ91nAHFZ9i4-9JYN8rLxBM7Wqbw-p02_RH3=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjPUblQLr7EmT9SmwzymE1_ioYiZRvwklY7sinLoX1MxCRdOVlLkF9cndo8TX6hyr9-lncun1sGgQwyw3e9OGzzwaGkFg1Cv7SKsZYOrWUjPIHpdIb80Gr-AvIz-ag-uzzq9LdVTemrKsHmfVVA7q_XnQ91nAHFZ9i4-9JYN8rLxBM7Wqbw-p02_RH3=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Battle of Elwood Plaque<br />Sandpiper Golf Club<br />Goleta, California</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: ACaslonPro;"><br /><span style="font-size: 14.666666984558105px;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: ACaslonPro;"><span style="font-size: 14.666666984558105px;">A plaque by the clubhouse of the Sandpiper golf club reads: "Near this site at 7:07 PM February 23, 1942 the California coast at Elwood received the first naval bombardment of the United States mainland since the War of 1812..."</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: ACaslonPro; font-size: 14.666666984558105px;">The bombardment of Elwood, eighty years later, may seem somewhat trivial. But actions have consequences. Though no one was killed or even injured by the bombardment, there were consequences. This attack provided an excuse for media to whip up anti Japanese-American hysteria up and down the West coast. The incident at Elwood contributed to the subsequent incarceration of thousands of Japanese American citizens in internment camps. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: ACaslonPro;"><span style="font-size: 14.666666984558105px;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: ACaslonPro;"><span style="font-size: 14.666666984558105px;">Visitors to and residents of Santa Barbara can find signed copies of all four of my books at these fine independent book stores...</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: ACaslonPro;"><span style="font-size: 14.666666984558105px;">1) <b>Tecolote Book Shop</b>...<a href="https://www.tecolotebookshop.com">https://www.tecolotebookshop.com</a></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: ACaslonPro;">2) <b>Chaucer's Books</b>...<a href="https://www.chaucersbooks.com">https://www.chaucersbooks.com</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: ACaslonPro;"><span style="font-size: 14.666666984558105px;"><br /></span></span></p></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3FYP6JNBlVreEFDSr5LRxH4kAfi3q8pGe4_myNpFaNvFgPLsi9fuoeql_8OIJqczND3jPthLK_6oo4emamea3pYvWCzwJFLabVt1hlfyJ-jzXfEDRA7PETbJY8I99AYsexhLhfOvU2KQ/s1425/AmericaInvadedCover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1425" data-original-width="975" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3FYP6JNBlVreEFDSr5LRxH4kAfi3q8pGe4_myNpFaNvFgPLsi9fuoeql_8OIJqczND3jPthLK_6oo4emamea3pYvWCzwJFLabVt1hlfyJ-jzXfEDRA7PETbJY8I99AYsexhLhfOvU2KQ/w274-h400/AmericaInvadedCover.jpg" width="274" /></a></div><p><br /></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="sans-serif" style="text-align: start;">You can find signed copies of our books at these web sites...</span></span><br /><div style="font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.americainvades.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.americainvades.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.italyinvades.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.italyinvades.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.anadventurein1914.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.anadventurein1914.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.americainvaded.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.americainvaded.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;">!</div></div><p class="MsoCommentText" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><br style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;" /></span></p><div style="background-color: white;"><div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Or regular copies on Amazon...</span></div><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Christopher-Kelly/e/B00RW8QZG6/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1539454238&sr=8-1">www.amazon.com/Christopher-Kelly/e/B00RW8QZG6/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1539454238&sr=8-1</a></span></div><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Or on Kindle...</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B00R1ZXKMW" style="color: #888888;">www.amzn.com/B00R1ZXKMW</a></span></div><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: large;"></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B0178GCYDO" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.amzn.com/B0178GCYDO</span></a></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B01LXD1KHQ" style="color: #888888;">www.amzn.com/B01LXD1KHQ</a></span></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B073RJQ8PK" style="color: #888888;">www.amzn.com/B073RJQ8PK</a></span></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><div style="color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Listen to my interview with Bob Cudmore...<a href="http://bobcudmore.com/thehistorians/tracks/ChristopherKelly(August2017)(29)(mp3).mp3" style="color: #888888;">http://bobcudmore.com/thehistorians/tracks/ChristopherKelly(August2017)(29)(mp3).mp3</a></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And my interview...<a href="http://www.thebook-club.com/blog/bookshelf-interview-with-christopher-kelly">www.thebook-club.com/blog/bookshelf-interview-with-christopher-kelly</a></span></div><div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">And my most recent interview...<a href="http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2018/08/17/america-invaded-christopher-kelly">http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2018/08/17/america-invaded-christopher-kelly</a></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></div></div></div><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDoeyNMdF50gbFwB0rpW653q2JIs2MMVzRMgK1cHxRnm6Tx8TRAPC5nC8XQoVix417JB3GoSCpqx-avX5AZWWbv_7IsfE-3UHdkXhqNdHyINvceNPQrwg1A2aWXC4jBBogRaF7Fr9qU1A/s600/AICover.jpg" style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="405" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDoeyNMdF50gbFwB0rpW653q2JIs2MMVzRMgK1cHxRnm6Tx8TRAPC5nC8XQoVix417JB3GoSCpqx-avX5AZWWbv_7IsfE-3UHdkXhqNdHyINvceNPQrwg1A2aWXC4jBBogRaF7Fr9qU1A/w270-h400/AICover.jpg" width="270" /></a> </p>Commander Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03602902461964252463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122629330054677829.post-7060289468420056852021-12-21T08:53:00.004-08:002021-12-21T09:00:27.730-08:00Graf Spee and Montevideo<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiq0fbjMV1cpqWEJrrIguukVASkzLW2iaHNL_3NAnIS1uA6f_-T-2706NUkOYGP6uNGuvRdG9krpLj1lPWIIrR54Btbatx8S-0IyE1TpXJLnhrun7E7OPbMkg-I5fzaBm34GbU37i7kWRl5g9BsW21PiRrUJFGxFc31IpZ23zTy9UIPcC7DxMk3k6nK=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiq0fbjMV1cpqWEJrrIguukVASkzLW2iaHNL_3NAnIS1uA6f_-T-2706NUkOYGP6uNGuvRdG9krpLj1lPWIIrR54Btbatx8S-0IyE1TpXJLnhrun7E7OPbMkg-I5fzaBm34GbU37i7kWRl5g9BsW21PiRrUJFGxFc31IpZ23zTy9UIPcC7DxMk3k6nK=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Admiral Graf Spee<br />Maritime Museum of Montevideo</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p>The <i>Admiral Graf Spee</i> was a German "pocket battleship" of ten thousand tons that was launched with considerable Nazi fanfare in 1936. She was armed with six 11" guns in two triple gun turrets. She was a fast ship capable of cruising at 28 knots. Prior to the German invasion of Poland which commenced on September 1939 the <i>Graf Spee</i> was ordered to deploy to the South Atlantic. With the outbreak of WW2 Captain Hans Langsdorff led her on a spree of destruction in the waters of the South Atlantic. She sank nine merchant vessels accounting for a tonnage greater than 50,000.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiAC3yvXuRKozuGYJa9UJo_mvziDXNA6Jbed8R3pvPXuc1sRztnhO6hGABaxDfuDDPq-MZpwjoPtbCDCTnEz3IcPrZWrKZ25CTOkD-a2wwrCjjqqxghmJ7jTOvh_M1mc9MZTgRgGZpuefX7DStk2UzajLTh8rtgcX28hUd5aITHUoioI9XlOzxWcSFN=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiAC3yvXuRKozuGYJa9UJo_mvziDXNA6Jbed8R3pvPXuc1sRztnhO6hGABaxDfuDDPq-MZpwjoPtbCDCTnEz3IcPrZWrKZ25CTOkD-a2wwrCjjqqxghmJ7jTOvh_M1mc9MZTgRgGZpuefX7DStk2UzajLTh8rtgcX28hUd5aITHUoioI9XlOzxWcSFN=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Battle of River Plate Plaque<br />Maritime Museum of Montevideo<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The Royal Navy responded by vectoring in three warships to confront the Graf Spee...the HMS <i>Ajax</i>, HMS <i>Achilles</i> (Royal New Zealand Navy) and HMS <i>Exeter</i>. This intercepting fleet of cruisers was commanded by Commodore Henry Harwood. Each of the three Allied ships was smaller and less formidably armed than the Graf Spee. But Harwood relied upon superior numbers to take on the <i>Graf Spee</i> at the Battle of the River Plate which was fought on December 13, 1939. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj4Y4Hk2Kst23jpUkR2qwl6a5p2cMLD7bsjGxXXVYD2Z_qOtbPBEMAY_F-1Qhxi_jkDd8aGhftAZkCm2Mme82pTElxr122x-1MhpIqDnCIB-Qp13wKF95xF-sd8nt-WERuyJaLMniI3SPY2RX2Hw9s_g-qEDym5zKI398cN39KCQprL4b-G9xmNDMtJ=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj4Y4Hk2Kst23jpUkR2qwl6a5p2cMLD7bsjGxXXVYD2Z_qOtbPBEMAY_F-1Qhxi_jkDd8aGhftAZkCm2Mme82pTElxr122x-1MhpIqDnCIB-Qp13wKF95xF-sd8nt-WERuyJaLMniI3SPY2RX2Hw9s_g-qEDym5zKI398cN39KCQprL4b-G9xmNDMtJ=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anchor of HMS <i>Ajax</i><br />Punta del Este, Uruguay</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>The battle was inconclusive. The <i>Graf Spee</i> inflicted damage on the three Allied ships but was also damaged herself. Captain Langsdorff was wounded twice by splinters while standing at the bridge. The <i>Graf Spee</i> was forced to retreat to the Uruguayan capital of Montevideo where Langsdorff requested two weeks time to make repairs to the ship. Uruguay, a neutral nation, only permitted the <i>Graf Spee</i> 72 hours to repair the vessel.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiPH2CzXtggmtuf0L3_P1-Y4V1BtizUru9GZ5HRWpbIdJ4Vew4bdsMzAAhXap1LYTvmeSN9tMF-iip2HAHIPYxOsh_kQWMb08moPqeODxqv1rNIsfFTkzX3vnO9x7AZ76XBjTaiWjP4QQTRDvAC7FlEMAP-wX0FwQwWW_Q5xUPclSc3q6tRGB5UW1fc=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiPH2CzXtggmtuf0L3_P1-Y4V1BtizUru9GZ5HRWpbIdJ4Vew4bdsMzAAhXap1LYTvmeSN9tMF-iip2HAHIPYxOsh_kQWMb08moPqeODxqv1rNIsfFTkzX3vnO9x7AZ76XBjTaiWjP4QQTRDvAC7FlEMAP-wX0FwQwWW_Q5xUPclSc3q6tRGB5UW1fc=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adolph Hitler Plaque<br />From <i>Graf Spee</i><br />Maritime Museum Montevideo</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Langsdorff believed, mistakenly, that more than three Allied ships lay in wait to intercept the <i>Graf Spee</i> if it should leave Montevideo. He decided that a second Battle of the River Plate was not worth the risk. He chose to scuttle his ship on December 17 outside Montevideo harbor. He then proceeded to Buenos Aires where he blew his brains out in a hotel room while lying in the ship's ensign. Many German sailors and officers, stranded in Uruguay, made their way to Argentina for the duration of the war. Artifacts from the wreck of the <i>Graf Spee</i> have been recovered over the years since. Many were sold to collectors. A few can be found at the Maritime Museum of Montevideo...<a href="http://www.histarmar.com.ar/Museos/MuseoNavalMontevideo.htm">http://www.histarmar.com.ar/Museos/MuseoNavalMontevideo.htm</a>.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhrNglkalLXBblQ2AD4aogj36AVJHWAt5deU8wFkiWEsucStSzRxtwA13G3UnWsdGtRgVo2E9ENlk5duSNDnjx6kyp-TLpRInPZkZyNaj_EnrAssP5LF_ZPeQ_ZgOfaF6VcpQDcPM42bywGE_ij__p4FuM4lJlhgUQGdlUZ91lF1iQMNhMxdRGTfvEb=s253" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="199" data-original-width="253" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhrNglkalLXBblQ2AD4aogj36AVJHWAt5deU8wFkiWEsucStSzRxtwA13G3UnWsdGtRgVo2E9ENlk5duSNDnjx6kyp-TLpRInPZkZyNaj_EnrAssP5LF_ZPeQ_ZgOfaF6VcpQDcPM42bywGE_ij__p4FuM4lJlhgUQGdlUZ91lF1iQMNhMxdRGTfvEb=w400-h315" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Churchill heartily congratulates sailors of the HMS Ajax <br />who vanquished the Graf Spee</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Winston Churchill, head of the admiralty in December 1939, celebrated the Allied victory over the <i>Graf Spee</i> with gusto. Churchill knew that Harwood and the British had essentially bamboozled Langsdorff into overestimating Allied naval strength in the South 'Atlantic. Had the <i>Graf Spee</i> chosen to challenge the Allied blockade of Montevideo she could, perhaps, have damaged a British cruiser and escaped to wreak more havoc upon Allied merchant shipping.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjz3u6R2pjfnPwBtiLG4n9A_7RYJ9bLe9Wyn6dgdMyUpZTTT7eDXAY1x5CW-mFI_0wu2Hl5hYsrxMl53sGB9jqqcAVb9oQAmDOCv7ZItXFepSGSM63uIT2VsQjXffftVnYA6VY5qwE3Mne-uYRuaAPvYwulYG8MTkYPflfFPnhP8OOePxoTIsJFubJN=s261" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="261" data-original-width="193" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjz3u6R2pjfnPwBtiLG4n9A_7RYJ9bLe9Wyn6dgdMyUpZTTT7eDXAY1x5CW-mFI_0wu2Hl5hYsrxMl53sGB9jqqcAVb9oQAmDOCv7ZItXFepSGSM63uIT2VsQjXffftVnYA6VY5qwE3Mne-uYRuaAPvYwulYG8MTkYPflfFPnhP8OOePxoTIsJFubJN=w296-h400" width="296" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Falklands War<br />1982</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>The legacy of the victory over the <i>Graf Spee</i> lives on. The Royal Navy, the nation's senior service, has had a proud winning tradition from Drake to Nelson. In 1982 the Royal Navy would be tested again when the Argentine Junta invaded the Falklands islands. Thatcher dispatched a Royal Navy fleet 8,000 nautical miles to the South Atlantic to liberate them from Argentine control. The United States remained officially neutral but Reagan helped to provide fuel, ammunition and intelligence in the campaign. The Argentine Cruiser <i>Belgrano</i> was torpedoed and sunk on May 2, 1982 by HMS <i>Conqueror</i> costing 323 lives. The Belgrano has originally been the USS <i>Phoenix</i> -- a Brooklyn class cruiser in the US Navy. She was a veteran of Pearl Harbor and had once served as MacArthur's flagship.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhRR8I_xIRtS7cC5Pkt6Eze9tDZwCW-0jKIo-8xXjX7ecOvExLBgQj-W9j4FCju6bF3JRjG3vYRGQpi4qY0fCCAQBbsWLv4SXmOsODCqGq4rVhHHu0K1p_omIsJdIWZ_5Za13POJP2qPctvHTf0aelT0DppD2cxelE7fwgIepUfG4nt1TqCI--Ne4A5=s278" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="182" data-original-width="278" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhRR8I_xIRtS7cC5Pkt6Eze9tDZwCW-0jKIo-8xXjX7ecOvExLBgQj-W9j4FCju6bF3JRjG3vYRGQpi4qY0fCCAQBbsWLv4SXmOsODCqGq4rVhHHu0K1p_omIsJdIWZ_5Za13POJP2qPctvHTf0aelT0DppD2cxelE7fwgIepUfG4nt1TqCI--Ne4A5=w400-h262" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sinking of Belgrano</td></tr></tbody></table><p><b><i>Tourist Notes</i></b>: The Maritime Museum of Montevideo is a small but excellent institution which preserves Uruguayan naval history...<a href="http://www.histarmar.com.ar/Museos/MuseoNavalMontevideo.htm">http://www.histarmar.com.ar/Museos/MuseoNavalMontevideo.htm</a>. They even have a cannon from the HMS Agamemnon that was captained by Horatio Nelson. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjtF5VlwTYBN85BE3fRq0QeWF7vUFZXPcuLlmnQqEiW2qlVEHNW_Kiq1ZSsBVhB-o_PPS0KImnYPEWPEvWGk_ruraJmurY3gKYj9KnUgn7ndR5FELeT0d-qbkcwwpjwBoaHUt9VL9nwUuCnFs4ZSY4GkLIuJj_ksLNdu1KZPN0T_9vU0i-yoBYJTIhQ=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjtF5VlwTYBN85BE3fRq0QeWF7vUFZXPcuLlmnQqEiW2qlVEHNW_Kiq1ZSsBVhB-o_PPS0KImnYPEWPEvWGk_ruraJmurY3gKYj9KnUgn7ndR5FELeT0d-qbkcwwpjwBoaHUt9VL9nwUuCnFs4ZSY4GkLIuJj_ksLNdu1KZPN0T_9vU0i-yoBYJTIhQ=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cannon from HMS Agamemnon<br />Maritime Museum of Montevideo<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Many of the Uruguayan wines are delicious. I particularly enjoyed the Tannat Reserve produced by Bodega Garzon...<a href="https://bodegagarzon.com/en/wine/reserva-tannat-2016/">https://bodegagarzon.com/en/wine/reserva-tannat-2016/</a>.<div><br /></div><div>Finally, when you visit Uruguay's capital don't forget to bring some quarters -- in order to play the Montevideo games!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3FYP6JNBlVreEFDSr5LRxH4kAfi3q8pGe4_myNpFaNvFgPLsi9fuoeql_8OIJqczND3jPthLK_6oo4emamea3pYvWCzwJFLabVt1hlfyJ-jzXfEDRA7PETbJY8I99AYsexhLhfOvU2KQ/s1425/AmericaInvadedCover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1425" data-original-width="975" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3FYP6JNBlVreEFDSr5LRxH4kAfi3q8pGe4_myNpFaNvFgPLsi9fuoeql_8OIJqczND3jPthLK_6oo4emamea3pYvWCzwJFLabVt1hlfyJ-jzXfEDRA7PETbJY8I99AYsexhLhfOvU2KQ/w274-h400/AmericaInvadedCover.jpg" width="274" /></a></div><p><br /></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="sans-serif" style="text-align: start;">You can find signed copies of our books at these web sites...</span></span><br /><div style="font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.americainvades.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.americainvades.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.italyinvades.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.italyinvades.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.anadventurein1914.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.anadventurein1914.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.americainvaded.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.americainvaded.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;">!</div></div><p class="MsoCommentText" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><br style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;" /></span></p><div style="background-color: white;"><div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Or regular copies on Amazon...</span></div><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Christopher-Kelly/e/B00RW8QZG6/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1539454238&sr=8-1">www.amazon.com/Christopher-Kelly/e/B00RW8QZG6/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1539454238&sr=8-1</a></span></div><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Or on Kindle...</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B00R1ZXKMW" style="color: #888888;">www.amzn.com/B00R1ZXKMW</a></span></div><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: large;"></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B0178GCYDO" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.amzn.com/B0178GCYDO</span></a></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B01LXD1KHQ" style="color: #888888;">www.amzn.com/B01LXD1KHQ</a></span></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B073RJQ8PK" style="color: #888888;">www.amzn.com/B073RJQ8PK</a></span></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><div style="color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Listen to my interview with Bob Cudmore...<a href="http://bobcudmore.com/thehistorians/tracks/ChristopherKelly(August2017)(29)(mp3).mp3" style="color: #888888;">http://bobcudmore.com/thehistorians/tracks/ChristopherKelly(August2017)(29)(mp3).mp3</a></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And my interview...<a href="http://www.thebook-club.com/blog/bookshelf-interview-with-christopher-kelly">www.thebook-club.com/blog/bookshelf-interview-with-christopher-kelly</a></span></div><div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">And my most recent interview...<a href="http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2018/08/17/america-invaded-christopher-kelly">http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2018/08/17/america-invaded-christopher-kelly</a></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></div></div></div><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDoeyNMdF50gbFwB0rpW653q2JIs2MMVzRMgK1cHxRnm6Tx8TRAPC5nC8XQoVix417JB3GoSCpqx-avX5AZWWbv_7IsfE-3UHdkXhqNdHyINvceNPQrwg1A2aWXC4jBBogRaF7Fr9qU1A/s600/AICover.jpg" style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="405" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDoeyNMdF50gbFwB0rpW653q2JIs2MMVzRMgK1cHxRnm6Tx8TRAPC5nC8XQoVix417JB3GoSCpqx-avX5AZWWbv_7IsfE-3UHdkXhqNdHyINvceNPQrwg1A2aWXC4jBBogRaF7Fr9qU1A/w270-h400/AICover.jpg" width="270" /></a> </p></div>Commander Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03602902461964252463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122629330054677829.post-66021149415372223402021-12-01T13:12:00.001-08:002021-12-01T13:12:25.963-08:00Invading Madeira<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEthVF88_PdVgb0IvSiba2vMT9xXD8O_j2MSP8IZvYmd92ZDDlUvFXSDeK1goB3TIepYSi_KrMZT-MaGSXlWIlWLtnveeB4ErRPBM3qy5bdOC7jAky6TGWZ_V2QccOyAYoUmYgOt5DKNo/s2048/IMG_5140.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEthVF88_PdVgb0IvSiba2vMT9xXD8O_j2MSP8IZvYmd92ZDDlUvFXSDeK1goB3TIepYSi_KrMZT-MaGSXlWIlWLtnveeB4ErRPBM3qy5bdOC7jAky6TGWZ_V2QccOyAYoUmYgOt5DKNo/w640-h480/IMG_5140.HEIC" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Commander K <br />"Invading" Madeira 2021</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p>Madeira is a small but beautiful island off the coast of West Africa. It is a hilly mountain rising up from the sea. A fertile garden archipelago surrounded by blue.</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgltR0mBI_alqgNRzKV3WNaTzdt2QtsxTIwBuT5BDMFCqOLioVvYjpvghScrfFp9pykgNpmJVT2W2k1UY7jb9_XRrOq_hEgO2tpj8ZU8nrBSZLfrA1hvErvx1Xdd3TimkJSMxn80-eP68k/s2048/IMG_5159.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgltR0mBI_alqgNRzKV3WNaTzdt2QtsxTIwBuT5BDMFCqOLioVvYjpvghScrfFp9pykgNpmJVT2W2k1UY7jb9_XRrOq_hEgO2tpj8ZU8nrBSZLfrA1hvErvx1Xdd3TimkJSMxn80-eP68k/w300-h400/IMG_5159.HEIC" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Henry the Navigator<br />1394 - 1460<br />Funchal, Madeira<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The Greek philosopher Plutarch described two islands off the coast of Africa as being the isles of the Blessed. There is some evidence that Vikings may have visited these islands. But it was really two Portuguese captains who officially discovered these islands in 1418. One of these, João Gonçalves Zarco, was appointed first captain of Funchal by Henry the Navigator (1394 - 1460). Henry was the prime mover behind the Portuguese era of exploration. Under his leadership, the Portuguese began to colonize Madeira after 1420. Funchal remains the capital of the Madeira archipelago.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibA1rurJLNcj_dhtFaaO3bY48WYamgEMoRlHrWDFmMXZELP4hUJ2FVTmxwB0aIuj0yqIWgBbvpfp1_79De6x60OK8g-ZHO1IHCCduTv0PIxSei-7WOExnRISLrcNkEQTsWMgkVM6rd_MA/s2048/IMG_5168.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibA1rurJLNcj_dhtFaaO3bY48WYamgEMoRlHrWDFmMXZELP4hUJ2FVTmxwB0aIuj0yqIWgBbvpfp1_79De6x60OK8g-ZHO1IHCCduTv0PIxSei-7WOExnRISLrcNkEQTsWMgkVM6rd_MA/w300-h400/IMG_5168.HEIC" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">João Gonçalves Zarco<br />1390 - 1471</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>In 1617 Barbary corsairs from North Africa raided Porto Santo and captured around 1,200 people. During this period the Barbary pirates were raiding throughout the Mediterranean and as far as Ireland.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpHDXb3wzFTf0iTl4v27lX-VqrCmr0EgKCTPoVfNuhm6vNYe8hEYglftnwUtYqMWldyrPxWRIoldE4N8yJNBAV6hGM6nUT4bYnV4F7mrUK4ejx00RjOVL6JHzg_CYAzNEJZ0lIEKAZy6g/s770/USSConstitutionvsHMSJava.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="770" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpHDXb3wzFTf0iTl4v27lX-VqrCmr0EgKCTPoVfNuhm6vNYe8hEYglftnwUtYqMWldyrPxWRIoldE4N8yJNBAV6hGM6nUT4bYnV4F7mrUK4ejx00RjOVL6JHzg_CYAzNEJZ0lIEKAZy6g/w400-h311/USSConstitutionvsHMSJava.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">USS <i>Constitution</i> vs HMS Java<br />Geoff Hunt (Author's collection)<br />She was christened with Madeira wine<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Madeira is famous for its sweet wine that has been produced for centuries. Thomas Jefferson was a fan of madeira wine. The USS <i>Constitution</i> was christened in 1797 with a bottle of madeira. The fortified wine was immortalized in the ribald Flanders and Swann song <b><i>Have Some Madeira M'Dear</i></b>...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OW_zi8n4HDQ" width="320" youtube-src-id="OW_zi8n4HDQ"></iframe></div><br /><p>Lying near the equator the island was fertile and suitable for growing sugar cane. Slave labor from Africa was utilized in the sugar plantations.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYdK84IxAmWpucp2hk-z6DBvMrlGLOzqPWORndCf4NphsQbJKCgBmCnrZeZlU-uqY-RMV6myq-5qzi6QmW0Z1OWNstDE0TKsC_meM7WJIg0TexEUt34xmnyvv87UuF8fMJsTMrUHPDWR0/s499/AlltheCountries.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="307" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYdK84IxAmWpucp2hk-z6DBvMrlGLOzqPWORndCf4NphsQbJKCgBmCnrZeZlU-uqY-RMV6myq-5qzi6QmW0Z1OWNstDE0TKsC_meM7WJIg0TexEUt34xmnyvv87UuF8fMJsTMrUHPDWR0/w246-h400/AlltheCountries.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>In 2012 my coauthor, Stuart Laycock, wrote a book called <b><i>All the Countries We've Invaded...And the Few We haven't gotten around to </i></b>(<a href="https://www.amazon.com/All-Countries-Weve-Ever-Invaded/dp/0750952121/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1ELTYR1LS8YWE&keywords=all+the+countries+we%27ve+ever+invaded&qid=1638388447&sprefix=all+the+countries+%2Caps%2C1515&sr=8-1">https://www.amazon.com/All-Countries-Weve-Ever-Invaded/dp/0750952121/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1ELTYR1LS8YWE&keywords=all+the+countries+we%27ve+ever+invaded&qid=1638388447&sprefix=all+the+countries+%2Caps%2C1515&sr=8-1</a>). He describes how the British have invaded or fought in 90% of all the countries in the world. The British invaded Madeira as well. In 1801 they first occupied occupied Madeira. The left in 1802 in accordance with the Peace of Amiens only to reoccupy the island in 1807. They held onto the island until the end of the Peninsular War when they returned control of the island to their Portuguese ally. </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuNfKtzF1oDkZR0KMfiK9ruidbLMLSfBrN5ZeO_jwg1cAtGlbYoa-3OZzpPRafBENyj0hiNMh-RdcajIJ_cUVDX6M8RIGjb33mhx4gVsExeMFh_Lq69d3hdIt59HR13HGPNILCxeClzxg/s2048/IMG_5148.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuNfKtzF1oDkZR0KMfiK9ruidbLMLSfBrN5ZeO_jwg1cAtGlbYoa-3OZzpPRafBENyj0hiNMh-RdcajIJ_cUVDX6M8RIGjb33mhx4gVsExeMFh_Lq69d3hdIt59HR13HGPNILCxeClzxg/w400-h300/IMG_5148.HEIC" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Churchill in Funchal</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>Winston Churchill was fond of Madeira. He, like so many other tourists, arrived in Funchal in January 1950 from a cruise liner -- the Durban Castle. He and Clemmie stayed at Reid's hotel which has recently reopened after a brief closure due to the Covid-19 pandemic (<a href="https://www.belmond.com/hotels/europe/portugal/madeira/belmond-reids-palace/">https://www.belmond.com/hotels/europe/portugal/madeira/belmond-reids-palace/</a>). Churchill enjoyed painting the islands' scenic landscapes.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjePEDqpbH_5n7wrCnSBRGRTgVOH-D-u1WmCd3_l_xz-dLCaM6RFAvRJkGOO0ycMN4XJGvgyp7nzq3iyqdXQGw2MthwYLOxYbFZDUFYnodBBUywEjz4zoQDBGpkGzmMfTbOkouOANg5Phc/s2048/IMG_5160.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjePEDqpbH_5n7wrCnSBRGRTgVOH-D-u1WmCd3_l_xz-dLCaM6RFAvRJkGOO0ycMN4XJGvgyp7nzq3iyqdXQGw2MthwYLOxYbFZDUFYnodBBUywEjz4zoQDBGpkGzmMfTbOkouOANg5Phc/w300-h400/IMG_5160.HEIC" width="300" /></a></div><p>In March of 1916 Imperial Germany declared war on Portugal in World War I. As a result, war came to the normally peaceful Madeira islands later that year on New Year's Eve, 1916 when a German U-boat crept into Funchal harbor and sank one British and two French vessels. The aggressive German sub rose to the surface and proceeded to bombard Funchal with its deck guns. Three residents were killed in the attack which lasted about two hours before the U-boat was driven off by shore batteries.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNw1ohWcJLiUQBhrClii-iTWL8NkXg_TwJaYNPS701ECbMcdjU_VcF4hg3zEKwIiqfv5Tgb-2yd7fpxBKAl-UBUxx4f-LhQlx-mOOphC02BBkFP9-5y-5BzTxo48E8AWeHqAD4JmIbne4/s1230/Adventure1914.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1230" data-original-width="876" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNw1ohWcJLiUQBhrClii-iTWL8NkXg_TwJaYNPS701ECbMcdjU_VcF4hg3zEKwIiqfv5Tgb-2yd7fpxBKAl-UBUxx4f-LhQlx-mOOphC02BBkFP9-5y-5BzTxo48E8AWeHqAD4JmIbne4/w285-h400/Adventure1914.jpg" width="285" /></a></div><p>Karl I, the last emperor of Austria Hungary was exiled to Madeira after World War I. The last Hapsburg monarch died of bronchitis at age 34 and is buried at the church of Our Lady of the Mount in Madeira. The assassination of his older brother, Franz Joseph, in Sarajevo in June of 1914 was the even that triggered the start of World War I. My great grandfather, Thomas Tileston Wells, was crossing the Atlantic to Europe with his wife and family at the time of the assassination (<a href="http://www.anadventurein1914.com">www.anadventurein1914.com</a>).</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1vgiBxC18ccCAAGXXXgMhLRYSGSWEmQx9RP27crSG4h8FABwvCNvDk0j9WLTJmg4f0FUrL3OHeW9I5U953jQ8RMzv2Hc0PKtzepnybaF6-wnGde5PWJ6RivNqiKXYcRfFffY8N2hWmuI/s2048/IMG_5170.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1vgiBxC18ccCAAGXXXgMhLRYSGSWEmQx9RP27crSG4h8FABwvCNvDk0j9WLTJmg4f0FUrL3OHeW9I5U953jQ8RMzv2Hc0PKtzepnybaF6-wnGde5PWJ6RivNqiKXYcRfFffY8N2hWmuI/w300-h400/IMG_5170.HEIC" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Funchal<br />Madeira</td></tr></tbody></table><p>In 2019 about 1 1/2 million tourists visited the Madeira archipelago which compares with a local population of about a 1/4 million. Tourism accounts for about 20% of the local economy. </p><p>Commander K says by all means, "Have some Madeira, M'dears!"</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj0JCio_xbf6TTzXxGvSNjOdhJFTppJa6FaADXUMqcsYXJ_jrxPfN1mGzHXpyeX_yLGdifmyVaq3vNOjByioonhRdrBl74tv8iqR51Huks9WGfswUEpKaY1g0t2PhgteCG6YpPrW2lMFg/s2048/IMG_5186.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj0JCio_xbf6TTzXxGvSNjOdhJFTppJa6FaADXUMqcsYXJ_jrxPfN1mGzHXpyeX_yLGdifmyVaq3vNOjByioonhRdrBl74tv8iqR51Huks9WGfswUEpKaY1g0t2PhgteCG6YpPrW2lMFg/w400-h300/IMG_5186.HEIC" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Viking Jupiter<br />Funchal, Madeira</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Tourist Notes: I had the pleasure of visiting Madeira in November 2021 while sailing with the Viking Jupiter from Barcelona to Buenos Aires. Viking is an excellent Cruise line...<a href="https://www.vikingcruises.com">https://www.vikingcruises.com</a></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3FYP6JNBlVreEFDSr5LRxH4kAfi3q8pGe4_myNpFaNvFgPLsi9fuoeql_8OIJqczND3jPthLK_6oo4emamea3pYvWCzwJFLabVt1hlfyJ-jzXfEDRA7PETbJY8I99AYsexhLhfOvU2KQ/s1425/AmericaInvadedCover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1425" data-original-width="975" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3FYP6JNBlVreEFDSr5LRxH4kAfi3q8pGe4_myNpFaNvFgPLsi9fuoeql_8OIJqczND3jPthLK_6oo4emamea3pYvWCzwJFLabVt1hlfyJ-jzXfEDRA7PETbJY8I99AYsexhLhfOvU2KQ/w274-h400/AmericaInvadedCover.jpg" width="274" /></a></div><p><br /></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="sans-serif" style="text-align: start;">You can find signed copies of our books at these web sites...</span></span><br /><div style="font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.americainvades.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.americainvades.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.italyinvades.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.italyinvades.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.anadventurein1914.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.anadventurein1914.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.americainvaded.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.americainvaded.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;">!</div></div><p class="MsoCommentText" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><br style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;" /></span></p><div style="background-color: white;"><div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Or regular copies on Amazon...</span></div><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Christopher-Kelly/e/B00RW8QZG6/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1539454238&sr=8-1">www.amazon.com/Christopher-Kelly/e/B00RW8QZG6/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1539454238&sr=8-1</a></span></div><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Or on Kindle...</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B00R1ZXKMW" style="color: #888888;">www.amzn.com/B00R1ZXKMW</a></span></div><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: large;"></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B0178GCYDO" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.amzn.com/B0178GCYDO</span></a></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B01LXD1KHQ" style="color: #888888;">www.amzn.com/B01LXD1KHQ</a></span></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B073RJQ8PK" style="color: #888888;">www.amzn.com/B073RJQ8PK</a></span></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><div style="color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Listen to my interview with Bob Cudmore...<a href="http://bobcudmore.com/thehistorians/tracks/ChristopherKelly(August2017)(29)(mp3).mp3" style="color: #888888;">http://bobcudmore.com/thehistorians/tracks/ChristopherKelly(August2017)(29)(mp3).mp3</a></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And my interview...<a href="http://www.thebook-club.com/blog/bookshelf-interview-with-christopher-kelly">www.thebook-club.com/blog/bookshelf-interview-with-christopher-kelly</a></span></div><div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">And my most recent interview...<a href="http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2018/08/17/america-invaded-christopher-kelly">http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2018/08/17/america-invaded-christopher-kelly</a></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDoeyNMdF50gbFwB0rpW653q2JIs2MMVzRMgK1cHxRnm6Tx8TRAPC5nC8XQoVix417JB3GoSCpqx-avX5AZWWbv_7IsfE-3UHdkXhqNdHyINvceNPQrwg1A2aWXC4jBBogRaF7Fr9qU1A/s600/AICover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="405" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDoeyNMdF50gbFwB0rpW653q2JIs2MMVzRMgK1cHxRnm6Tx8TRAPC5nC8XQoVix417JB3GoSCpqx-avX5AZWWbv_7IsfE-3UHdkXhqNdHyINvceNPQrwg1A2aWXC4jBBogRaF7Fr9qU1A/w270-h400/AICover.jpg" width="270" /></a></div></div></div></div>Commander Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03602902461964252463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122629330054677829.post-7525079542406544692021-11-27T11:53:00.001-08:002021-12-01T11:51:24.207-08:00Mission: Jimmy Stewart and the Fight for Europe<div class="separator"> </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxLB62OVZTTXg4Sw-5aMKx5s12rVEIJa3r3diUccGmHLaCcw6eB88jXRFEdm8cGOPvKB4BOkGtWy3AqdNohjCBzXalaFpTbKLvmsVXv6HRJ4RrHDRQ_7SwMisWnfsFXu-CYFbOHkqjnhU/s275/Unknown-98.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="183" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxLB62OVZTTXg4Sw-5aMKx5s12rVEIJa3r3diUccGmHLaCcw6eB88jXRFEdm8cGOPvKB4BOkGtWy3AqdNohjCBzXalaFpTbKLvmsVXv6HRJ4RrHDRQ_7SwMisWnfsFXu-CYFbOHkqjnhU/w426-h640/Unknown-98.jpeg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jimmy Stewart<br />1908 - 1997</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p>Robert Matzen's <b><i>Mission: Jimmy Stewart and the Fight for Europe </i></b>was published in 2016 (<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mission-Jimmy-Stewart-Fight-Europe/dp/173227357X/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1638016209&sr=8-1">https://www.amazon.com/Mission-Jimmy-Stewart-Fight-Europe/dp/173227357X/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1638016209&sr=8-1</a>). Jimmy Stewart was a remarkable American actor and a remarkable man as well. Stewart's family had a strong military tradition. His grandfather, the original James Stewart, served in the Union army in the US Civil War with Phil Sheridan. His father, Alex, had served as a doughboy in the American Expeditionary forces in WWI.</p><p>Jimmy Stewart seemed to be on an altogether different life path. He attended Princeton University where he participated in theatrical programs. He became a close friend of Henry Fonda. This Pennsylvania native moved west to Hollywood to pursue a career in film acting. Stewart shot to the top of his profession. In 1941 he won an academy award for best actor for his role in <b><i>The Philadelphia Story</i></b>.</p><p>But the drumbeat of war did not escape the attention of Stewart who had trained as a pilot in preparation for war. In March of 1941, months before the attack on Pearl Harbor, Stewart received an ORDER TO REPORT FOR INDUCTION as a US Army reservist. Though he was 33 years old in 1941 and considerably older that his peers in U.S. Army Air Corps but Stewart was determined to become an active duty pilot. He even defied the wishes of his studio boss Louis B. Mayer who had hoped to keep Stewart safe and stateside making propaganda pictures during the war. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTpzW1u6NZfGprHGnhmF4lQvO9TfR663LTvr4nMe-HZJ_avEvsnjHS3gVynAbU2afFaYHcLOrPsOmjiY0oyZ0qq17MN4Tl0ksOvBsVZKfYzSMJJS8W-oNfF5Z1iRzzMrFLR7BlcSfRsF4/s2048/IMG_3972.HEIC" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTpzW1u6NZfGprHGnhmF4lQvO9TfR663LTvr4nMe-HZJ_avEvsnjHS3gVynAbU2afFaYHcLOrPsOmjiY0oyZ0qq17MN4Tl0ksOvBsVZKfYzSMJJS8W-oNfF5Z1iRzzMrFLR7BlcSfRsF4/w400-h300/IMG_3972.HEIC" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">B-24 Liberator Stained Glass<br />National Museum of the Mighty 8th Air Force<br />Pooler, GA</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Stewart was training at Moffett Field in California when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. He later trained at Gowen Field in Idaho and Kirkland Field in New Mexico.</p><p>After his training, Stewart was posted to Tibenham in East Anglia in the UK. Stewart piloted a B-24 Liberator bomber in the 445th Bomb Group of the "Mighty" 8th Army Air Force. The B-24 was a notoriously difficult plane to fly. Stewart mastered the tricky plane and flew in twenty combat missions over Nazi occupied Europe. He served as a chief of staff for missions that bombed targets in occupied France prior to the Normandy invasion in June 1944. Nor did he seek publicity for his wartime service while in the military.</p><p>Flying daylight bombing missions was incredibly hazardous. The Germans sent up a cloud to flak from their AA guns positioned all over occupied Europe. Luftwaffe pilots were usually experienced and well equipped. The Fock Wolf 190 was a fast and capable interceptor. The final stages of the war saw the introduction of German jet fighters such as ME-262 that could reach speeds of 515 mph. Stewart's final mission involved bombing a jet fighter factory near Achmer. </p><p>In addition to enemy action, simply flying the Liberator in formation could be extremely hazardous. Accidents cost many lives in the course of the war. The <i>Sunflower Sue</i>, for example, was lost with its crew of ten and four passengers while flying over the Caribbean en route from Puerto Rico to British Guyana.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ5ADn_A5cYuJVz6jxGvJb_DnyiRBGSFBY4UsfibEc5-Ep8hTUOKBGA7xaDb50Pldw2yAsrVXItWIIaIOz_HAOpjAGfVCxFkpI8L8FtmmGZcSesrZV2a2nCk4lmHeIbSC9-PR_5OU34tc/s264/Unknown-99.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="191" data-original-width="264" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ5ADn_A5cYuJVz6jxGvJb_DnyiRBGSFBY4UsfibEc5-Ep8hTUOKBGA7xaDb50Pldw2yAsrVXItWIIaIOz_HAOpjAGfVCxFkpI8L8FtmmGZcSesrZV2a2nCk4lmHeIbSC9-PR_5OU34tc/w400-h289/Unknown-99.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Colonel Stewart<br />445th Bomber Wing</td></tr></tbody></table><br /> Jimmy Stewart earned the silver eagles of a full colonel. In that capacity he wrote many condolence letters to the families of downed airmen.<p></p><p>After the war was over and Stewart was discharged he refused to talk to the press about his wartime experiences. He never sought to profit from his war service in any way. He continued to serve in the reserve. During the Vietnam War he rose to the rank of Brigadier General in the US Air Force. He flew on a B-52 mission over Vietnam as an observer.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/O4ne13Zft9Q" width="320" youtube-src-id="O4ne13Zft9Q"></iframe></div><br /><p>In 1946 Stewart starred as George Bailey in Frank Capra's <b style="font-style: italic;">It's a Wonderful Life. </b>Ironically, Bailey, despite his severe wanderlust, stayed home and built up the Building and Loan while his brother went off to war. The film received scant attention at the time but went on to become a Christmas classic. Stewart had been a witness to the full horrors of war and these experiences unquestionably deepened and informed his acting. Matzen's book barely mentions the incredible work that Stewart did with Alfred Hitchcock in <b><i>Vertigo</i></b> and <i style="font-weight: bold;">Rear Window. </i>But these dark haunting performances would have been unthinkable without Stewart's searing experience in WW2.</p><p>Matzen's book is not a balanced biography of Jimmy Stewart. Clearly it focuses on Stewart's years of service in WW2. It barely touches on his post war acting career or his marriage to Gloria Hatrick McLean. Jimmy was a stepfather to Gloria's two sons. The couple also had two daughters. His stepson, Ronald McLean, was killed in 1969 Vietnam while serving as a Marine officer. President Reagan promoted Stewart to the rank of Major General.</p><p>Matzen unaccountably neglects to mention that Walter Matthau (1920 - 2000) also served in the 453rd Bomber Group as a radioman-gunner. But these are minor quibbles as Matzen's <b><i>Mission</i></b> is a Wonderful story about a truly Wonderful Life. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBprAeekNpDp9lAOIbAovhhEnqQbEcceg-i2pAJfgV7lwLilg9XW9lR-sbmflZzhxCC0jDyN2GFEXeLQBNFkvH7xjspW-fGSwbFGMGjBjgCVv8djnAAT-Hn9Lht0FmVwGUY2ozDVrXF4U/s2048/IMG_3978.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBprAeekNpDp9lAOIbAovhhEnqQbEcceg-i2pAJfgV7lwLilg9XW9lR-sbmflZzhxCC0jDyN2GFEXeLQBNFkvH7xjspW-fGSwbFGMGjBjgCVv8djnAAT-Hn9Lht0FmVwGUY2ozDVrXF4U/w400-h300/IMG_3978.HEIC" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force<br />Pooler, Georgia</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Tourist Notes: Commander K. highly recommends a visit to the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force in Pooler, Georgia... <a href="https://www.mightyeighth.org">https://www.mightyeighth.org</a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3FYP6JNBlVreEFDSr5LRxH4kAfi3q8pGe4_myNpFaNvFgPLsi9fuoeql_8OIJqczND3jPthLK_6oo4emamea3pYvWCzwJFLabVt1hlfyJ-jzXfEDRA7PETbJY8I99AYsexhLhfOvU2KQ/s1425/AmericaInvadedCover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1425" data-original-width="975" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3FYP6JNBlVreEFDSr5LRxH4kAfi3q8pGe4_myNpFaNvFgPLsi9fuoeql_8OIJqczND3jPthLK_6oo4emamea3pYvWCzwJFLabVt1hlfyJ-jzXfEDRA7PETbJY8I99AYsexhLhfOvU2KQ/w274-h400/AmericaInvadedCover.jpg" width="274" /></a></div><p><br /></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="sans-serif" style="text-align: start;">You can find signed copies of our books at these web sites...</span></span><br /><div style="font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></div></div><div style="background-color: white; 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font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Christopher-Kelly/e/B00RW8QZG6/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1539454238&sr=8-1">www.amazon.com/Christopher-Kelly/e/B00RW8QZG6/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1539454238&sr=8-1</a></span></div><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Or on Kindle...</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B00R1ZXKMW" style="color: #888888;">www.amzn.com/B00R1ZXKMW</a></span></div><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: large;"></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B0178GCYDO" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.amzn.com/B0178GCYDO</span></a></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B01LXD1KHQ" style="color: #888888;">www.amzn.com/B01LXD1KHQ</a></span></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B073RJQ8PK" style="color: #888888;">www.amzn.com/B073RJQ8PK</a></span></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><div style="color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Listen to my interview with Bob Cudmore...<a href="http://bobcudmore.com/thehistorians/tracks/ChristopherKelly(August2017)(29)(mp3).mp3" style="color: #888888;">http://bobcudmore.com/thehistorians/tracks/ChristopherKelly(August2017)(29)(mp3).mp3</a></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And my interview...<a href="http://www.thebook-club.com/blog/bookshelf-interview-with-christopher-kelly">www.thebook-club.com/blog/bookshelf-interview-with-christopher-kelly</a></span></div><div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">And my most recent interview...<a href="http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2018/08/17/america-invaded-christopher-kelly">http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2018/08/17/america-invaded-christopher-kelly</a></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDoeyNMdF50gbFwB0rpW653q2JIs2MMVzRMgK1cHxRnm6Tx8TRAPC5nC8XQoVix417JB3GoSCpqx-avX5AZWWbv_7IsfE-3UHdkXhqNdHyINvceNPQrwg1A2aWXC4jBBogRaF7Fr9qU1A/s600/AICover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="405" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDoeyNMdF50gbFwB0rpW653q2JIs2MMVzRMgK1cHxRnm6Tx8TRAPC5nC8XQoVix417JB3GoSCpqx-avX5AZWWbv_7IsfE-3UHdkXhqNdHyINvceNPQrwg1A2aWXC4jBBogRaF7Fr9qU1A/w270-h400/AICover.jpg" width="270" /></a></div></div></div></div><p> </p><br />Commander Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03602902461964252463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122629330054677829.post-7297931756749242732021-11-07T06:17:00.001-08:002021-11-07T06:17:34.059-08:00The General vs. The President<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUpBIeDXq2-q-jFsVfG4_rBN2BuvcaEKREiRv8BtLlTqTCLLZBANTL1lAbUFTqpN3c1UzXHVeIBA40HDeqcrfCUY2vhM5pED7Z645WPhIqORl_bZszEtmAMRgDOH7bmpC5hvjEO9JmVIE/s277/Unknown-85.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="277" data-original-width="182" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUpBIeDXq2-q-jFsVfG4_rBN2BuvcaEKREiRv8BtLlTqTCLLZBANTL1lAbUFTqpN3c1UzXHVeIBA40HDeqcrfCUY2vhM5pED7Z645WPhIqORl_bZszEtmAMRgDOH7bmpC5hvjEO9JmVIE/w421-h640/Unknown-85.jpeg" width="421" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>H.W. Brand's 2017 <b><i>The General vs the President</i></b> is a timely re-examination of the Truman / MacArthur confrontation that roiled the world at the outset of the Cold War (<a href="http://www.amzn.com/0385540574">www.amzn.com/0385540574</a>).<div><br /></div><div>MacArthur was no ordinary General. He and his father were the only father / son team awarded a Medal of Honor in US history. MacArthur was no intellectual lightweight -- he "ranked first in his class three out of his four years" at West Point. He earned many medals for conspicuous bravery while fighting on the Western Front in World War I. He accompanied French troops on trench raids to capture German troops behind enemy lines. MacArthur was smart and he was brave.</div><div><br /></div><div>That does not mean that he did no make his share of mistakes over a long and distinguished military career. In the Philippines he allowed American planes to be destroyed on the ground immediately following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. This inexcusably and unnecessarily crippled the Philippine air defense. He miscalculated the determination of the Japanese to hold on to Manila (see my review of <b><i>Rampage</i></b>...<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4122629330054677829/5794492647359096591">https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4122629330054677829/5794492647359096591</a>). Korean War MacArthur badly underestimated the will and strength of the Communist Chinese.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjonw6UQGmqiXj6xmJELKbhSEeWckeEOSkAJlg-V3dCpxfUuRX2HGjlj1w0m7t1UAOtW7zsH8UK_sSe5UlJb96oIeuktiYHyChJtpd_yYC2OwDhknTGkl-omNOKhxLLxaScmZON4lu60nA/s1138/19_Macarthur.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1138" data-original-width="416" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjonw6UQGmqiXj6xmJELKbhSEeWckeEOSkAJlg-V3dCpxfUuRX2HGjlj1w0m7t1UAOtW7zsH8UK_sSe5UlJb96oIeuktiYHyChJtpd_yYC2OwDhknTGkl-omNOKhxLLxaScmZON4lu60nA/w146-h400/19_Macarthur.jpg" width="146" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Douglas MacArthur<br />1880 - 1964</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>But these failings should not prevent us from appreciating MacArthur's unique place in the panoply of American military figures. MacArthur vowed that, "I shall return" to the Philippines; and return he did. Winston Churchill declared, "Of all the amazing deeds of bravery of the war, I regard MacArthur's personal landing at Atsugo as the greatest of the lot." MacArthur found the perfect tone when, on the deck of the USS <i>Missouri,</i> accepting the Japanese surrender he said, "It is my earnest hope, and indeed the hope of all mankind, that from this solemn occasion a better world shall emerge out of the blood and carnage of the past -- a world founded upon faith and understanding, a world dedicated to the dignity of man and the fulfillment of his most cherished wish; for freedom, tolerance and justice." MacArthur proved to be a remarkably successful Pro-consul for occupied Japan -- where he introduced women to the ballot box.</div><div><br /></div><div>Brand notes that "the North Korean attack on South Korea took Douglas MacArthur quite by surprise." But MacArthur seemed quickly to rise to the Communist challenge. When South Korean and American forces were surrounded inside a narrow perimeter near the port of Pusan MacArthur plotted the United Nations' daring counterstroke at Inchon. The amphibious invasion at Inchon turned the Communist flank, quickly liberated Seoul and was, perhaps, the most brilliant American use of military power of the post war era. By December 1951 the North Korean capital, Pyongyang, was in the hands of UN forces. Bob Hope held a celebration for the US GI's there.</div><div><br /></div><div>But it was MacArthur's success led to his fatal hubris. He dismissed reports of Chinese Communist forces massing north of the Yalu River. Human wave assaults and massive numbers hit UN forces and drove them backwards towards the 38th parallel.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTtctO46Pi2d7q55M3jDP-6OgKInbPThVEkHsvGuHYauu1JeXVPRC6Jqd7oeciY8bHE49rg_CFaj3geBElx5Kf9cvRYOIR7UtTE3hOapJJd_zO1-XM8DAmtkyCD6Yt7BTXhZ1Z1XgbbvY/s248/Unknown-86.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="248" data-original-width="203" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTtctO46Pi2d7q55M3jDP-6OgKInbPThVEkHsvGuHYauu1JeXVPRC6Jqd7oeciY8bHE49rg_CFaj3geBElx5Kf9cvRYOIR7UtTE3hOapJJd_zO1-XM8DAmtkyCD6Yt7BTXhZ1Z1XgbbvY/w327-h400/Unknown-86.jpeg" width="327" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harry S Truman<br />1884 - 1972</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>Appearances to the contrary, Harry Truman was no ordinary president. He had served with honor in the artillery during World War I. Brand neglects to mention that MacArthur, as head of the Rainbow division was, in fact, Truman's immediate boss during World War I. Truman was largely an autodidact. He read widely and he developed a reputation for incorruptibly despite his association with the Pendergast machine of Kansas City. An ailing FDR chose him to be his Vice President in 1944. </div><div><br /></div><div>Though Vice President Truman had been told nothing about the atomic bomb prior to the death of FDR in 1945, he made the difficult but correct decision to use this tool to end Japanese resistance at the close of World War II. He dropped bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki that killed over a hundred thousand people including most of whom were civilians. Truman boasted that he "never lost any sleep" over these decisions. (I would submit that had Truman not unleashed the horror of atomic warfare in 1945, there is a high degree of probability that the US or SOME OTHER NATION would have utilized a future iteration of atomic power causing far more more deaths including perhaps the start of World War III.)</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxjOVaoGkhh41-ZmtFv1gUr-GdVR2kDJ7v5B4CkgJZpa_p9aiHsOjHyBtJ6kFo6YAjLPtFvxmEIDJCYQkah5eDcoWIGKwas1M7ESfOgarvQuEeWzV9d5h6Ji62ih8zgQnHNCD4WOBUe7U/s2048/rainbow.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxjOVaoGkhh41-ZmtFv1gUr-GdVR2kDJ7v5B4CkgJZpa_p9aiHsOjHyBtJ6kFo6YAjLPtFvxmEIDJCYQkah5eDcoWIGKwas1M7ESfOgarvQuEeWzV9d5h6Ji62ih8zgQnHNCD4WOBUe7U/w400-h300/rainbow.HEIC" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rainbow Division WW1<br />MacArthur was Truman's boss first!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>Truman and MacArthur collided when MacArthur veered out of his lane on account of his soaring political ambitions. MacArthur saw himself, not merely as a hugely successful American field commander but also as a near Messianic savior against godless Communism. MacArthur was very good in his perceptions of the working of the Oriental mind. But he was very weak in his appreciation for the dynamics of domestic American politics. Fatally, MacArthur disregarded the chain of command. He made obtuse comments to the press and sympathetic veterans' groups. At the end of the day, Truman was Commander in chief. He had a constitutional duty to be the final arbiter of American foreign and military policy.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Korean War degenerated into a brutal grinding stalemate along the 38th parallel. Neither side could win. America lost over 36,000 killed and far more wounded over the course of about three years. The Republic of Korea and many other UN nations suffered as well.</div><div><br /></div><div>Truman, like MacArthur, made a number of grave miscalculations in Cold War strategy. Brand fails to point out several of Truman's blunders...1) that Truman abolished the OSS (Office of Strategic Services) mainly on account of his distaste for "Wild Bill" Donovan. The CIA would have to be rebuilt from scratch starting in 1947. 2) Truman, bowing to domestic pressure, proceeded with a rapid and steep demobilization of US military forces following the conclusion of WW2. American military power was not just trimmed but cut to the bone. This gravely weakened US military capabilities prior to the outbreak of the Korean War. These vulnerabilities would be exploited by the Communist forces.</div><div><br /></div><div>Truman's firing of MacArthur is widely approved of by Brand and many other commentators. But Truman COULD have run for re-election in 1952. His treatment of MacArthur made him hugely unpopular at the time and led to his decision to not seek a second elected term. As Brand accurately notes, "Truman's bold stroke in firing MacArthur ended his own career as surely as it terminated MacArthur's."</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_oBjLJ6DQD12X7L9b3jzdq3EclUe1IO9S4y5R5dJB3M3EZr89XXCQ-Z4zXPGat6DkhE3BMHOZ5Gs5jnSS84pIrXlm7UzdCUY6q-w_MojxeOU-a8HE__9DrmmQ7KHQMNHQ2QIGujelYyQ/s2048/13A_Ike.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_oBjLJ6DQD12X7L9b3jzdq3EclUe1IO9S4y5R5dJB3M3EZr89XXCQ-Z4zXPGat6DkhE3BMHOZ5Gs5jnSS84pIrXlm7UzdCUY6q-w_MojxeOU-a8HE__9DrmmQ7KHQMNHQ2QIGujelYyQ/w400-h266/13A_Ike.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dwight Eisenhower<br />1890 - 1969</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>In the end the American electorate got it right. 1952 and the crisis of the Korean War called for an experienced military leader at the helm. But that leader was Eisenhower and not MacArthur or Truman. Ike, the architect of D-Day, had a broader global perspective and greater diplomatic skills than either MacArthur or Truman.</div><div><br /></div><div>Truman and his minions painted MacArthur's stated threat to use atomic weapons against the Chinese as sheer lunacy. Yet it was precisely this same veiled threat, delivered by Ike through Indian intermediaries, that ultimately led to the fragile peace in Korea that endures to this day.</div><div><br /></div><div>Finally, Brand's flawed but worthwhile book has a curious relevance to our 21st century. In 2021 we seem to have experienced a "MacArthur moment" when General Mark Milley defied the orders of a duly elected president by undermining his policy in regard to China. </div><div><p></p><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3FYP6JNBlVreEFDSr5LRxH4kAfi3q8pGe4_myNpFaNvFgPLsi9fuoeql_8OIJqczND3jPthLK_6oo4emamea3pYvWCzwJFLabVt1hlfyJ-jzXfEDRA7PETbJY8I99AYsexhLhfOvU2KQ/s1425/AmericaInvadedCover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1425" data-original-width="975" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3FYP6JNBlVreEFDSr5LRxH4kAfi3q8pGe4_myNpFaNvFgPLsi9fuoeql_8OIJqczND3jPthLK_6oo4emamea3pYvWCzwJFLabVt1hlfyJ-jzXfEDRA7PETbJY8I99AYsexhLhfOvU2KQ/w274-h400/AmericaInvadedCover.jpg" width="274" /></a></div><p><br /></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="sans-serif" style="text-align: start;">You can find signed copies of our books at these web sites...</span></span><br /><div style="font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.americainvades.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.americainvades.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.italyinvades.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.italyinvades.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.anadventurein1914.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.anadventurein1914.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; 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font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Christopher-Kelly/e/B00RW8QZG6/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1539454238&sr=8-1">www.amazon.com/Christopher-Kelly/e/B00RW8QZG6/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1539454238&sr=8-1</a></span></div><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Or on Kindle...</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B00R1ZXKMW" style="color: #888888;">www.amzn.com/B00R1ZXKMW</a></span></div><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: large;"></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B0178GCYDO" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.amzn.com/B0178GCYDO</span></a></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B01LXD1KHQ" style="color: #888888;">www.amzn.com/B01LXD1KHQ</a></span></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B073RJQ8PK" style="color: #888888;">www.amzn.com/B073RJQ8PK</a></span></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><div style="color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Listen to my interview with Bob Cudmore...<a href="http://bobcudmore.com/thehistorians/tracks/ChristopherKelly(August2017)(29)(mp3).mp3" style="color: #888888;">http://bobcudmore.com/thehistorians/tracks/ChristopherKelly(August2017)(29)(mp3).mp3</a></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And my interview...<a href="http://www.thebook-club.com/blog/bookshelf-interview-with-christopher-kelly">www.thebook-club.com/blog/bookshelf-interview-with-christopher-kelly</a></span></div><div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">And my most recent interview...<a href="http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2018/08/17/america-invaded-christopher-kelly">http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2018/08/17/america-invaded-christopher-kelly</a></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDoeyNMdF50gbFwB0rpW653q2JIs2MMVzRMgK1cHxRnm6Tx8TRAPC5nC8XQoVix417JB3GoSCpqx-avX5AZWWbv_7IsfE-3UHdkXhqNdHyINvceNPQrwg1A2aWXC4jBBogRaF7Fr9qU1A/s600/AICover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="405" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDoeyNMdF50gbFwB0rpW653q2JIs2MMVzRMgK1cHxRnm6Tx8TRAPC5nC8XQoVix417JB3GoSCpqx-avX5AZWWbv_7IsfE-3UHdkXhqNdHyINvceNPQrwg1A2aWXC4jBBogRaF7Fr9qU1A/w270-h400/AICover.jpg" width="270" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div>Commander Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03602902461964252463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122629330054677829.post-6142298095226962792021-11-03T16:38:00.001-07:002021-11-03T16:38:33.037-07:00Churchill's Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI8LVVhNDYfgEOmdssw82o0WVjukAkxU01SN_C6aowXYHujxKuztW83SGXqCNMKQZxdHUoPhDm7TLocve_Jqnto3S707aGuCOoUaMb1_9N2YesAJgkNbyKyYTTHLySMyk1CbGjVe6nq70/s277/Unknown-43.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="277" data-original-width="182" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI8LVVhNDYfgEOmdssw82o0WVjukAkxU01SN_C6aowXYHujxKuztW83SGXqCNMKQZxdHUoPhDm7TLocve_Jqnto3S707aGuCOoUaMb1_9N2YesAJgkNbyKyYTTHLySMyk1CbGjVe6nq70/w421-h640/Unknown-43.jpeg" width="421" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><b><i>Churchill's Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare</i></b> is great fun (<a href="http://www.amzn.com/1250119030">www.amzn.com/1250119030</a>). If you admire Winston Churchill, as I do, you will likely enjoy this book. If you have an interest in exploring offbeat aspects of World War II you will enjoy this book. If you enjoy history you will enjoy this book.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhomS8Fkwp_pBff4MrMQO9jRgt2P2psUMQsvtQmYy9M8cS2qqFCc-i3MEA9frXXUC_eElZdr8Rgm2B0YxhBeYHnvERnvhjJbTG0idVpMz-p3oao6mIMPO-aMvpt1SsxOKbd_kWFkdt4XaY/s224/images-1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="224" data-original-width="224" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhomS8Fkwp_pBff4MrMQO9jRgt2P2psUMQsvtQmYy9M8cS2qqFCc-i3MEA9frXXUC_eElZdr8Rgm2B0YxhBeYHnvERnvhjJbTG0idVpMz-p3oao6mIMPO-aMvpt1SsxOKbd_kWFkdt4XaY/w400-h400/images-1.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>This is the story of the SOE -- the Special Operations Executive. This was a bland name for a spicy unit that took on extraordinary risks in WW2. Following the fall of France, amidst some of the darkest days of the war, Winston Churchill conceived the SOE. They would be trained in the dark arts of guerrilla warfare. They would strike deep behind enemy lines. They would use cutting edge technology. And they would take enormous risks to strike back at an Axis that seemed to have a firm grip on the European mainland. Churchill, frustrated by his inability to win a conventional war, asked them simply to "set Europe ablaze" by unconventional means. Giles Milton's volume shows us exactly how they responded to Churchill's request.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMd9K0YrPwNWG7luGCtvhUYphwU0ZSIbRPdmOFlKSvAEVtNY1z-37t6wEjGr00JAc3LLEqBKgnqG3hQQ7TYWXADWyJTgO3oZyaVXWRby3WZQ8P-_SWqYpe0jpVx1oHbumr7k1GibJxwXg/s1326/CRKChurchillII.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1326" data-original-width="816" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMd9K0YrPwNWG7luGCtvhUYphwU0ZSIbRPdmOFlKSvAEVtNY1z-37t6wEjGr00JAc3LLEqBKgnqG3hQQ7TYWXADWyJTgO3oZyaVXWRby3WZQ8P-_SWqYpe0jpVx1oHbumr7k1GibJxwXg/w246-h400/CRKChurchillII.jpg" width="246" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Set Europe Ablaze!"</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Collin Gubbins was the intrepid head of the SOE. In August of 1941 he saw off "Operation Postmaster" that set out in a fishing trawler with the Bondian name "Maid Honor" to fence with German U-boats off the coast of West Africa. This expedition, led by Gus March Phillipps did not sink any U-boats. Instead March-Phillipps led a daring cutting out expedition with two tugboats that captured an Italian ship (<i>Duchessa d'Aosta</i>) and two German vessels in Spanish-controlled equatorial Guinea in the dead of night. The Italian captain of the captured ship had been drinking with his German colleagues in the nearby Casino Terrace restaurant. Gubbins' crew scattered Free French kepis into the waters before they made off in order to muddy the waters. British diplomatic authorities, concerned about the neutrally of Franco's Spain, lied through their teeth about the raid -- "in no way responsible for what happened prior to the capture of the enemy vessels on the high seas." Milton neglects to mention that March-Phillipps was sadly killed the following year while leading a commando raid on the coast of occupied France.</p><p>This book is full of hair raising tales. SOE trained agents were responsible for the assassination of Reinhard Heydrich in Czechosloavakia. Brutal Nazi retribution followed in the wake of this incident.</p><p>SOE even managed to persuade the owners and managers of the Peugeot factory in Sochaux France that it would be better for their factories (manufacturing tanks) to be sabotaged rather than bombed from the air. An earlier air raid on the target had killed around 125 civilians. In November 1943 Rodolphe Peugeot agreed to have his own factory destroyed!</p><p>The SOE (along with the American OSS and French Resistance) played an important role in the widespread sabotage prior to and immediately following the D-Day invasion of June 1944. These activities slowed German attempts to mount an effective counterattack to the Allied beachhead. See also the <b><i>Art of Resistanc</i></b>e...<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4122629330054677829/771004067849140658">https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4122629330054677829/771004067849140658</a></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig9rJVzTDyxGFificacOjWbSMwMd-bUV9E78uEnsC_uVD0ryQcq1YLljT-XokVD9FhTvWo-BxR669oyfOcx-DJrhsBwOsrrQAoz0kGxVEmu3RlCWwx7iuOLPxE5ZdXgDkEcO2Q9SaGCuM/s246/Unknown-44.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="246" data-original-width="205" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig9rJVzTDyxGFificacOjWbSMwMd-bUV9E78uEnsC_uVD0ryQcq1YLljT-XokVD9FhTvWo-BxR669oyfOcx-DJrhsBwOsrrQAoz0kGxVEmu3RlCWwx7iuOLPxE5ZdXgDkEcO2Q9SaGCuM/w333-h400/Unknown-44.jpeg" width="333" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vilette Szabo<br /> 1921 - 1945</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Giles Milton neglects to mention Violet Szabo, an SOE operative, who was killed by the Nazis in 1945. 2021 marks the hundredth anniversary of the birth of this amazing and courageous woman.</p><p>This book offers another reason to admire Churchill and all of those who fought in defense of Freedom in the World War II.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3FYP6JNBlVreEFDSr5LRxH4kAfi3q8pGe4_myNpFaNvFgPLsi9fuoeql_8OIJqczND3jPthLK_6oo4emamea3pYvWCzwJFLabVt1hlfyJ-jzXfEDRA7PETbJY8I99AYsexhLhfOvU2KQ/s1425/AmericaInvadedCover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1425" data-original-width="975" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3FYP6JNBlVreEFDSr5LRxH4kAfi3q8pGe4_myNpFaNvFgPLsi9fuoeql_8OIJqczND3jPthLK_6oo4emamea3pYvWCzwJFLabVt1hlfyJ-jzXfEDRA7PETbJY8I99AYsexhLhfOvU2KQ/w274-h400/AmericaInvadedCover.jpg" width="274" /></a></div><p><br /></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="sans-serif" style="text-align: start;">You can find signed copies of our books at these web sites...</span></span><br /><div style="font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.americainvades.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.americainvades.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.italyinvades.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.italyinvades.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.anadventurein1914.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.anadventurein1914.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.americainvaded.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.americainvaded.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;">!</div></div><p class="MsoCommentText" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><br style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;" /><span style="font-family: electralh; font-size: medium;"></span><span lang="" style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"></span><br style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;" /></span></p><div style="background-color: white;"><div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Or regular copies on Amazon...</span></div><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Christopher-Kelly/e/B00RW8QZG6/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1539454238&sr=8-1">www.amazon.com/Christopher-Kelly/e/B00RW8QZG6/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1539454238&sr=8-1</a></span></div><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Or on Kindle...</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B00R1ZXKMW" style="color: #888888;">www.amzn.com/B00R1ZXKMW</a></span></div><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: large;"></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B0178GCYDO" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.amzn.com/B0178GCYDO</span></a></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B01LXD1KHQ" style="color: #888888;">www.amzn.com/B01LXD1KHQ</a></span></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B073RJQ8PK" style="color: #888888;">www.amzn.com/B073RJQ8PK</a></span></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><div style="color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Listen to my interview with Bob Cudmore...<a href="http://bobcudmore.com/thehistorians/tracks/ChristopherKelly(August2017)(29)(mp3).mp3" style="color: #888888;">http://bobcudmore.com/thehistorians/tracks/ChristopherKelly(August2017)(29)(mp3).mp3</a></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And my interview...<a href="http://www.thebook-club.com/blog/bookshelf-interview-with-christopher-kelly">www.thebook-club.com/blog/bookshelf-interview-with-christopher-kelly</a></span></div><div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">And my most recent interview...<a href="http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2018/08/17/america-invaded-christopher-kelly">http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2018/08/17/america-invaded-christopher-kelly</a></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDoeyNMdF50gbFwB0rpW653q2JIs2MMVzRMgK1cHxRnm6Tx8TRAPC5nC8XQoVix417JB3GoSCpqx-avX5AZWWbv_7IsfE-3UHdkXhqNdHyINvceNPQrwg1A2aWXC4jBBogRaF7Fr9qU1A/s600/AICover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="405" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDoeyNMdF50gbFwB0rpW653q2JIs2MMVzRMgK1cHxRnm6Tx8TRAPC5nC8XQoVix417JB3GoSCpqx-avX5AZWWbv_7IsfE-3UHdkXhqNdHyINvceNPQrwg1A2aWXC4jBBogRaF7Fr9qU1A/w270-h400/AICover.jpg" width="270" /></a></div></div></div></div>Commander Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03602902461964252463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122629330054677829.post-7710040678491406582021-10-08T13:11:00.001-07:002021-10-22T16:28:00.968-07:00The Art of Resistance<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN16opCo3zRd9OZCHYb5ZC-nRK9B4c1mhW5z0ck1czdCl9i0sLWEC4bud8qZ0VyfFtbNHFLTi5avm8d5dMBqJ0W0ZwZW7uSwwzNvl7KuRGvlbQ2BKYAuQiZ55Q4avfO444w0E2aQb8k-I/s279/Unknown-15.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="279" data-original-width="181" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN16opCo3zRd9OZCHYb5ZC-nRK9B4c1mhW5z0ck1czdCl9i0sLWEC4bud8qZ0VyfFtbNHFLTi5avm8d5dMBqJ0W0ZwZW7uSwwzNvl7KuRGvlbQ2BKYAuQiZ55Q4avfO444w0E2aQb8k-I/w259-h400/Unknown-15.jpeg" width="259" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Justus Rosenberg, the author of <b><i>The Art of Resistance (<a href="http://www.amzn.com/0062742191">www.amzn.com/0062742191</a>)</i></b> turned 100 years old in 2021. This centenarian was born in Danzig (Gdansk) to Jewish parents. His father was a prominent businessman. Rosenberg grew up speaking German. The Free City of Danzig held a unique political identity. It was a port, a financial center, an entrepôt filled with ethnic Germans and Poles. In the 1930s it was a curious mix of Nazis, Jews and fence sitters. Danzig was teeming with anti-semitism and persecution of Jewish businesses was a factor in driving Rosenberg from his homeland as a young man. In 1937 Rosenberg left for Paris to pursue his study of French literature at the Sorbonne.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisGW6EQfcXbQyyVELxQnQtF4JCw5YTuIgHX3T2lIGIR5pWwZLWxA5ZCxhIixf_XkisKjRD31eSMUhaPxgDWbHCibE_At8iDACf0F1GCxe8qXhvw_D0podMT77pxWnfltM08Kjq0XYbkDo/s265/Unknown-19.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="265" data-original-width="190" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisGW6EQfcXbQyyVELxQnQtF4JCw5YTuIgHX3T2lIGIR5pWwZLWxA5ZCxhIixf_XkisKjRD31eSMUhaPxgDWbHCibE_At8iDACf0F1GCxe8qXhvw_D0podMT77pxWnfltM08Kjq0XYbkDo/w287-h400/Unknown-19.jpeg" width="287" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hitler founder of the Woke movement?<br />"Deutschland Erwache!"</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p>On his journey to France Rosenberg stopped to visit Berlin where he was hosted by his uncle Martin who was a distinguished music conductor. While he was in Berlin he went to the Sportpalast to see Hitler give a speech which urged Germans to wake up ("Deutschland erwache!") Rosenberg's kindly uncle did not exactly approve of his nephew's curiosity about the Führer, but he had faith in the German people. Martin Rosenberg would later perish at Auschwitz along with so many others.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHVpe3mZ9Iu_ygOfs0DzHlniGVmlpKEnH5OS4mp87Vo6vNYZmz4Pxks0hy-cC7M49ewU2fVWxS3goAtrlNqdNE6jTOHa9M7gv7eR7Zw7y9wWYGSTp3jPSiGI9kUnxhOY-AMuICVAF9Szk/s252/Unknown-17.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="252" data-original-width="200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHVpe3mZ9Iu_ygOfs0DzHlniGVmlpKEnH5OS4mp87Vo6vNYZmz4Pxks0hy-cC7M49ewU2fVWxS3goAtrlNqdNE6jTOHa9M7gv7eR7Zw7y9wWYGSTp3jPSiGI9kUnxhOY-AMuICVAF9Szk/w317-h400/Unknown-17.jpeg" width="317" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Young Justus Rosenberg</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Rosenberg was enchanted by Paris and all of the charms that it could afford a young man. He worked as an extra at a theater production of Eighty Days Around the World. He walked the streets of Paris as a self described "Flâneur" (loafer). He had a gift for language becoming fluent in German, French and English. Hitler's invasion of Poland in September 1939 brought the loafing to an end. Poland was quickly overrun by the German Blitzkrieg. Danzig was fully absorbed into the Reich and Rosenberg's immediate family had been fortunate to escape its occupation. The "Phony War" or 'Sitzkrieg" provided a few months of respite from the full horrors of war. But these days were shattered by the fall of France and the Low Countries in the spring of 1940.</p><p>As the Nazis marched into Paris Rosenberg fled and tried in vain to enlist in the Polish army in exile. Arriving in Bayonne he just missed a ship filled with Polish volunteers headed to England. He drifted to the south of France where he eventually met Varian Fry, an American who founded the Emergency Rescue Committee (ERC). Rosenberg was hired by Fry to work as an "office boy" assisting in the ERC's work of spiriting out refugees from Nazi-Occupied Europe to America. The ERC is credited with saving the lives of hundreds of intellectuals and celebrities such as Andre Breton and Marc Chagall. Fry was expelled from France by the Vichy government. Rosenberg delivers his opinion that Fry was somewhat over-rated.</p><p>In August of 1942, not long after the ERC's expulsion, Rosenberg was rounded up by the collaborationist government along with many Jews of different nationalities and sent to an internment camp. This camp was designed to be a way station prior to being sent to concentration and forced labor camps further east. Rosenberg sensed the danger that he was in and put his acting experience to work feigning the symptoms of peritonitis. He must have put on a convincing performance as the camp doctors removed his appendix! Soon after recovering in a nearby hospital he managed to escape with the assistance of a local priest. A close shave indeed!</p><p>Rosenberg then managed to join the French Resistance which was being supplied by Britain's Special Operations Executive (SOE) and America's Office of Strategic Services (OSS). He learned how to assemble and fire a Bren gun. He trained to become a guerrilla fighter. Rosenberg participated in several ambushes of German and was once wounded in the leg.</p><p>Many readers will be familiar with the Allied landings in Normandy (Operation Overlord) that began on June 6, 1944. Less well know was Operation Dragoon which landed a force of around 150,000 men in the south of France beginning on August 15, 1944. The French Resistance was doing all it could to prevent the reinforcement of the German encirclement of the Normandy beachhead. It was blowing up rail lines, attacking German convoys, etc.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5HGeYGv2Lu9S-562u_nokOBaPIpvOkhpywLg0H6PW1xApM-M5d6OXxmR50dm1L8va4yIgCtyKJpq1OvH5NYTMPi2pc8EsJJjRg0lwmA1LL4wGSzlbb4ODldtjKmJ8awk-Xe3US6ZtsYs/s220/Unknown-16.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="217" data-original-width="220" height="395" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5HGeYGv2Lu9S-562u_nokOBaPIpvOkhpywLg0H6PW1xApM-M5d6OXxmR50dm1L8va4yIgCtyKJpq1OvH5NYTMPi2pc8EsJJjRg0lwmA1LL4wGSzlbb4ODldtjKmJ8awk-Xe3US6ZtsYs/w400-h395/Unknown-16.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">636th Tank Destroyer Battalion<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>It was in August of 1944, while preparing for a roadside ambush of three passing "German" soldiers that Rosenberg received a surprise that changed the direction of his life. He noticed that they did not appear to be Germans at all. He leapt out of his hiding place and shouted, "Stick 'em up!" in his best Hollywood Western accent. Lieutenant Pete Rogers from the Reconnaissance Company of the 636th Tank Destroyer Battalion introduced himself. This unit was formed in Texas and had seen hard service in the Italian campaign which began in Sicily in 1943. Rogers, noting Rosenberg's linguistic abilities, would soon recruit him to join the American Army fighting in France and, later, Germany. As a member of the 636th Tank Destroyer battalion he would interrogate captured German prisoners among his duties. Rosenberg earned a Purple Heart after a jeep he was riding in hit a Teller mine on October 11, 1944. Rosenberg and Rogers formed a lifelong friendship. <p></p><p>Rosenberg's service in the US Army helped him to get a visa to immigrate to America after the war was over. In the US he embarked on an academic career focussed on language and literature. He taught at Bard College in New York's Hudson valley for many years. He became a US Citizen and was, after an interruption of 15 years, finally reunited with those of his family members that had miraculously survived the war.</p><p>In 2017 Justus Rosenberg was awarded the rank of Commandeur de la legion d'Honneur by France. At the ceremony he reflected on a Bertolt Brecht quote: "Pity the nation that is need of great heroes". He also noted the traditional Jewish notion of <i>Tikkun olam</i> -- a duty to repair a broken world. </p><p>Rosenberg was blessed by courage and good fortune. A Roman Catholic priest once told him, "It is obvious that God had his finger on you." Rosenberg, though ambivalent about religion, has blessed our world with his presence. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaWKWbTgxS9Uzs1MxjRVzCdAvUIx-eT2WJ7LTUUS22FrrLUwj_9sgXbEjSR8gCJOoVS8JLyIJJEVyan4U7wreQJRWV6CBrE_sY9dsGDFS3AZR5rU0GAZxgcHMweIT2-DpojIMBsDa6rQ4/s275/Unknown-18.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaWKWbTgxS9Uzs1MxjRVzCdAvUIx-eT2WJ7LTUUS22FrrLUwj_9sgXbEjSR8gCJOoVS8JLyIJJEVyan4U7wreQJRWV6CBrE_sY9dsGDFS3AZR5rU0GAZxgcHMweIT2-DpojIMBsDa6rQ4/w400-h266/Unknown-18.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>Justus Rosenberg was and, blessedly, remains a great hero. As a young man he fought for the principles that lie at the core of Western society. He was incredibly fortunate to survive the bloodiest war in human history. He has spent his life trying to repair our broken and often pitiful world. As an old man he created amazing memoir -- <b><i>The Art of Resistance (<a href="http://www.amzn.com/0062742191">www.amzn.com/0062742191</a>).</i></b> This work is an instant classic that ranks right up there with other WW2 memoirs such as Iris Origo's <b><i>War in Val d'Orcia </i></b>(<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4122629330054677829/4489448262907642900">https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4122629330054677829/4489448262907642900</a>) and Audie Murphy's <b><i>To Hell and Back</i></b> (<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4122629330054677829/5378325722810460075">https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4122629330054677829/5378325722810460075</a>). Vive Justus Rosenberg!</p><p>If I ever had the honor of meeting Rosenberg I would have a single question: "Why did it take you so long to tell your story?"</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3FYP6JNBlVreEFDSr5LRxH4kAfi3q8pGe4_myNpFaNvFgPLsi9fuoeql_8OIJqczND3jPthLK_6oo4emamea3pYvWCzwJFLabVt1hlfyJ-jzXfEDRA7PETbJY8I99AYsexhLhfOvU2KQ/s1425/AmericaInvadedCover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1425" data-original-width="975" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3FYP6JNBlVreEFDSr5LRxH4kAfi3q8pGe4_myNpFaNvFgPLsi9fuoeql_8OIJqczND3jPthLK_6oo4emamea3pYvWCzwJFLabVt1hlfyJ-jzXfEDRA7PETbJY8I99AYsexhLhfOvU2KQ/w274-h400/AmericaInvadedCover.jpg" width="274" /></a></div><p><br /></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="sans-serif" style="text-align: start;">You can find signed copies of our books at these web sites...</span></span><br /><div style="font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.americainvades.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.americainvades.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.italyinvades.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.italyinvades.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.anadventurein1914.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.anadventurein1914.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.americainvaded.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.americainvaded.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;">!</div></div><p class="MsoCommentText" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><br style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;" /><span style="font-family: electralh; font-size: medium;"></span><span lang="" style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"></span><br style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;" /></span></p><div style="background-color: white;"><div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Or regular copies on Amazon...</span></div><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Christopher-Kelly/e/B00RW8QZG6/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1539454238&sr=8-1">www.amazon.com/Christopher-Kelly/e/B00RW8QZG6/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1539454238&sr=8-1</a></span></div><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Or on Kindle...</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B00R1ZXKMW" style="color: #888888;">www.amzn.com/B00R1ZXKMW</a></span></div><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: large;"></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B0178GCYDO" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.amzn.com/B0178GCYDO</span></a></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B01LXD1KHQ" style="color: #888888;">www.amzn.com/B01LXD1KHQ</a></span></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B073RJQ8PK" style="color: #888888;">www.amzn.com/B073RJQ8PK</a></span></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><div style="color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Listen to my interview with Bob Cudmore...<a href="http://bobcudmore.com/thehistorians/tracks/ChristopherKelly(August2017)(29)(mp3).mp3" style="color: #888888;">http://bobcudmore.com/thehistorians/tracks/ChristopherKelly(August2017)(29)(mp3).mp3</a></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And my interview...<a href="http://www.thebook-club.com/blog/bookshelf-interview-with-christopher-kelly">www.thebook-club.com/blog/bookshelf-interview-with-christopher-kelly</a></span></div><div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">And my most recent interview...<a href="http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2018/08/17/america-invaded-christopher-kelly">http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2018/08/17/america-invaded-christopher-kelly</a></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDoeyNMdF50gbFwB0rpW653q2JIs2MMVzRMgK1cHxRnm6Tx8TRAPC5nC8XQoVix417JB3GoSCpqx-avX5AZWWbv_7IsfE-3UHdkXhqNdHyINvceNPQrwg1A2aWXC4jBBogRaF7Fr9qU1A/s600/AICover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="405" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDoeyNMdF50gbFwB0rpW653q2JIs2MMVzRMgK1cHxRnm6Tx8TRAPC5nC8XQoVix417JB3GoSCpqx-avX5AZWWbv_7IsfE-3UHdkXhqNdHyINvceNPQrwg1A2aWXC4jBBogRaF7Fr9qU1A/w270-h400/AICover.jpg" width="270" /></a></div><br /><div style="color: #222222;"><br /></div></div></div></div><p> </p>Commander Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03602902461964252463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122629330054677829.post-81243064613241629692021-09-16T19:12:00.000-07:002021-09-16T19:12:38.956-07:00Daniel Boone<p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiPKrGou4Vrr_cV-_Uwf7Cnlw4MltkBlRmfQL7nL5uutnIK7AnvIRiVaN1bx1mL-Wu7FWQewZtquMfsdSdkM11V_Gm79ojNCEBZHRbKrxNw0nvCYShABQ-NY_H1CZxZo2Rbm4PTHdT2pA/s2048/IMG_8110.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiPKrGou4Vrr_cV-_Uwf7Cnlw4MltkBlRmfQL7nL5uutnIK7AnvIRiVaN1bx1mL-Wu7FWQewZtquMfsdSdkM11V_Gm79ojNCEBZHRbKrxNw0nvCYShABQ-NY_H1CZxZo2Rbm4PTHdT2pA/w480-h640/IMG_8110.HEIC" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daniel Boone<br />1734 - 1820</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Daniel Boone, a founding hero of Kentucky, was born on November 2, 1734 in Berks County, Pennsylvania. Boone never did wear a coonskin cap (he thought them “uncivilized”) and he likely never carved “<i>D. Boon kilt a bar</i>” into a tree but he did become an American legend. This courageous frontiersman and explorer was a Celtic Fighter who is sometimes confused with another Celtic Fighter -- Davy Crockett.</p><p>Boone was of mixed English and Welsh heritage. His parents were Quakers. In 1750 the family moved to North Carolina.</p><p>In 1756 he married Rebecca with whom he had ten children. </p><p>The start of Seven Years’ War in 1756 brought an end to peace for the thirteen colonies and for Daniel Boone as well. Boone signed on as wagon driver in General Braddock’s (Scottish from Perthshire) ill-fated Ohio River campaign. Braddock and many of his men were killed in an ambush by French and Indian forces. Boone managed to escape the carnage.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc39Pjoy3NsOEV-LQ24K2nsM8xfFtQo4iBGwEYpU2mCQQxt1mew5fi6n37EmLEamu0sU4FReJty_bEm6tLyPwFcEheW4JbxXdxdyfsEoG35EjNDdGiAZm-Sig_IDmGlaJYJUSFoxBm1bs/s2048/IMG_2102.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc39Pjoy3NsOEV-LQ24K2nsM8xfFtQo4iBGwEYpU2mCQQxt1mew5fi6n37EmLEamu0sU4FReJty_bEm6tLyPwFcEheW4JbxXdxdyfsEoG35EjNDdGiAZm-Sig_IDmGlaJYJUSFoxBm1bs/w300-h400/IMG_2102.HEIC" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daniel Boone Statue<br />Eastern Kentucky University<br />Richmond, KY<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Boone participated in a campaign against the Cherokee in 1760. In 1765 he explored Florida which had recently been acquired by Britain from Spain.</p><p>He first explored Kentucky in 1767 where he worked as a guide for fur trapping expeditions. Fur hats were extremely popular in 18th century Europe and pelts could be easily turned into cash.</p><p>In 1774 Lord Dunsmore, the governor of Virginia sent Boone back to Kentucky to warn those on the frontier about the dangers of Indian attack. Boone was made a captain in the colonial militia.</p><p>In 1775 he founded Boonesborough, Kentucky.</p><p>The start of the American Revolution made life more difficult for those on the frontier. British gold helped to subsidize Indian hostility to the settlers.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0kvA2NTEEQUUTwKZOd9O5eGQfMn4Cm2xq4a9STOIO1X4tIQmLTzLeW-DT-8JOxz-cv3TPMHvm2Do5E9SPtty8oNPd1iwImE729a0Tl0gQSWxUQ6AX7hxpHG3XfFsAvgdEFkE0CxiirF8/s2048/IMG_6234.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0kvA2NTEEQUUTwKZOd9O5eGQfMn4Cm2xq4a9STOIO1X4tIQmLTzLeW-DT-8JOxz-cv3TPMHvm2Do5E9SPtty8oNPd1iwImE729a0Tl0gQSWxUQ6AX7hxpHG3XfFsAvgdEFkE0CxiirF8/w300-h400/IMG_6234.HEIC" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daniel Boone Indian Fighter<br />Boone Grave<br />Frankfort, KY</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Boone himself was captured along with thirty others by the Shawnee in 1777. He managed to talk his way into being adopted as a son by Chief Black Fish. Five months after his capture in 1778 he managed to escape.</p><p>Boone assisted in defending Boonesborough from a Shawnee siege in September 1778. His brother,Squire Boone Jr., was wounded in the shoulder during the siege. British-supported Shawnees assaulted Boonesborough on September 17, but were repelled after suffering heavy losses (thirty-seven were killed during the siege). He was found not guilty in a court martial that followed the siege.</p><p>In August of 1780 he fought under General George Rogers Clark in the Battle of Piqua in Ohio. The Americans earned costly victory over British and Shawnee forces.</p><p>In 1781 British forces invaded Virginia. Lieutenant Colonel Boone took part in the defense of Charlottesville. Again he was captured for a few weeks, this time by British troops.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkm2UWgKczDMkU2LCHXPdoSYkh-AAhD57lQUL7tXFrn1q_H7CcgZo4-c7i8X19cPyiyzxEBI431H7l8Wddh36QHHWmi-AGYzbj37lwKNx75m3KoEq0nLif2QPd994GFH8P_RCDfk9x2i0/s2048/IMG_2679.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkm2UWgKczDMkU2LCHXPdoSYkh-AAhD57lQUL7tXFrn1q_H7CcgZo4-c7i8X19cPyiyzxEBI431H7l8Wddh36QHHWmi-AGYzbj37lwKNx75m3KoEq0nLif2QPd994GFH8P_RCDfk9x2i0/w300-h400/IMG_2679.HEIC" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue Licks Battlefield Plaque<br />Carlisle, Kentucky</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>In 1782 Boone led American forces at the Battle of Blue Licks in what is today Carlisle, Kentucky. Fought ten months after Cornwallis’ surrender at Yorktown, this was one of the final battles of the American Revolution and a British victory. Boone’s own son Israel was killed in the battle.</p><p>Following the 1783 Treaty of Paris that ended the American Revolution, Boone moved with his family to Limestone, Kentucky. He opened up a tavern and served as an intermediary with the Native American population, helping to negotiate prisoner exchanges.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjIy_9rtP-nain47-2E2FvkPLR0BzlgV1cviUExBsA6Oe5_3wxFpayaAfSZwII-0JMjIdExyVSquNjxdPHGDLIDexfn6qrUFi6VoFAsJP0EiAjjENTHJfzKQHNvgETkAvdulM3IntA8fc/s2048/IMG_1817.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjIy_9rtP-nain47-2E2FvkPLR0BzlgV1cviUExBsA6Oe5_3wxFpayaAfSZwII-0JMjIdExyVSquNjxdPHGDLIDexfn6qrUFi6VoFAsJP0EiAjjENTHJfzKQHNvgETkAvdulM3IntA8fc/w480-h640/IMG_1817.HEIC" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daniel Boone's First Gravesite<br />Marthasville, Missouri</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p> </p><p>In 1799 Boone, who had been unsuccessful at a number of real estate ventures, moved to Missouri which was then Spanish territory. In 1819 the only likeness of Boone made in his lifetime was painted by the artist Chester Harding. Boone died in Missouri in 1820 at the age of eighty-five. Many years later his body was exhumed and the bodies of Boone and his wife Rebecca were re-buried in 1845 in Frankfort, Kentucky (though some, especially Missourians, believe they got the wrong body!).</p><p>Boone’s legacy, enhanced by many a tall tale about the frontiersman, endures in film, television, fiction and many places from Boone’s Tavern in Berea, Kentucky to Boone Counties in eight different American states. Disney’s 1964-1970 TV series labeled Boone “<i>the rippin’est, roarin’est, fightin’est man the frontier ever knew</i>.”</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrMrBRtGxjUv_DME8dvd_mFVR_TP7HgsiCuRndJubJ0ej-46Ov6oX9V-galUe97T1gVbF-BLvtlxKE87sAguHMGCUnZBAGy8u7DDmlNODae6XFw1SvVSJZfWhYYcyG-OzlsefR2Aaf5xI/s2048/IMG_6222.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrMrBRtGxjUv_DME8dvd_mFVR_TP7HgsiCuRndJubJ0ej-46Ov6oX9V-galUe97T1gVbF-BLvtlxKE87sAguHMGCUnZBAGy8u7DDmlNODae6XFw1SvVSJZfWhYYcyG-OzlsefR2Aaf5xI/w300-h400/IMG_6222.HEIC" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daniel Boone Grave<br />Frankfort, Kentucky</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>101 Fighting Celts: From Boudicca to MacArthur</i></b> is coming soon!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB48vZb6_KooZdzql1CLAz1Kzr0o80VAHGzUR6Yn1vANeIcGgytJD9JnYAk3osfaTexQQ8ziauIY-iRyP7_jpC10_MmElx6cgGAk0jYfyenbtw-v-K2uh797UWpIXWRwWgbeP1b7G-Fgc/s350/101-fighting-celts-crest.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="250" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB48vZb6_KooZdzql1CLAz1Kzr0o80VAHGzUR6Yn1vANeIcGgytJD9JnYAk3osfaTexQQ8ziauIY-iRyP7_jpC10_MmElx6cgGAk0jYfyenbtw-v-K2uh797UWpIXWRwWgbeP1b7G-Fgc/w458-h640/101-fighting-celts-crest.jpg" width="458" /></a></div><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3FYP6JNBlVreEFDSr5LRxH4kAfi3q8pGe4_myNpFaNvFgPLsi9fuoeql_8OIJqczND3jPthLK_6oo4emamea3pYvWCzwJFLabVt1hlfyJ-jzXfEDRA7PETbJY8I99AYsexhLhfOvU2KQ/s1425/AmericaInvadedCover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1425" data-original-width="975" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3FYP6JNBlVreEFDSr5LRxH4kAfi3q8pGe4_myNpFaNvFgPLsi9fuoeql_8OIJqczND3jPthLK_6oo4emamea3pYvWCzwJFLabVt1hlfyJ-jzXfEDRA7PETbJY8I99AYsexhLhfOvU2KQ/w274-h400/AmericaInvadedCover.jpg" width="274" /></a></div><p><br /></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="sans-serif" style="text-align: start;">You can find signed copies of our books at these web sites...</span></span><br /><div style="font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.americainvades.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.americainvades.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.italyinvades.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.italyinvades.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.anadventurein1914.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.anadventurein1914.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.americainvaded.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.americainvaded.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;">!</div></div><p class="MsoCommentText" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><br style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;" /><span style="font-family: electralh; font-size: medium;"></span><span lang="" style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"></span><br style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;" /></span></p><div style="background-color: white;"><div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Or regular copies on Amazon...</span></div><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Christopher-Kelly/e/B00RW8QZG6/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1539454238&sr=8-1">www.amazon.com/Christopher-Kelly/e/B00RW8QZG6/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1539454238&sr=8-1</a></span></div><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Or on Kindle...</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B00R1ZXKMW" style="color: #888888;">www.amzn.com/B00R1ZXKMW</a></span></div><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: large;"></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B0178GCYDO" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.amzn.com/B0178GCYDO</span></a></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B01LXD1KHQ" style="color: #888888;">www.amzn.com/B01LXD1KHQ</a></span></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B073RJQ8PK" style="color: #888888;">www.amzn.com/B073RJQ8PK</a></span></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><div style="color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Listen to my interview with Bob Cudmore...<a href="http://bobcudmore.com/thehistorians/tracks/ChristopherKelly(August2017)(29)(mp3).mp3" style="color: #888888;">http://bobcudmore.com/thehistorians/tracks/ChristopherKelly(August2017)(29)(mp3).mp3</a></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And my interview...<a href="http://www.thebook-club.com/blog/bookshelf-interview-with-christopher-kelly">www.thebook-club.com/blog/bookshelf-interview-with-christopher-kelly</a></span></div><div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">And my most recent interview...<a href="http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2018/08/17/america-invaded-christopher-kelly">http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2018/08/17/america-invaded-christopher-kelly</a></span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheB0LJA8ZBAZZOuVZJFcVlxgRVrEV8IhvNcG04NW9CQiN6fz4oKK22VTFTNkwvBOejsF079hzTwostT0Xs1SIfeyoIyDQbcFNgjC9gKfBzCi8ckfOzosX83D54wJeTy0sB0wuEjBJlTBU/s1600/AICover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="405" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheB0LJA8ZBAZZOuVZJFcVlxgRVrEV8IhvNcG04NW9CQiN6fz4oKK22VTFTNkwvBOejsF079hzTwostT0Xs1SIfeyoIyDQbcFNgjC9gKfBzCi8ckfOzosX83D54wJeTy0sB0wuEjBJlTBU/s400/AICover.jpg" width="270" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div>Commander Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03602902461964252463noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122629330054677829.post-83198674725938811452021-08-16T10:01:00.003-07:002021-09-12T16:07:13.068-07:00Afghan Taxi Ride<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDDOSWC_yhWzqvp_tky_QKznnRktsPqXdqEcc16fbtAu8_KU_58lZUBtJCQmZMrBZy9svBZAKt1-_rtDbOnSVhpmxHZ20o8gA6cHlGF1NLavQ5K2EwUkoRn1n3KyXxiKlYoEDw0iQKdMk/s277/Unknown-13.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="182" data-original-width="277" height="421" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDDOSWC_yhWzqvp_tky_QKznnRktsPqXdqEcc16fbtAu8_KU_58lZUBtJCQmZMrBZy9svBZAKt1-_rtDbOnSVhpmxHZ20o8gA6cHlGF1NLavQ5K2EwUkoRn1n3KyXxiKlYoEDw0iQKdMk/w640-h421/Unknown-13.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Afghan Taxi Ride<br />2001 - 2021</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p>(Author's note: <i>Please note that this blog was written BEFORE the death of 13 American service personnel in Afghanistan on August 26, 2021. And also before President Biden had the temerity to describe the American experience in Afghanistan as an "extraordinary success"-- certainly it was for the Taliban! When I wrote this I was very much afraid that some of the lumbering troop transport planes could become sitting duck targets while landing and taking off from Kabul airport. We do know that some of these planes were fired upon. So I suppose that things might have been even worse than they actually were. As usual, it will take years for the full story of the War in Afghanistan to be told with accuracy and perspective.)</i></p><p><br /></p><p>What a long strange trip it's been! Nearly 20 years ago, following the 9/11 attacks, America boarded the Afghan taxi invading the mountainous country that harbored Osama Bin Laden and Al Quaeda. In August of 2021 the Afghan taxi screeched to a halt and its surly driver demanded that its American passenger leave the vehicle. The meter has been running for twenty years as America's longest war ground on.</p><p>* Over 2,300 Americans were killed in combat in Afghanistan</p><p>* Many thousands more were wounded in body in and mind</p><p>* Trillions of taxpayer dollars were spent to prop up a corrupt regime </p><p>Now it seems that our Afghan taxi is dropping us off right where it picked us up 20 years ago. The Taliban is now triumphant. They currently occupy more Afghan territory that they did in 2001. Afghanistan will be a haven for terrorists and anti-American extremists. Al Quaeda and Isis will return to Afghanistan.</p><p>President Truman was blamed for "losing China"in 1948. Biden will, more justifiably, take the blame for losing Afghanistan in 2021. Robert Gates said that Biden had been wrong on every foreign policy decision for the last forty years. Gates' verdict on Biden's appalling lack of judgement seems to be vindicated by events unfolding in Afghanistan. A massive treasure in blood and treasure appears to have been squandered in hopeless nation-building that took place over four American administrations.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNIUOiwjeTCMqZ2nwewJ8mN5i9xztrf06Rpexr95xxa4yE3gKqcXkLBCCK5GNzBQCai6ER41Uf_iFuwTT_FhD0RhMZ3C_26_PV9n11b_jFyI_lV4-Vw7jwDu9_IutaniUbfuFoSeGDWRg/s270/Unknown-14.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="186" data-original-width="270" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNIUOiwjeTCMqZ2nwewJ8mN5i9xztrf06Rpexr95xxa4yE3gKqcXkLBCCK5GNzBQCai6ER41Uf_iFuwTT_FhD0RhMZ3C_26_PV9n11b_jFyI_lV4-Vw7jwDu9_IutaniUbfuFoSeGDWRg/w400-h276/Unknown-14.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not with a bang, but a whimper...<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>By reinforcing failure in a desperate attempt to extricate Americans and those Afghans who supported us, the Taliban is now left holding approximately 5,000 American potential POWs. Twenty years ago we were shocked to see Americans were falling out of buildings. Today we are shocked to see Afghan loyalists are falling from American airplanes in Kabul.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5I3FJQyHD1uWXBb16poGukg5G4CmiR5l0bj7nuOWlJI_UzjMaR11kF6SjpNi1MX9UlWxieuNjcR86pxBoy6T9bg_68nfi2yEPSFon0aTvjM2K2HUsEWAJFca7o7ImYmQ15_0kBecAVlU/s600/AICover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="405" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5I3FJQyHD1uWXBb16poGukg5G4CmiR5l0bj7nuOWlJI_UzjMaR11kF6SjpNi1MX9UlWxieuNjcR86pxBoy6T9bg_68nfi2yEPSFon0aTvjM2K2HUsEWAJFca7o7ImYmQ15_0kBecAVlU/w270-h400/AICover.jpg" width="270" /></a></div><br /> <br /><p></p><p>In the Afghanistan chapter of our 2014 work, <b><i>America Invades</i></b>, we wrote, "<i>The attitude towards warfare in Afghanistan is very different from that in the technologically focused West. “Our enemies have the watches,” some Afghans used to say, “but we have the time.” <b>It appears the Western presence may have run out of time in Afghanistan</b></i>." (<a href="http://www.americainvades.com">www.americainvades.com</a>)</p><p>In 2021 under Biden that prophesy came true.</p><p>Could the situation in Afghanistan have been managed better? Unquestionably, the answer is yes. The strategic value of Afghanistan plummeted like a rock in 2011 following the death of Osama Bin Laden. (see earlier post on US Navy Seals...<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4122629330054677829/3366282885862768943">https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4122629330054677829/3366282885862768943</a>). That was the time for an orderly American pullout. An election year in 2012 made that problematic.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj69qeyj4_bFvN1mefWIwD6QGYtYMoqCV_hpmANRebXVWJ6oUX_R0U_2ECwdnAp_M7n6dU6TzJhow0mJPRd0k33IqTzPp58iusfwkYSgoKRmINGMQggdI8csOyWps0pPvFSJ4Azho1YARM/s600/Remnants_of_an_army2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="343" data-original-width="600" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj69qeyj4_bFvN1mefWIwD6QGYtYMoqCV_hpmANRebXVWJ6oUX_R0U_2ECwdnAp_M7n6dU6TzJhow0mJPRd0k33IqTzPp58iusfwkYSgoKRmINGMQggdI8csOyWps0pPvFSJ4Azho1YARM/w400-h229/Remnants_of_an_army2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Remnants of an Army</i></b><br />Jellalabad 1842</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><br /></p><p>Afghanistan has long been known as the "<i>graveyard of empires</i>", Alexander the Great campaigned in the region. The Romans followed for a while around two thousand years ago. The British fought several disastrous wars in Afghanistan (depicted famously in Elizabeth Thompson's 1879 painting <i>Remnants of an Army</i>). The country became Russia's "Vietnam" in the 1970s. -- a bleeding ulcer that doomed Soviet Communism. Now it is the turn of the American superpower for humiliation. Afghanistan seems less a country than a swirling vertiginous vortex of endless tribal conflict. </p><p>The Afghan Taxi runs not on oil or electricity, but rather on poppies. The poppy remains the only consistent Afghan commodity of value to the world. Its important role in end of life pain control has long term economic value for the Afghan state. The USA ought to have pulled its troops out years ago and sent the drug companies in. Private security companies paid for by big Pharma might possibly have facilitated some measure of stability in the country. But now that is mere speculation.</p><p>While we are speculating, however, we may ask who will be the next passenger for the Afghan taxi? The Chinese? The Iranians? The Pakistanis? Caveat emptor!</p><p>We Americans now know that we were taken for a ride.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3FYP6JNBlVreEFDSr5LRxH4kAfi3q8pGe4_myNpFaNvFgPLsi9fuoeql_8OIJqczND3jPthLK_6oo4emamea3pYvWCzwJFLabVt1hlfyJ-jzXfEDRA7PETbJY8I99AYsexhLhfOvU2KQ/s1425/AmericaInvadedCover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1425" data-original-width="975" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3FYP6JNBlVreEFDSr5LRxH4kAfi3q8pGe4_myNpFaNvFgPLsi9fuoeql_8OIJqczND3jPthLK_6oo4emamea3pYvWCzwJFLabVt1hlfyJ-jzXfEDRA7PETbJY8I99AYsexhLhfOvU2KQ/w274-h400/AmericaInvadedCover.jpg" width="274" /></a></div><p><br /></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="sans-serif" style="text-align: start;">You can find signed copies of our books at these web sites...</span></span><br /><div style="font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.americainvades.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.americainvades.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.italyinvades.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.italyinvades.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.anadventurein1914.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.anadventurein1914.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.americainvaded.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.americainvaded.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;">!</div></div><p class="MsoCommentText" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><br style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;" /><span style="font-family: electralh; font-size: medium;"></span><span lang="" style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"></span><br style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;" /></span></p><div style="background-color: white;"><div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Or regular copies on Amazon...</span></div><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Christopher-Kelly/e/B00RW8QZG6/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1539454238&sr=8-1">www.amazon.com/Christopher-Kelly/e/B00RW8QZG6/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1539454238&sr=8-1</a></span></div><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Or on Kindle...</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B00R1ZXKMW" style="color: #888888;">www.amzn.com/B00R1ZXKMW</a></span></div><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: large;"></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B0178GCYDO" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.amzn.com/B0178GCYDO</span></a></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B01LXD1KHQ" style="color: #888888;">www.amzn.com/B01LXD1KHQ</a></span></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B073RJQ8PK" style="color: #888888;">www.amzn.com/B073RJQ8PK</a></span></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><div style="color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Listen to my interview with Bob Cudmore...<a href="http://bobcudmore.com/thehistorians/tracks/ChristopherKelly(August2017)(29)(mp3).mp3" style="color: #888888;">http://bobcudmore.com/thehistorians/tracks/ChristopherKelly(August2017)(29)(mp3).mp3</a></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And my interview...<a href="http://www.thebook-club.com/blog/bookshelf-interview-with-christopher-kelly">www.thebook-club.com/blog/bookshelf-interview-with-christopher-kelly</a></span></div><div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">And my most recent interview...<a href="http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2018/08/17/america-invaded-christopher-kelly">http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2018/08/17/america-invaded-christopher-kelly</a></span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheB0LJA8ZBAZZOuVZJFcVlxgRVrEV8IhvNcG04NW9CQiN6fz4oKK22VTFTNkwvBOejsF079hzTwostT0Xs1SIfeyoIyDQbcFNgjC9gKfBzCi8ckfOzosX83D54wJeTy0sB0wuEjBJlTBU/s1600/AICover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="405" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheB0LJA8ZBAZZOuVZJFcVlxgRVrEV8IhvNcG04NW9CQiN6fz4oKK22VTFTNkwvBOejsF079hzTwostT0Xs1SIfeyoIyDQbcFNgjC9gKfBzCi8ckfOzosX83D54wJeTy0sB0wuEjBJlTBU/s400/AICover.jpg" width="270" /></a></div></div></div></div></div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Commander Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03602902461964252463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122629330054677829.post-65275904878122245822021-08-08T16:00:00.001-07:002021-08-10T08:11:35.367-07:00Target Tokyo<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgw2FUL5gpLrUfpj6QgZwY_5FdUzoZdvGdM_VtMdzZqDrozUYJzdT_THq-mpcBOHByGQj2D0FY0VoES220zRdsQqi4mRiJ_K26NFXLw7mvQstMNnUsVwFjTaMwba96sb9li20xhCW2rec/s277/Unknown-12.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="277" data-original-width="182" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgw2FUL5gpLrUfpj6QgZwY_5FdUzoZdvGdM_VtMdzZqDrozUYJzdT_THq-mpcBOHByGQj2D0FY0VoES220zRdsQqi4mRiJ_K26NFXLw7mvQstMNnUsVwFjTaMwba96sb9li20xhCW2rec/w421-h640/Unknown-12.jpeg" width="421" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>In the recently concluded Tokyo Olympics, Americans won 113 medals including 39 gold medals -- more than anything other nation. Evidently many American athletes have been targeting Tokyo for some time now with their training. Congratulations to the American athletes and all Olympians. In April of 1942, eighty young Americans were targeting Tokyo as -- but their intention was to bomb it. Doolittle's Raiders were responding to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor which was being planned exactly 80 years ago. Dooltttle's Raiders did not win gold but their efforts materially helped to win World War II and create a lasting peace in which events such as the Olympics can take place. </p><p>James Scott, author of the previously reviewed <b><i>Rampage</i></b> (<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4122629330054677829/5794492647359096591">https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4122629330054677829/5794492647359096591</a>), tells the full story behind the Doolittle Raid in his 2015 book <b><i>Target Tokyo</i></b> (<a href="http://www.amzn.com/0393352277">www.amzn.com/0393352277</a>).</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx8Zt5Nf88tO2IydONtxiYixxkuffidEjPd_y0qB1sDkNzeI5knajnUVR-x0_fuORNQbPapjW2-iggmDIqXCJGJDDp3YY5Lw6veKRCJxe4MLQsaGRj9ra6v1at1m_OJYHRnPcc_r1xU58/s2048/12A_JDoolittle.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx8Zt5Nf88tO2IydONtxiYixxkuffidEjPd_y0qB1sDkNzeI5knajnUVR-x0_fuORNQbPapjW2-iggmDIqXCJGJDDp3YY5Lw6veKRCJxe4MLQsaGRj9ra6v1at1m_OJYHRnPcc_r1xU58/w266-h400/12A_JDoolittle.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jimmy Doolittle<br />1896 - 1993</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p>Less than six months after the catastrophe at Pearl Harbor the USA launched an attack on the Japanese homeland. Sixteen US Army B-25 bombers launched from the deck of the USS Hornet and led by forty five year old Jimmy Doolittle would avenge Pearl Harbor and make history. Doolittle was a 5'4" dynamo of a man from Alaska who had trained as a pilot for World War I. The Great War ended before Doolittle ever saw combat. Between the wars, Doolittle became an accomplished racing aviator and barn stormer. In 1930 he left the Air Force to join Shell oil company. In January 1942, General "Hap" Arnold of the US Army Air Corps summoned Doolittle back to the military for "t<i>he most important military assignment of</i>" his life.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGLaH5jvpsZkXPuMJtOxFlN_754xsAu6DIq6dDPnrcmTpCUT-wbnZ6K4PbI3cQfewNt2-X4umsthlBTzvxVkwQOyyBotGDZocMiDkXRbOobMQdg9x-u6OUdQOeU7JeMiLDKVo-mDJw7zA/s2048/12B_B-25Mitchell.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGLaH5jvpsZkXPuMJtOxFlN_754xsAu6DIq6dDPnrcmTpCUT-wbnZ6K4PbI3cQfewNt2-X4umsthlBTzvxVkwQOyyBotGDZocMiDkXRbOobMQdg9x-u6OUdQOeU7JeMiLDKVo-mDJw7zA/w400-h266/12B_B-25Mitchell.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">B-25 Mitchell<br />RAF Museum, Hendon, UK</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p>The B-25 "Mitchell" twin engine bomber was not as famous as the B-17 or the B-29 that succeeded it. It did offer a 3,500-pound payload. It only required 5 airmen to operate as opposed to 10 on a B-17. Scott informs us that the B-25 "<i>was chosen for the Tokyo raid for one reason -- its sixty-seven foot wingspan would clear the superstructure of an aircraft carrier.</i>" </p><p>The Doolittle Raiders were all on a one way flight. The B-25 had a 1,300 mile range. It could take off from a carrier but could not land on one. The Raiders' mission was to bomb Tokyo or other targets in Japan and then to fly on to airfields in Nationalist China. Three minutes after the last B-25 roared off the Hornet's deck Admiral Halsey ordered the carrier to turn back to Pearl Harbor. One of the Raiders, low on fuel, would fly north from Japan to a landing field in Soviet Siberia. That B-25 was the only one that landed. Their crew would suffer a harsh captivity in Soviet hands before eventually being allowed to "escape" across the border into Iran. All the other Raiders followed their orders attempting to fly to China with most of the crews bailing out via parachute.</p><p>Three Raiders were killed on the day of the Raid. The Japanese executed three crew members that were subsequently captured in Japanese-occupied China. Second Lieutenant Robert Meder starved to death in a Japanese prison camp. Twelve other Raiders would subsequently be killed during the war. The remaining 61 Raider survivors would celebrate their feat in memorable reunions that ran up until the last was held at the USAF Museum in Dayton, Ohio in 2013. Richard Cole of San Antonio, Texas was Doolittle's copilot and the last surviving Raider; he died in 2019. </p><p>FDR, when asked by reporters for the launching base for the Doolittle Raid, told them that they came from Shangri-La (a fictional place described in the 1933 novel <b><i>Lost Horizon</i></b> by Jame Hilton). Before the days of Instagram, secrets could be kept!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFuAyECUkgMHaarxMupxYkSSSmTHOPAjC7jHwiC1NSQ3Dv5rLb0xoluZaKuWDBKdQkZBPMHeEhSMreo5LkBLZIkU2I9nSA7KWoEcai3fhVOoFEnIvozs3oww_qFmfT9IlHjdn1iQtl46Q/s600/AICover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="405" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFuAyECUkgMHaarxMupxYkSSSmTHOPAjC7jHwiC1NSQ3Dv5rLb0xoluZaKuWDBKdQkZBPMHeEhSMreo5LkBLZIkU2I9nSA7KWoEcai3fhVOoFEnIvozs3oww_qFmfT9IlHjdn1iQtl46Q/w270-h400/AICover.jpg" width="270" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>In <b><i>America Invades (<a href="http://www.americainvades.com">www.americainvades.com</a>)</i></b>, we wrote, "<i>The raiders inflicted minimal physical damage, but the psychological impact was enormous as the Japanese felt compelled to initiate the disastrous (for the Japanese) Midway campaign to prevent future American air attacks on their homeland</i>." On April 18, 1942 bombs were dropped on targets in Tokyo and other Japanese cities. The Yokosuka naval base, for example was hit. Some Japanese civilians were killed in the Raid and Japanese propaganda attempted to make the most of this in their reporting. The Emperor's Palace was strictly forbidden as a target.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsqpLvvhNskHP9MzQ-LvAyGgiDL1T7rl58Fg3H89BrItKZeZRZ6jNJ4LAP9tbDpry6ON4yL0EHHJ3Dhr_SGIaX6OmdWYeCRXaHSmZ4ia_hEIy_E-Hs2NSBLkM-WL_wcGukvE0_8tt7-h4/s2048/IMG_4353.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsqpLvvhNskHP9MzQ-LvAyGgiDL1T7rl58Fg3H89BrItKZeZRZ6jNJ4LAP9tbDpry6ON4yL0EHHJ3Dhr_SGIaX6OmdWYeCRXaHSmZ4ia_hEIy_E-Hs2NSBLkM-WL_wcGukvE0_8tt7-h4/w400-h300/IMG_4353.HEIC" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chinese Civilians assist Raiders<br />National Museum of the US Air Force<br />Dayton, OH</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p>By far the greatest casualties of the Raid were suffered by the Chinese civilian population. Many Chinese had aided the American aviators. For this they paid an awful price. Scott informs us that as many as a quarter million Chinese were killed in retribution for the Doolittle Raid. The Japanese employed gruesome torture methods and even employed bacteriological warfare to exterminate whole towns and villages.</p><p>The Doolittle Raid confirmed for the Japanese their plans to launch their attack on Midway. To prevent a future attack on the Japanese homeland the defensive perimeter of the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere had to be expanded. Their plans called for Japanese marines to invade and occupy Midway Island. The Midway campaign was a catastrophe for the Japanese who lost 4 aircraft carriers and control of the Pacific in the June 1942 battle. The tide of battle had decisively turned in the Pacific.</p><p>In the closing days of the war, the Japanese home islands would be subjected to an unrelenting bombing campaign waged by B-29 Superfortress bombers. This aircraft was so powerful that it,"<i>staggers the imagination</i>" according to Jimmy Doolittle. A two day incendiary raid abasing Tokyo in March of 1945 killed over 83,000 people and left a million homeless. In all Allied bombing would kill 330,000 Japanese and injure a further 475,000. The atomic bombs dropped by B-29s on Hiroshima and Nagasaki ended the most destructive war in human history and seared a wound into the human psyche that endures to this day.</p><p>World War II in the Pacific was a colossally brutal war. We may be grateful that brave young Americans answered the call to volunteer for the Doolittle Raid over Tokyo. Their heroism helped earn the enduring peace that we enjoy to this day in the Pacific and most of our world.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3FYP6JNBlVreEFDSr5LRxH4kAfi3q8pGe4_myNpFaNvFgPLsi9fuoeql_8OIJqczND3jPthLK_6oo4emamea3pYvWCzwJFLabVt1hlfyJ-jzXfEDRA7PETbJY8I99AYsexhLhfOvU2KQ/s1425/AmericaInvadedCover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1425" data-original-width="975" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3FYP6JNBlVreEFDSr5LRxH4kAfi3q8pGe4_myNpFaNvFgPLsi9fuoeql_8OIJqczND3jPthLK_6oo4emamea3pYvWCzwJFLabVt1hlfyJ-jzXfEDRA7PETbJY8I99AYsexhLhfOvU2KQ/w274-h400/AmericaInvadedCover.jpg" width="274" /></a></div><p><br /></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="sans-serif" style="text-align: start;">You can find signed copies of our books at these web sites...</span></span><br /><div style="font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.americainvades.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.americainvades.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.italyinvades.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.italyinvades.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.anadventurein1914.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.anadventurein1914.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.americainvaded.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.americainvaded.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;">!</div></div><p class="MsoCommentText" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><br style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;" /><span style="font-family: electralh; font-size: medium;"></span><span lang="" style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"></span><br style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;" /></span></p><div style="background-color: white;"><div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Or regular copies on Amazon...</span></div><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Christopher-Kelly/e/B00RW8QZG6/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1539454238&sr=8-1">www.amazon.com/Christopher-Kelly/e/B00RW8QZG6/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1539454238&sr=8-1</a></span></div><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Or on Kindle...</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B00R1ZXKMW" style="color: #888888;">www.amzn.com/B00R1ZXKMW</a></span></div><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: large;"></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B0178GCYDO" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.amzn.com/B0178GCYDO</span></a></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B01LXD1KHQ" style="color: #888888;">www.amzn.com/B01LXD1KHQ</a></span></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B073RJQ8PK" style="color: #888888;">www.amzn.com/B073RJQ8PK</a></span></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><div style="color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Listen to my interview with Bob Cudmore...<a href="http://bobcudmore.com/thehistorians/tracks/ChristopherKelly(August2017)(29)(mp3).mp3" style="color: #888888;">http://bobcudmore.com/thehistorians/tracks/ChristopherKelly(August2017)(29)(mp3).mp3</a></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And my interview...<a href="http://www.thebook-club.com/blog/bookshelf-interview-with-christopher-kelly">www.thebook-club.com/blog/bookshelf-interview-with-christopher-kelly</a></span></div><div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">And my most recent interview...<a href="http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2018/08/17/america-invaded-christopher-kelly">http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2018/08/17/america-invaded-christopher-kelly</a></span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheB0LJA8ZBAZZOuVZJFcVlxgRVrEV8IhvNcG04NW9CQiN6fz4oKK22VTFTNkwvBOejsF079hzTwostT0Xs1SIfeyoIyDQbcFNgjC9gKfBzCi8ckfOzosX83D54wJeTy0sB0wuEjBJlTBU/s1600/AICover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="405" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheB0LJA8ZBAZZOuVZJFcVlxgRVrEV8IhvNcG04NW9CQiN6fz4oKK22VTFTNkwvBOejsF079hzTwostT0Xs1SIfeyoIyDQbcFNgjC9gKfBzCi8ckfOzosX83D54wJeTy0sB0wuEjBJlTBU/s400/AICover.jpg" width="270" /></a></div></div></div></div></div><p><br /></p>Commander Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03602902461964252463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122629330054677829.post-48559398624603084132021-07-26T14:03:00.002-07:002021-07-26T14:07:52.620-07:00Katie Heath RIP (1953 - 2021)<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4wmXNOje9_cjzyF7Pipil_P-oQQsw8Sk-6GQ5p0fRp0hQtnleai_Mw9FTCRgw0I51sqgVim5q5qCIPeiSgxwOUq-Ms_Cb7Wl2UaMMce_Yq9KbXZvze3hqFE9IASu3aZctQlJQM4ym9AE/s2048/IMG_2520+2.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1539" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4wmXNOje9_cjzyF7Pipil_P-oQQsw8Sk-6GQ5p0fRp0hQtnleai_Mw9FTCRgw0I51sqgVim5q5qCIPeiSgxwOUq-Ms_Cb7Wl2UaMMce_Yq9KbXZvze3hqFE9IASu3aZctQlJQM4ym9AE/w640-h480/IMG_2520+2.HEIC" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Katie Heath RIP<br />1953 - 2021<br />From "Cooties" to Covid-19<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>My sister Katie was born in 1953 to Clinton Elliot and Nina Van Rensselaer. Nina subsequently divorced and married my father Robert Kelly in Sacramento, California. My dad adopted Katie (and my brother Clinton) at the time of his marriage to Nina which followed a whirlwind romance in Cuba and Mexico City. Katie, born in New York, grew up as a California girl in sultry Sacramento where she loved to swim, ride horses and dance.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixyitjA9A8oQosenyvNUcgyOYW3UYFlXOjJSlPrRtFLh3t0suLVguB4PY9KJmLJ51YhB0ScXHkeN4Y5ja1A8t82AlwPZ7T5zRm1Gv780oK7krA4B5MpBp3WCau2ChO3OhprrgyUGuXt4I/s229/Unknown-10.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="229" data-original-width="220" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixyitjA9A8oQosenyvNUcgyOYW3UYFlXOjJSlPrRtFLh3t0suLVguB4PY9KJmLJ51YhB0ScXHkeN4Y5ja1A8t82AlwPZ7T5zRm1Gv780oK7krA4B5MpBp3WCau2ChO3OhprrgyUGuXt4I/w384-h400/Unknown-10.jpeg" width="384" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>Katie had been born into the sunnier days of the Eisenhower administration. Life was a bit easier and simpler back then. They were more worried about catching "cooties" than deadly viruses. Hula hoops were a bigger thing than Social Media. Everybody liked Ike. And Katie was very likable too. Everybody liked Katie.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglxA0HXzVl-M_nLgJusl8lFZiTH69_yjIYwf82_h5q6kpKHrBcH4v9-GMJHIhs04-VD3uLoqd9wuOTvkaGqLCRW04_7-7O2YWceurgnvgrgFX6YqiAmHig972d_7-Pjo_K8LHxBDehVY4/s225/Unknown-9.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglxA0HXzVl-M_nLgJusl8lFZiTH69_yjIYwf82_h5q6kpKHrBcH4v9-GMJHIhs04-VD3uLoqd9wuOTvkaGqLCRW04_7-7O2YWceurgnvgrgFX6YqiAmHig972d_7-Pjo_K8LHxBDehVY4/w400-h400/Unknown-9.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>In 1960s California Katie grew to be a free spirit. Perhaps even hippie. She wore granny glasses and plastic mini skirts. She love the Beattles and especially Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club band. She graduated from San Dominico school near San Francisco which is going strong to this day (<a href="https://www.sandomenico.org">https://www.sandomenico.org</a>). She thought that many of the nuns were cool -- one of the coolest wore a superman T-shirt underneath her habit!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gLlWIfKO0sU" width="320" youtube-src-id="gLlWIfKO0sU"></iframe></div><p><br /></p><p>She attended the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque where she learned, among other things, how to make awesome Huevos Rancheros. She served them with warm flour tortillas and ice cold Dos Equis beer.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKKkTXTEAwwXkKDHxkXMmz6-6Vj33kcpkKzf25AY18OijUHzxi_YDmg4KUjnoymSEbEnifgAjk4VLefRypvfvOjMPtNlG9ER7bOMtDjq0DDNK_7vPb_yfSNEF8ygoOUEO8o_dwI6Sxf60/s2048/IMG_0662+2.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKKkTXTEAwwXkKDHxkXMmz6-6Vj33kcpkKzf25AY18OijUHzxi_YDmg4KUjnoymSEbEnifgAjk4VLefRypvfvOjMPtNlG9ER7bOMtDjq0DDNK_7vPb_yfSNEF8ygoOUEO8o_dwI6Sxf60/w300-h400/IMG_0662+2.HEIC" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Robert E. Kelly RIP<br />Adopted Katie Heath<br />1929 - 2008<br />From the Great Crash to the Financial Crisis<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Our family loved to travel. Our mother Nina had attended the Sorbonne and, during the Korean War, my father had served as a Private First Class in the US Army based in Verdun, France. Our parents were serious about food and wine. One summer in the 1960s my dad bought a VW bug and drove through Europe. That was long before the European Union when borders meant something. My parents were nervous about having their considerable stash of wine confiscated or taxed by the customs authorities who loomed at every border crossing. There were five of us in a VW bug with 3 kids crammed in the back seat and several cases of wine in the diminutive trunk. The bottles of burgundy and champagne clinked and rattled together as we bumped along the European countryside. We made up a silly song: "<i>Please Mr. Customs Man, Don't check our underwear too closely</i>". We thought that it was hysterically funny anyway...those were happy times!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjci9H55NyHWos7VskoDIFJauQQOliu97KSYhc89HxFRjquBsy0vcyIQh3sg-jCQfxHYXLs3ckS3ioD7SnIpbXMU_vpQExx2hQEsWtHOv96ec4NuQt0H1aZcP5lHJt98DG67KouSB70jAQ/s300/Unknown-11.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjci9H55NyHWos7VskoDIFJauQQOliu97KSYhc89HxFRjquBsy0vcyIQh3sg-jCQfxHYXLs3ckS3ioD7SnIpbXMU_vpQExx2hQEsWtHOv96ec4NuQt0H1aZcP5lHJt98DG67KouSB70jAQ/w400-h224/Unknown-11.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Katie & the <br />Soviet Navy!</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p>In 1970 our family slipped behind the Iron Curtain, visiting Leningrad in the Soviet Union. We saw the Tsar's grand Palace and fabulous gardens. We went to a performance of Swan Lake (Katie loved ballet and modern dance). We returned via train from Leningrad to Helsinki Finland. On the train journey a Soviet submarine captain very nearly assaulted Katie -- a cute blonde American teenager at the time. My father had to literally pull him off of her. Katie's miniskirt was apparently too much of a temptation for the drunken sea captain. Despite my father's ignorance of Russian, he had a conversation with the Soviet skipper and somehow managed to learn that his crew was dying of radiation poisoning. Perhaps these and other events helped to solidify my sister's growing feminism.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjufwpRjwbDFXWI0cWIfgTM-P73jyw8c6B6gMNvQJkX2od1EgBkqV-rOxeIt92_LURdafmdge3N7GzSai9CZu1A_ZpIVIsqNm9LrGq5Rj3gH6vaR_qBJh-HQeAS5m8GJiJhw2Xo-Isl-RE/s2048/IMG_9686.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjufwpRjwbDFXWI0cWIfgTM-P73jyw8c6B6gMNvQJkX2od1EgBkqV-rOxeIt92_LURdafmdge3N7GzSai9CZu1A_ZpIVIsqNm9LrGq5Rj3gH6vaR_qBJh-HQeAS5m8GJiJhw2Xo-Isl-RE/w400-h300/IMG_9686.HEIC" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Katie & Georgina & Nina loved birds<br />Sent her this image from the Everglades, FL in 2021<br />Heron or Ibis? Katie would know!<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Katie was the granddaughter of Georgina Van Rensselaer of Bedford New York. She was the great granddaughter of Thomas Tileston Wells who wrote <b><i>An Adventure in 1914 </i></b>(<a href="http://www.anadventurein1914.com">www.anadventurein1914.com</a>). Georgina once told Katie that she combined "beauty, brains and breeding"! Georgina and Katie and Nina shared a lifelong love of birds and nature.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvOHO8dBzhdPlaUzjFmnFFdBNe3lF5v6UTcaRQJRxh4aYIWNY-akDkPHrmUdwmKXx-rDeDpYQge41WnyejUbKpbIaAFn1xDy3KZNs212ZBIupx7ARsuDvOUdaa-ApTrRGmLif9kvvPGiw/s640/4a+Daughter+GeorginaVR.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="467" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvOHO8dBzhdPlaUzjFmnFFdBNe3lF5v6UTcaRQJRxh4aYIWNY-akDkPHrmUdwmKXx-rDeDpYQge41WnyejUbKpbIaAFn1xDy3KZNs212ZBIupx7ARsuDvOUdaa-ApTrRGmLif9kvvPGiw/w293-h400/4a+Daughter+GeorginaVR.jpg" width="293" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Georgina Van Rensselaer<br />1902 - 1997<br />From Teddy Roosevelt to Bill Clinton</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><br /></p><p>Katie met James Heath while both were working in Alaska at the Mount McKinley Park Hotel. Jimmy was a lanky Montanan. They fell in love and later married. Jimmy would instruct Katie in the joys of elk hunting and the beauty of Big Sky country. They had three boys together...Schuyler, Sloane and Chance. Katie was vociferously pro-choice; she was also a terrific loving mom to her three boys.</p><p>Katie was not entirely satisfied with her life as a homemaker in Montana. She longed to build a business as our father Robert had done. Katie got her chance creating a successful and pioneering Yoga business in Missoula Montana. Her business acumen proved to be a blessing for her community where she was unfailingly generous.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaWXZ9eXO06tf75eeTB5dzvecvfuBW8g9g7u2bZQeI0O-OMEHM2yyb60ZD8skFN-zdePAnn9oF7z0K3_tLph-rty6HkwGj8okozwUkl9-I_mM9TFpvBrRxuu7u7fsk1pqsFng5K1Ar8Ak/s2048/IMG_6418+2.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaWXZ9eXO06tf75eeTB5dzvecvfuBW8g9g7u2bZQeI0O-OMEHM2yyb60ZD8skFN-zdePAnn9oF7z0K3_tLph-rty6HkwGj8okozwUkl9-I_mM9TFpvBrRxuu7u7fsk1pqsFng5K1Ar8Ak/w300-h400/IMG_6418+2.HEIC" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nina Van Rensselaer RIP<br />An Adventure from 1928 - 2020<br />www.anadventurein1914.com</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p>When our aged mother Nina Van Rensselaer was ill (stroke, breast cancer, broken leg, dementia, etc.) it was Katie who took care of her. Katie was a devoted daughter to the end.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdTB5f9wStlTqHT9Ap3G-0Mxbrha1BIFAT_3VBgP6kpJYkhdp0mLUIuE7znhUoO3-v73itkd2iARt_l4fItq_WQXv6i5ReqJyZm_EiudH3Qx-yPMXKNfmHM35CcokP_iZG7TLrquzfG-c/s2048/IMG_7961.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdTB5f9wStlTqHT9Ap3G-0Mxbrha1BIFAT_3VBgP6kpJYkhdp0mLUIuE7znhUoO3-v73itkd2iARt_l4fItq_WQXv6i5ReqJyZm_EiudH3Qx-yPMXKNfmHM35CcokP_iZG7TLrquzfG-c/w400-h300/IMG_7961.HEIC" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Katy Trail<br />Runs 237 Miles through Missouri</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Katie faced her final illness (brain cancer) with fortitude and courage. In April 2021 I biked the 237 miles of the Katy Trail across the state of Missouri (<a href="https://bikekatytrail.com">https://bikekatytrail.com</a>) in her honor -- I sent her many photos of birds and flowers. Broke three ribs on the final day when I fell off my bike! Katie Heath died at her much-loved home in Missoula Montana in July 2021. She was a loving sister who (God Bless Her!) was a regular reader of this blog. I shall miss her terribly.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Giz2QVORfD2EH6031wuj936HqUZbSOSIAmOjXN51ynB4Ib6Gbr7bWpNE1eyBY_2_-AgQw_dCRHTiJJaJokA1eOFO55Kd3H52G5nfFiMwdhGr20Y7A5hW5_QwQjtOFdxjAE-EhEFJMQk/s2048/1914-Front-Cover-18x24Poster.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1552" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Giz2QVORfD2EH6031wuj936HqUZbSOSIAmOjXN51ynB4Ib6Gbr7bWpNE1eyBY_2_-AgQw_dCRHTiJJaJokA1eOFO55Kd3H52G5nfFiMwdhGr20Y7A5hW5_QwQjtOFdxjAE-EhEFJMQk/w303-h400/1914-Front-Cover-18x24Poster.jpg" width="303" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="sans-serif" style="text-align: start;">You can find signed copies of our books at these web sites...</span></span><br /><div style="font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.americainvades.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.americainvades.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.italyinvades.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.italyinvades.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.anadventurein1914.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.anadventurein1914.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.americainvaded.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.americainvaded.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;">!</div></div><p class="MsoCommentText" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><br style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;" /><span style="font-family: electralh; font-size: medium;"></span><span lang="" style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"></span><br style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;" /></span></p><div style="background-color: white;"><div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Or regular copies on Amazon...</span></div><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Christopher-Kelly/e/B00RW8QZG6/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1539454238&sr=8-1">www.amazon.com/Christopher-Kelly/e/B00RW8QZG6/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1539454238&sr=8-1</a></span></div><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Or on Kindle...</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B00R1ZXKMW" style="color: #888888;">www.amzn.com/B00R1ZXKMW</a></span></div><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: large;"></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B0178GCYDO" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.amzn.com/B0178GCYDO</span></a></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B01LXD1KHQ" style="color: #888888;">www.amzn.com/B01LXD1KHQ</a></span></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B073RJQ8PK" style="color: #888888;">www.amzn.com/B073RJQ8PK</a></span></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><div style="color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Listen to my interview with Bob Cudmore...<a href="http://bobcudmore.com/thehistorians/tracks/ChristopherKelly(August2017)(29)(mp3).mp3" style="color: #888888;">http://bobcudmore.com/thehistorians/tracks/ChristopherKelly(August2017)(29)(mp3).mp3</a></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And my interview...<a href="http://www.thebook-club.com/blog/bookshelf-interview-with-christopher-kelly">www.thebook-club.com/blog/bookshelf-interview-with-christopher-kelly</a></span></div><div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">And my most recent interview...<a href="http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2018/08/17/america-invaded-christopher-kelly">http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2018/08/17/america-invaded-christopher-kelly</a></span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheB0LJA8ZBAZZOuVZJFcVlxgRVrEV8IhvNcG04NW9CQiN6fz4oKK22VTFTNkwvBOejsF079hzTwostT0Xs1SIfeyoIyDQbcFNgjC9gKfBzCi8ckfOzosX83D54wJeTy0sB0wuEjBJlTBU/s1600/AICover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="405" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheB0LJA8ZBAZZOuVZJFcVlxgRVrEV8IhvNcG04NW9CQiN6fz4oKK22VTFTNkwvBOejsF079hzTwostT0Xs1SIfeyoIyDQbcFNgjC9gKfBzCi8ckfOzosX83D54wJeTy0sB0wuEjBJlTBU/s400/AICover.jpg" width="270" /></a></div></div></div></div></div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Commander Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03602902461964252463noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122629330054677829.post-33662828858627689432021-07-03T13:39:00.000-07:002021-07-03T13:39:13.740-07:00US Navy Seal Museum<p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibN7ntXYi8mMlbe-3qkMoTuShsq1EX2o7tn_6rKjpRZY5YZzNYTopFw_9sMs6I4cJinp9As9prGzKL5UtEvqp5xlGr_7GWgAH0cpuVo-vztBSB2DIC-Sozq17r9HFUdThfJk6u46r0OUY/s2048/IMG_9637.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibN7ntXYi8mMlbe-3qkMoTuShsq1EX2o7tn_6rKjpRZY5YZzNYTopFw_9sMs6I4cJinp9As9prGzKL5UtEvqp5xlGr_7GWgAH0cpuVo-vztBSB2DIC-Sozq17r9HFUdThfJk6u46r0OUY/w640-h480/IMG_9637.HEIC" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Commander K at US Navy Seal Museum<br />Fort Pierce, Florida</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p>The US Navy Seal Museum is located in Fort Pierce on the Atlantic coast of Florida (<a href="https://www.navysealmuseum.org">https://www.navysealmuseum.org</a>). During WW2 it was here in Fort Pierce in 1943 that Naval Combat Demolition Units (NCDUs) began training for their incredibly dangerous mission of preparing the beaches at Normandy for the D-Day landings. NCDUs were also employed in the Pacific theater where they became known as "MacArthur's frogmen". Underwater Demolition Teams (UDTs), often armed only with knives, swept onto the beaches of islands such as Iwo Jima and Okinawa on mobile flotation devices. Their mission was to clear the beaches of obstacles and traps that had proved problematic in the landing on "Bloody Tarawa". The astonishing bravery of these men provided an inspiration for the Navy Seals who followed in their footsteps.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiivz8JuGWEfpbnKsn-TpKy8a1iawyO0oBsq9-XvQvxt9JbWQeyIMgASsfHZ19uVem8ll2cJ2xBi1CToa_pthAv8F1rlFfOtxDQpcB5O3oIyCXA5HDQHhUwBe1hxMqSJ-ApkK7hRra0kOg/s1650/LtJFK.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1650" data-original-width="1275" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiivz8JuGWEfpbnKsn-TpKy8a1iawyO0oBsq9-XvQvxt9JbWQeyIMgASsfHZ19uVem8ll2cJ2xBi1CToa_pthAv8F1rlFfOtxDQpcB5O3oIyCXA5HDQHhUwBe1hxMqSJ-ApkK7hRra0kOg/w309-h400/LtJFK.jpg" width="309" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lt. John F. Kennedy<br />PT-109</td></tr></tbody></table><p>President Kennedy stumbled badly in his first days in the White House with the Bay of Pigs disaster. In April 1961 CIA-supported Cuban exiles attempted to invade the island, seeking to depose Castro. They were slaughtered and forced to surrender. But the ashes of this failure were, perhaps, the genesis of the legendary US Navy Seals. JFK, a US Navy combat veteran himself (PT-109 in the Solomon Islands), sought an unconventional weapon with which to combat Communism, particularly in Southeast Asia. The fledgling US Navy Seals were first deployed in the riverine warfare of Vietnam where they became known as the "men with green faces" due to their use of camouflage paint and stealth tactics.</p><p>The Seals would see action during the Cold War in the 1983 invasion of Grenada and the 1989/90 invasion of Panama. But it would really be after the collapse of the Berlin Wall and the end of the Cold War that the Seals would flourish in the covert Global War on Terror. In the 21st century the US Navy Seals would see combat in Afghanistan, Iraq and even Pakistan.</p><p>In the Pakistan chapter of 2014's <b><i>America Invades</i></b> (<a href="http://www.americainvades.com">www.americainvades.com</a>) we wrote...</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWk2j9Na2h-E3DxvFi7iZdeRWrPdO6IKnO0B3J6nC83RHFQxsHKPs4kn07p0k-Itcs9t9USDm-JeiJvmYLDqOZi9WTSeGLRpjiKEKps2qnKD85UayT5gPGtPAxv1k5gX8JqoAEY0r-Xcs/s2048/IMG_9581.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWk2j9Na2h-E3DxvFi7iZdeRWrPdO6IKnO0B3J6nC83RHFQxsHKPs4kn07p0k-Itcs9t9USDm-JeiJvmYLDqOZi9WTSeGLRpjiKEKps2qnKD85UayT5gPGtPAxv1k5gX8JqoAEY0r-Xcs/w300-h400/IMG_9581.HEIC" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Operation Neptune Spear<br />US Navy Seal Museum<br />Fort Pierce, FL</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p>"On May 1, 2011, four US helicopters flew from Jalalabad in Afghanistan to Abbottabad, Pakistan, on a mission aimed at Osama bin Laden. In spite of the crash of one stealth Black Hawk into the compound, Operation Neptune Spear was a near total success. Two Black Hawk helicopters carried USN SEALs to Osama’s secret compound. Two CH-47s carried extra fuel and additional forces. The SEALs relayed the code signal “<i>Geronimo</i>” back to the White House confirming that Osama bin Laden had been positively identified. Osama bin Laden, three other males, and one female were killed; there were no SEAL casualties.</p><p>The intelligence-gathering phase of this mission had required about ten years with several “enhanced interrogation” sessions along the way. The action phase of this invasion of Pakistan and the subsequent withdrawal lasted about four hours. No Pakistani military or civilians were killed in the raid.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPMZa_BkOn4BdhMOzm4iOsmN-7VubYn1xgClH51mI9Rp9WXz9lXdb5FuheZDnj8e0TQu788CSiJZhFISu8RBc9E56ZhRseslt0bVs7Op-XjIpib7j9YDXGX4F3lDdAfqcQqUqsD4QOeUU/s267/Unknown-8.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="267" data-original-width="189" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPMZa_BkOn4BdhMOzm4iOsmN-7VubYn1xgClH51mI9Rp9WXz9lXdb5FuheZDnj8e0TQu788CSiJZhFISu8RBc9E56ZhRseslt0bVs7Op-XjIpib7j9YDXGX4F3lDdAfqcQqUqsD4QOeUU/w283-h400/Unknown-8.jpeg" width="283" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Osama bin Laden<br />1957 - 2011</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Osama’s body was identified with DNA methods and transported to the USS <i>Carl Vinson</i>. The burial was at sea in the north Arabian Ocean. Soon after the death of Osama was announced a crowd thronged around the White House chanting “<i>USA, USA</i> ...”</p><p>One of the MC-130E Combat Talon I planes that had been used when President Jimmy Carter ordered the disastrous Operation Eagle Claw to free American hostages in Iran was used to ferry SEAL Team Six to Kentucky for a congratulatory visit with President Obama. Navy SEAL Team Six received a Presidential Unit Citation—the highest unit award in the US military. President Obama credited the “<i>countless intelligence and counterterrorism professionals”</i> who had labored for over a decade in three US administrations to achieve this result.</p><p>The urgent need to bring justice to the author of the 9/11 attacks had outweighed considerations about the violations of Pakistan’s sovereignty and our links with that country." (Source...<a href="http://www.americainvades.com">www.americainvades.com</a>)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtzc_3fQTPwcC5EvL3PsknKYr7ZrBS2kWm9nl4ey_m4Qy2ZU_k8R11lWJvVq6NxnkD8etsDgQGbyzHuLhJpAjbNJ7MTwHQxslsuL8CwWb_tRnzS5eELH5E5RAg9VWbRx6eVAXKirm9WAw/s350/101-fighting-celts-crest.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="250" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtzc_3fQTPwcC5EvL3PsknKYr7ZrBS2kWm9nl4ey_m4Qy2ZU_k8R11lWJvVq6NxnkD8etsDgQGbyzHuLhJpAjbNJ7MTwHQxslsuL8CwWb_tRnzS5eELH5E5RAg9VWbRx6eVAXKirm9WAw/w286-h400/101-fighting-celts-crest.jpg" width="286" /></a>\</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>Rob "O'Neill is featured in our forthcoming <b><i>101 Fighting Celts: From Boudicca to MacArthur</i></b>. Here is an excerpt...</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl310UbBJw2LCLhPywB9msrdGVtOR2lk8IzHcPYOsbtP5lx0m7vFmTVx_cbn8ifuHvTVojvPQFu9XhbxETi7OgzXpolReJxTKxwz3Dca2RAwiIQmvszzSbyTF251cyhpdnfCrbPOieOIo/s2048/IMG_9608.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl310UbBJw2LCLhPywB9msrdGVtOR2lk8IzHcPYOsbtP5lx0m7vFmTVx_cbn8ifuHvTVojvPQFu9XhbxETi7OgzXpolReJxTKxwz3Dca2RAwiIQmvszzSbyTF251cyhpdnfCrbPOieOIo/w400-h300/IMG_9608.HEIC" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">JFK & Frogman<br />US Navy Seal Museum<br />Fort Pierce, FL<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>"In January 1962, John F. Kennedy, the most Irish-Celtic president in American history, established the US Navy SEALs. SEAL stands for Sea Air Land. The SEAL program was an evolution of the US Navy frogmen of World War II.</p><p>SEALs would be a magnet for many future warriors of Celtic descent. For example, Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy was a US Navy SEAL who won a posthumous Medal of Honor for his actions in Afghanistan in 2005. Rob O’Neill qualifies as the most famous SEAL to date. </p><p>O’Neill forms the latest chapter in a tradition of Celtic snipers that stretches back over centuries. Private Patrick Murphy of Morgan’s Rifleman shot and killed British Brigadier General Simon Frasier in the Saratoga Campaign in 1777.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSGy1xA0bAb9nwCwHyRipLvBNIg9SxqtHw0PPL-wQuHmhIdMC0xIQKpV3uNoTmMqWX8aHF3zhB5azfu_GLZHIWB9Id2oX1lHyvKMb3YPyxsSyW98ZDWZ_e2kurqgXdjDtSyD5UNt7X1k4/s263/Unknown-6.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="192" data-original-width="263" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSGy1xA0bAb9nwCwHyRipLvBNIg9SxqtHw0PPL-wQuHmhIdMC0xIQKpV3uNoTmMqWX8aHF3zhB5azfu_GLZHIWB9Id2oX1lHyvKMb3YPyxsSyW98ZDWZ_e2kurqgXdjDtSyD5UNt7X1k4/w400-h292/Unknown-6.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rob O'Neill<br />AKA "The Shooter"</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><br /></p><p>Rob O’Neill was born in 1976 in Butte, Montana. He attended Butte Central Catholic High School, graduating in 1994. O’Neill, a redhead, had been a college basketball player and was determined to become a Navy SEAL. He enlisted in the US Navy in 1995. He went through the challenging BUD/S (Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL) program, enduring “Hell Week,” in Coronado, California, graduating in December 1996... </p><p>Over the course of more than sixteen years, O’Neil completed four hundred combat missions. He earned numerous decorations, including two Silver Stars, four Bronze Stars with Valor, and three Presidential Unit Citations.</p><p>O’Neill participated in a rescue mission in Afghanistan that ultimately managed to bring Marcus Lutrell home—the lone survivor of a four-man SEAL unit. O’Neill was in numerous operations against IED (Improvised Explosive Devices) makers in Afghanistan and in Iraq. He went on many missions behind enemy lines in search of High Value Targets (HVTs).</p><p>In 2008, O’Neill was in pursuit of an HVT named Zabit Jalil, who was operating in Afghanistan near the border with Pakistan. O’Neill was a team leader directing SEALs and soldiers from the Afghan Army, when they got into a major gunfight with hundreds of Jalils’ forces. Badly outnumbered, O’Neill called for air support, which allowed for his teams’ safe extraction and caused numerous enemy casualties. For this action, O’Neill received his first Silver Star. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjngMnPPLBDhnmn7gKHLxDAnr5HVwXfTqtfE5rfQ96HIzW_SJEcXaqd3fs8ErCs0QJkZrRlKE1rl9SPHmjMeZlfhiErLTv8bRUB2rXfxx5boR_KDrl9dhDymB4IB1f_Cn7mltu6W3e8BHE/s241/Unknown-7.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="241" data-original-width="209" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjngMnPPLBDhnmn7gKHLxDAnr5HVwXfTqtfE5rfQ96HIzW_SJEcXaqd3fs8ErCs0QJkZrRlKE1rl9SPHmjMeZlfhiErLTv8bRUB2rXfxx5boR_KDrl9dhDymB4IB1f_Cn7mltu6W3e8BHE/w347-h400/Unknown-7.jpeg" width="347" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Captain Phillips<br />Held by Somali pirates in 2009</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p>In April of 2009, O’Neill was part of the team that was sent to rescue Captain Phillips from Somali pirates off the coast of Africa. Phillips was the captain of the <i>Maersk Alabama</i>, which had been seized by AK-47-wielding pirates in skiffs. Members of SEAL Team 6 on the USS Bainbridge managed to kill three pirates and save Captain Phillips, who was on a lifeboat bobbing in the sea. In an April 17 press conference on his return to Vermont, Phillips thanked the SEALs, describing them as “<i>titans, impossible men doing impossible jobs</i>.” </p><p>Two years later, in the spring of 2011, O’Neill took a principal role in the killing of Osama bin Laden, the mastermind of the 9/11 attacks. The operation was guided by the CIA, which had spent years tracking Osama’s couriers to a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. O’Neill and members of SEAL Team Six spent weeks practicing for the raid at a military facility in North Carolina that simulated the compound. President Obama, who has Irish roots on his mother’s side, authorized a covert mission to capture or kill the man that the CIA had identified as “The Pacer” on the theory that he was Osama bin Laden.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu6YoVsUGaI0yAmnwKprYQ3kDmVxGzn6L0D2dhDWzQrvztrig8cHS_5XU-_HN4EwTrqmxoKXqEO_-QbMjlzk6cUsAL1vEGWoA1fAdIs5Px2w1zt5UpGrxBRnJ4zVY9reTAJSzkdK-6SQ0/s368/images.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="368" data-original-width="238" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu6YoVsUGaI0yAmnwKprYQ3kDmVxGzn6L0D2dhDWzQrvztrig8cHS_5XU-_HN4EwTrqmxoKXqEO_-QbMjlzk6cUsAL1vEGWoA1fAdIs5Px2w1zt5UpGrxBRnJ4zVY9reTAJSzkdK-6SQ0/w259-h400/images.jpeg" width="259" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>The enormous danger of this mission cannot be overemphasized. In his book <b><i>The Operator: Firing the Shots that Killed Osama bin Laden and My Years as a SEAL Team Warrior</i></b>, O’Neill reveals that he wrote letters to his wife and two daughters, expecting that he and his fellow SEALs would perish on this mission. It would be, without a doubt, a perilous mission. They would be invading a major regional military power, and bin Laden’s compound was only about one mile away from the Pakistan Military Academy in Abbottabad.</p><p>On May 1, 2011, two modified Black Hawk helicopters and two CH-47s flew from Jalalabad in Afghanistan to Abbottabad, Pakistan, targeting the Pacer’s compound. In spite of the crash of one stealth Black Hawk into the compound, Operation Neptune Spear was a near total success. Osama bin Laden and his son, Khalid bin Laden, and three others were killed in the attack with no SEAL casualties. </p><p>According to his account, O’Neill proceeded upstairs to the third floor of the compound, where bin Laden twice in the head. Photographs were taken, and one of Osama’s daughters confirmed the identity of the corpse. (It was later reconfirmed by DNA.) Computers and hard drives were seized, and the Black Hawk chopper that had crashed into the compound was rigged to explode. The entire operation on the ground took about forty minutes. </p><p>The SEALs relayed a coded message to Admiral McRaven: “<i>For God and country, Geronimo, Geronimo, Geronimo, EKIA</i>” (Enemy Killed in Action), which was quickly communicated to the White House... </p><p>In August 2012, O’Neill was honorably discharged from the US Navy. He was interviewed by Esquire magazine for an article about the raid, in which he was anonymously identified as “The Shooter.” O’Neill had no health care to provide for his family. </p><p>In 2017, he published his book, <b><i>The Operator (<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Operator-Firing-Shots-Killed-Warrior/dp/1501145045/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3CUVBTEMI43P3&keywords=the+operator+robert+o%27neill&qid=1625341151&sprefix=the+operator%2Caps%2C245&sr=8-1">https://www.amazon.com/Operator-Firing-Shots-Killed-Warrior/dp/1501145045/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3CUVBTEMI43P3&keywords=the+operator+robert+o%27neill&qid=1625341151&sprefix=the+operator%2Caps%2C245&sr=8-1</a>)</i></b>. That book remains controversial in the SEAL community, where concerns about operational security have created an ethos of secrecy in regard to disclosing any details regarding covert operations. O’Neill serves now as contributor for Fox News. He is a cofounder of Your Grateful Nation, an organization committed to helping Special Forces veterans transition to their next successful career." Source: <b><i>101 Fighting Celts: From Boudicca to MacArthur</i></b>.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2nM9eRbz2Xvfkz8bnLej4SjB5CanUs4YpQJ5Ij4tfdE9Lrne2U5aezEViQyxJdmXLqbOaGVsTjfuLY1CMwatOBH3c8bhTG2JppuCsls0-xtv6GBBjVbRDDebxZJ-Psk4yQeZOx8JHWxA/s2048/IMG_9593.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2nM9eRbz2Xvfkz8bnLej4SjB5CanUs4YpQJ5Ij4tfdE9Lrne2U5aezEViQyxJdmXLqbOaGVsTjfuLY1CMwatOBH3c8bhTG2JppuCsls0-xtv6GBBjVbRDDebxZJ-Psk4yQeZOx8JHWxA/w400-h300/IMG_9593.HEIC" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">US Navy Seal Trident<br />US Navy Seal Museum<br />Fort Pierce, FL</td></tr></tbody></table><br /> <p></p><div><span style="font-size: large;">Commander Kelly says, "Remember our heroes and go check out the US Navy Seals Museum in Fort Pierce, Florida!" <a href="https://www.navysealmuseum.org">https://www.navysealmuseum.org</a></span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKTJauGTTvXBimAjQDGBmAhaWtb3-92i94AWMJLI5RcvE3eglP0Hhic5iXGV4HRBPhzTsMZ-WWI_OQqkZYulNlidcytyN3LaYeIetfvjHXt76zrfJY9qTORuBKrIkz2uXMdhjjr8G0umo/s1425/Amer-Invaded-5f+%25284%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1425" data-original-width="975" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKTJauGTTvXBimAjQDGBmAhaWtb3-92i94AWMJLI5RcvE3eglP0Hhic5iXGV4HRBPhzTsMZ-WWI_OQqkZYulNlidcytyN3LaYeIetfvjHXt76zrfJY9qTORuBKrIkz2uXMdhjjr8G0umo/w274-h400/Amer-Invaded-5f+%25284%2529.jpg" width="274" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="sans-serif" style="text-align: start;">You can find signed copies of our books at these web sites...</span></span><br /><div style="font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.americainvades.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.americainvades.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.italyinvades.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.italyinvades.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.anadventurein1914.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.anadventurein1914.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.americainvaded.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.americainvaded.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;">!</div></div><p class="MsoCommentText" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><br style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;" /><span style="font-family: electralh; font-size: medium;"></span><span lang="" style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"></span><br style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;" /></span></p><div style="background-color: white;"><div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Or regular copies on Amazon...</span></div><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Christopher-Kelly/e/B00RW8QZG6/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1539454238&sr=8-1">www.amazon.com/Christopher-Kelly/e/B00RW8QZG6/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1539454238&sr=8-1</a></span></div><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Or on Kindle...</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B00R1ZXKMW" style="color: #888888;">www.amzn.com/B00R1ZXKMW</a></span></div><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: large;"></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B0178GCYDO" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.amzn.com/B0178GCYDO</span></a></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B01LXD1KHQ" style="color: #888888;">www.amzn.com/B01LXD1KHQ</a></span></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B073RJQ8PK" style="color: #888888;">www.amzn.com/B073RJQ8PK</a></span></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><div style="color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Listen to my interview with Bob Cudmore...<a href="http://bobcudmore.com/thehistorians/tracks/ChristopherKelly(August2017)(29)(mp3).mp3" style="color: #888888;">http://bobcudmore.com/thehistorians/tracks/ChristopherKelly(August2017)(29)(mp3).mp3</a></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And my interview...<a href="http://www.thebook-club.com/blog/bookshelf-interview-with-christopher-kelly">www.thebook-club.com/blog/bookshelf-interview-with-christopher-kelly</a></span></div><div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">And my most recent interview...<a href="http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2018/08/17/america-invaded-christopher-kelly">http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2018/08/17/america-invaded-christopher-kelly</a></span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheB0LJA8ZBAZZOuVZJFcVlxgRVrEV8IhvNcG04NW9CQiN6fz4oKK22VTFTNkwvBOejsF079hzTwostT0Xs1SIfeyoIyDQbcFNgjC9gKfBzCi8ckfOzosX83D54wJeTy0sB0wuEjBJlTBU/s1600/AICover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="405" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheB0LJA8ZBAZZOuVZJFcVlxgRVrEV8IhvNcG04NW9CQiN6fz4oKK22VTFTNkwvBOejsF079hzTwostT0Xs1SIfeyoIyDQbcFNgjC9gKfBzCi8ckfOzosX83D54wJeTy0sB0wuEjBJlTBU/s400/AICover.jpg" width="270" /></a></div></div></div></div></div>Commander Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03602902461964252463noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122629330054677829.post-79254579838535084062021-07-01T16:17:00.000-07:002021-07-01T16:17:26.797-07:00The Year Germany Lost The War<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijllg4h4YmD6AezDYhKDFGV7NzbFaUXNGuN0x4bBrR0F9BtrJdztpGd0qee8YWsLZpvndAk5lc6eqtxdrh9abLD_aMcPQMlM9-JAVGleZBc4HR-zcW_iS_Kt2XwQbbCn3WGPfACAelww8/s276/Unknown-5.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="276" data-original-width="183" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijllg4h4YmD6AezDYhKDFGV7NzbFaUXNGuN0x4bBrR0F9BtrJdztpGd0qee8YWsLZpvndAk5lc6eqtxdrh9abLD_aMcPQMlM9-JAVGleZBc4HR-zcW_iS_Kt2XwQbbCn3WGPfACAelww8/w424-h640/Unknown-5.jpeg" width="424" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>June of 2021 marks the 80th anniversary of the largest land invasion in human history -- Hitler's invasion of the Soviet Union. Operation Barbarossa kicked off on June 22, 1941 employing nearly four million German and Axis troops. Hitler was wildly optimistic about his invasion of Stalin's Russia, "<i>We have only to kick in the door and the whole rotten structure will come crashing down</i>." The Soviets armies were caught by surprise in the initial phase of the campaign. They were shattered by the German Blitzkrieg tactics and millions surrendered while the rest reeled in retreat. Airplanes of the Red air force were destroyed on many runways.</p><p>Andrew Nagorski is the Polish author of <i style="font-weight: bold;">1941: The Year Germany Lost The War (<a href="https://www.amazon.com/1941-Year-Germany-Lost-War/dp/1501181130/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2M4M8C1XANPL&keywords=1941+the+year+germany+lost+the+war&qid=1624847497&s=books&sprefix=1941+the+%2Caps%2C199&sr=1-1">https://www.amazon.com/1941-Year-Germany-Lost-War/dp/1501181130/ref=sr_1_1?)crid=2M4M8C1XANPL&keywords=1941+the+year+germany+lost+the+war&qid=1624847497&s=books&sprefix=1941+the+%2Caps%2C199&sr=1-1</a>). </i>His 2019 work documents the catastrophic decision making process of the Axis powers in 1941. In early 1941, it very much seemed that the Axis would win World War II. Britain and her Commonwealth allies were the last remaining opposition to the seemingly invincible German forces that had swept through Poland, the Low Countries and France. But the Axis were a cabal of dictators who were incapable of cooperation and the coordination of strategy. By the end of 1941, Hitler and other Axis leaders had made huge strategic miscalculations that could only result in their ultimate destruction and defeat.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSubiAzl8TUJYUEc4qcdAgwNuQ_Y-bGdTvrRiGV-Pkluu-HOs4d2faGHRKL4g-N27BXu92E4L0vE9u5DcdIomHbfirofkpeXftnbf6C-EWeMdXYt2Tw7udUXpeaRCSSXidpEXSyxn3kJU/s940/NapoleonAlps+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="940" data-original-width="696" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSubiAzl8TUJYUEc4qcdAgwNuQ_Y-bGdTvrRiGV-Pkluu-HOs4d2faGHRKL4g-N27BXu92E4L0vE9u5DcdIomHbfirofkpeXftnbf6C-EWeMdXYt2Tw7udUXpeaRCSSXidpEXSyxn3kJU/w296-h400/NapoleonAlps+%25281%2529.jpg" width="296" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Napoleon Crossing the Alps / Saul<br />Author's Collection</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Nagorski opens his book with Hitler's visit to the tomb of Napoleon at Les Invalides in Paris in June of 1940. Hitler was appalled by the French treatment of their former Emperor, "<i>They have put him down into a hole. People must look down at a coffin far below them...They should look up at Napoleon</i>." The staging was all wrong. It offended Hitler's sense of showmanship. Hitler would, of course, go on to repeat Napoleon's greatest folly -- he would invade Russia. "General Winter" would inflict a grievous toll on the Wehrmacht just as it had done to Napoleon's Grande Armée in 1812.</p><p>Stalin had grossly misjudged his fellow dictator. After the Night of the long Knives which persecuted German Jews, Stalin declared, "<i>Hitler, what a great man</i>!" The Molotov-Ribbentrop agreement allowed the Soviets and Germans to carve up Poland. Despite multiple warnings from the British and his own spies (Richard Sorge, etc), Stalin refused to believe that Hitler would betray him. His own brutal purges of the Soviet officer corps had weakened the fighting capability of the Soviet forces. The Soviets were humiliated by the fierce resistance of the Finns in the Winter War of '39/'40 that produced Soviet losses of around 125,000 versus Finnish losses of about 48,000.</p><p>Hitler erred catastrophically by launching his invasion of the Soviet Union and repeating Napoleon's greatest folly. Moreover, Hitler compounded the error further by imposing a brutal occupation that sought to transform civilians in occupied territories into Slavic slave labor. Many Ukrainians and others initially welcomed Axis forces as a relief to the tyranny they had endured under Stalin. Their hopes were quickly dashed by the remorseless tactics of the SS execution squads (Einsatzgruppen).</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSzs27et6aAJZ9te0JnMPUKwkeuVowKjF8MGGe5u1mIPLKuyYHe8ezXh3VhJVcrmrXicS3J6Jw8XHuGrQjJo9MavaRd4WVMLRuQjj9hLuuMDG4JdbzkSOqQVg-90EIpX9zQ0Uegvz5XMk/s2048/CKPeaceWSCFDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSzs27et6aAJZ9te0JnMPUKwkeuVowKjF8MGGe5u1mIPLKuyYHe8ezXh3VhJVcrmrXicS3J6Jw8XHuGrQjJo9MavaRd4WVMLRuQjj9hLuuMDG4JdbzkSOqQVg-90EIpX9zQ0Uegvz5XMk/w400-h266/CKPeaceWSCFDR.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Commander K with Churchill & FDR<br />London, UK</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Though Winston Churchill was a staunch lifelong anti-communist, he welcomed Stalin as an ally against Hitler. Vital lend lease supplies were shipped via arctic convoys to Russia. Churchill explained, "<i>If Hitler invaded hell, I would make at least a favorable reference to the devil in the House of Commons</i>." Churchill also lobbied hard and successfully for FDR to dispatch even greater lend lease support for the Soviet Union as well.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNVbeJc5hNlHDId3hZivWmHRymeaF3pONaXlKGqdFqyowwrPUi_5Pw_-GPv0Kf6F5baXrR3CNZZYBhRu42WIaOgu_G7ZQkmg0tFHXAY3tjrVBwg1hd4bIAFcWOokOp2XrivoQQZa1up10/s2048/11_FDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNVbeJc5hNlHDId3hZivWmHRymeaF3pONaXlKGqdFqyowwrPUi_5Pw_-GPv0Kf6F5baXrR3CNZZYBhRu42WIaOgu_G7ZQkmg0tFHXAY3tjrVBwg1hd4bIAFcWOokOp2XrivoQQZa1up10/w266-h400/11_FDR.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">FDR<br />Grosvenor Square, London<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>FDR was wrestling with the isolationists, known as America-Firsters and led by Charles Lindbergh, in his own country. Shell-shocked by the cost of WWI, many Americans were reluctant to commit their treasury to foreign entanglements and their sons to foreign wars.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4N-4_IKkaPKLUkhIevQzGr1P4sjEU5FhXH3nwIiq-Ma8JRS6BRjhxCfzSEgH_dpp5mdet0YvKciHCSwNggFMdu6zONkU2PWeLn1DOh0jjdJ0aQAmxoUlxRPxWK0PxzzbMRj9CEgYunA0/s2048/USS+Arizona.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1304" data-original-width="2048" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4N-4_IKkaPKLUkhIevQzGr1P4sjEU5FhXH3nwIiq-Ma8JRS6BRjhxCfzSEgH_dpp5mdet0YvKciHCSwNggFMdu6zONkU2PWeLn1DOh0jjdJ0aQAmxoUlxRPxWK0PxzzbMRj9CEgYunA0/w400-h255/USS+Arizona.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">USS Arizona Memorial<br />Pearl Harbor, Hawaii</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>It was, of course, a Japanese strategic miscalculation that changed all that -- the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Japanese planners calculated that they could not continue their long war in China (begun in 1937) without oil and other resources. Naval aircraft launched from carriers attacked the US fleet berthed at Pearl Harbor killing nearly three thousand people and sending the USS Arizona to the bottom. The attack on Pearl Harbor united the American people and also the Allies. FDR told Churchill that day, "<i>We are all in the same boat now</i>." For Churchill the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor could mean only one thing: "<i>So we have won after all</i>."</p><p>Hitler closed 1941 by foolishly declaring war on the United States. He told the Reichstag that Roosevelt was in league with "<i>the full diabolical meanness of Jewry</i>." That same month German forces were halted at the gates of Moscow and the Soviets began to counterattack. Ultimately, about 4 out of 5 German soldiers would be killed on the Eastern front in WW2.</p><p>Many hard days would follow the attack on Pearl Harbor in WW2 and the year of 1941. The Axis would win significant victories, notably the fall of Singapore, the surrender of the Philippines and the capture of Tobruk in Libya. The war would not turn in the Allied favor until the 1942 victories at Midway, El Alamein and Stalingrad turned the tide. But the die was surely cast making Allied victory inevitable by the Axis decisions made in 1941.</p><p>Over eighty years ago Ivan Maisky, the Soviet ambassador to London, had scribbled in his diary on January 1, 1941 that "<i>this will be be the decisive year of the war.</i>" He did not realize how right he would prove to be... </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKTJauGTTvXBimAjQDGBmAhaWtb3-92i94AWMJLI5RcvE3eglP0Hhic5iXGV4HRBPhzTsMZ-WWI_OQqkZYulNlidcytyN3LaYeIetfvjHXt76zrfJY9qTORuBKrIkz2uXMdhjjr8G0umo/s1425/Amer-Invaded-5f+%25284%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1425" data-original-width="975" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKTJauGTTvXBimAjQDGBmAhaWtb3-92i94AWMJLI5RcvE3eglP0Hhic5iXGV4HRBPhzTsMZ-WWI_OQqkZYulNlidcytyN3LaYeIetfvjHXt76zrfJY9qTORuBKrIkz2uXMdhjjr8G0umo/w274-h400/Amer-Invaded-5f+%25284%2529.jpg" width="274" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="sans-serif" style="text-align: start;">You can find signed copies of our books at these web sites...</span></span><br /><div style="font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.americainvades.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.americainvades.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.italyinvades.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.italyinvades.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.anadventurein1914.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.anadventurein1914.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.americainvaded.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.americainvaded.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;">!</div></div><p class="MsoCommentText" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><br style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;" /><span style="font-family: electralh; font-size: medium;"></span><span lang="" style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"></span><br style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;" /></span></p><div style="background-color: white;"><div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Or regular copies on Amazon...</span></div><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Christopher-Kelly/e/B00RW8QZG6/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1539454238&sr=8-1">www.amazon.com/Christopher-Kelly/e/B00RW8QZG6/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1539454238&sr=8-1</a></span></div><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Or on Kindle...</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B00R1ZXKMW" style="color: #888888;">www.amzn.com/B00R1ZXKMW</a></span></div><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: large;"></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B0178GCYDO" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.amzn.com/B0178GCYDO</span></a></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B01LXD1KHQ" style="color: #888888;">www.amzn.com/B01LXD1KHQ</a></span></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B073RJQ8PK" style="color: #888888;">www.amzn.com/B073RJQ8PK</a></span></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><div style="color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Listen to my interview with Bob Cudmore...<a href="http://bobcudmore.com/thehistorians/tracks/ChristopherKelly(August2017)(29)(mp3).mp3" style="color: #888888;">http://bobcudmore.com/thehistorians/tracks/ChristopherKelly(August2017)(29)(mp3).mp3</a></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And my interview...<a href="http://www.thebook-club.com/blog/bookshelf-interview-with-christopher-kelly">www.thebook-club.com/blog/bookshelf-interview-with-christopher-kelly</a></span></div><div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">And my most recent interview...<a href="http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2018/08/17/america-invaded-christopher-kelly">http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2018/08/17/america-invaded-christopher-kelly</a></span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheB0LJA8ZBAZZOuVZJFcVlxgRVrEV8IhvNcG04NW9CQiN6fz4oKK22VTFTNkwvBOejsF079hzTwostT0Xs1SIfeyoIyDQbcFNgjC9gKfBzCi8ckfOzosX83D54wJeTy0sB0wuEjBJlTBU/s1600/AICover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="405" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheB0LJA8ZBAZZOuVZJFcVlxgRVrEV8IhvNcG04NW9CQiN6fz4oKK22VTFTNkwvBOejsF079hzTwostT0Xs1SIfeyoIyDQbcFNgjC9gKfBzCi8ckfOzosX83D54wJeTy0sB0wuEjBJlTBU/s400/AICover.jpg" width="270" /></a></div><div><br /></div></div></div></div></div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Commander Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03602902461964252463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122629330054677829.post-57944926473590965912021-06-16T19:48:00.001-07:002021-06-28T03:53:14.492-07:00Rampage<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhnFTK_IbFYLife04eM9iSu7slDtwmc1e93eQNPEioikyp3bQKNDNAk_j8VmhZQTZKu9bS7-2j2ReYzcmJzBHSprQk8wQIDS9TRasu9ZmE3YE1p0nhcKVqDguxwZLRJoowaWsoO7CAM28/s368/images-3.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="368" data-original-width="243" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhnFTK_IbFYLife04eM9iSu7slDtwmc1e93eQNPEioikyp3bQKNDNAk_j8VmhZQTZKu9bS7-2j2ReYzcmJzBHSprQk8wQIDS9TRasu9ZmE3YE1p0nhcKVqDguxwZLRJoowaWsoO7CAM28/w422-h640/images-3.jpeg" width="422" /></a></div><br /><p>James Scott's 2018<b><i> Rampage: MacArthur, Yamashita, and the Battle of Manila</i></b> (<a href="http://www.amzn.com/0393357562">www.amzn.com/0393357562</a>) is an important book for anyone with a serious interest in WW2 history. World War II in the Pacific does not get as much attention as the war in the Pacific. The atrocities committed by the Empire of Japan get far less attention than the Holocaust. The brutal war that was waged in the Philippines gets very little attention. The devastating Battle of Manila is very nearly forgotten. So James Scott's work is a valuable contribution to our understanding of this dark chapter of world history.</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxpirldCqfP_JAlh562VBT7mdWz67A05Cazzd9eBkcnIOWHdD86Ly5myBP5cMWXdSWgvLtyK3vokxIMKgHNN3rOdFeAODXqAFmVwusGMC_1NWR357rQiILxoXZSfcltOTHcbZeimCt-2E/s1142/CKMacArthur.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1126" data-original-width="1142" height="395" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxpirldCqfP_JAlh562VBT7mdWz67A05Cazzd9eBkcnIOWHdD86Ly5myBP5cMWXdSWgvLtyK3vokxIMKgHNN3rOdFeAODXqAFmVwusGMC_1NWR357rQiILxoXZSfcltOTHcbZeimCt-2E/w400-h395/CKMacArthur.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Commander K & MacArthur <br />West Point, NY</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Douglas MacArthur, who will be featured in our upcoming work <b><i>101 Fighting Celts: From Boudicca to MacArthur</i></b>, famously vowed that he would return to the Philippines. He made this promise at the lowest moment in his life, as he was fleeing with his wife, young son and staff aboard a PT boat from the besieged and beleaguered fortress at Corregidor in 1942. MacArthur had been forced to abandon his beloved penthouse home in the Manila hotel. Defying the odds (the Japanese enjoyed clear naval and air supremacy in the Philippines), he and his family made their way to Australia. </p><p>MacArthur believed in a simple credo of Duty, Honor and Country which was drilled into him at West Point. But in 1942 he had abandoned General Wainright and thousands of American troops in the Philippines. All were captured and became POWs subject to the harshest conditions. Thousands of American civilians were herded into Internee camps by the conquering Japanese. MacArthur had abandoned the Filipino people as well. By 1944 many of these American POWs and Internees were living in appalling conditions. Many were starving. Others were ravaged by disease such as beriberi. The Philippines was ruled by a brutal occupation.</p><p>Prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor, Manila had been a near paradise for American expats. It was known as the Pearl of the Orient. It offered a tropical climate, beautifully landscaped parks, an affordable cost of living and gorgeous sunsets. MacArthur and his family lived in a sumptuous penthouse apartment atop the Manila Hotel.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSB9g9-CUm7laSG4aG8sexNat2sIQxHC3q4TfSgLUO_wKeYMmOLEUrHv21tKtN6FFFtJ-9xLv6nzNx75RzJ1fEx99aYeWVr_BVER5_jZv4ZeisximzGtuzy8A4qZRVrq6iTdVRF-gZq9g/s2048/Douglas-MacArthur-Stamp-459253313_1900x2900.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1342" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSB9g9-CUm7laSG4aG8sexNat2sIQxHC3q4TfSgLUO_wKeYMmOLEUrHv21tKtN6FFFtJ-9xLv6nzNx75RzJ1fEx99aYeWVr_BVER5_jZv4ZeisximzGtuzy8A4qZRVrq6iTdVRF-gZq9g/w263-h400/Douglas-MacArthur-Stamp-459253313_1900x2900.jpeg" width="263" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1880 - 1964<br />"I Shall Return"</td></tr></tbody></table><p>In July of 1944 an American strategy conference was held in Hawaii with FDR, MacArthur and the full military brass. By then Japan's fleet was mainly at the bottom of the Pacific but it stubbornly defended its home islands and various possessions. Many from the US Navy favored a strategy that would bypass the Philippine archipelago and proceed to an American invasion of Taiwan. MacArthur was horrified at this prospect. He had given his word to American POWs, Internees and the Filipino people. MacArthur dug in his heels and threatened FDR telling him that "the American people would be so aroused that they would register most complete resentment against you at the polls this fall." Scott informs us that "the shocked Roosevelt retreated to bed that night, summoning his physician and demanding an aspirin. 'In fact,' he said, 'give me another aspirin to take in the morning.'" </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5qICFsnVN0PBPP6NmiB5RGmjflZuBKX0R8kUjwqaCyns1goqdT9Ti7_36pdchBxVbmZSNa7rfHz4eCWeduMoMw49-NW3fos2_Ro8fVQx2xXVDXiCTLgE2EJcS1CuFZO7Jw8kBjbSVJ0c/s2048/11_FDR.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5qICFsnVN0PBPP6NmiB5RGmjflZuBKX0R8kUjwqaCyns1goqdT9Ti7_36pdchBxVbmZSNa7rfHz4eCWeduMoMw49-NW3fos2_Ro8fVQx2xXVDXiCTLgE2EJcS1CuFZO7Jw8kBjbSVJ0c/w266-h400/11_FDR.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">FDR statue<br />Grosvenor Square, London<br />1882 - 1945</td></tr></tbody></table><br />General MacArthur may have given FDR a headache but the benefit of hindsight suggests that MacArthur did make the correct strategic decision. FDR would likely have preferred the formulation "We shall return" over the egotistical "I shall return". But it would, nevertheless, have been unconscionable for the USA to have simply abandoned the Philippines. Americans would be abandoning American POWs, internees and the Philippine people. Allowing the Japanese occupation to endure would certainly have cost many lives. Moreover, the word of an American official needed to be backed up by deeds. Ultimately, MacArthur's return to the Philippines gave credibility to the USA in the Pacific for decades.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5BkMp63x94QjXT2O8fA7lZnC5P4bY_gxUTGXI1CJo5R0bktELguAWlsy62qlpOt48n9TvU3wRDxJEBtdq9P0tiamibYGUygnOOsSnq1l6-ZyFfQOBp0dRyk1a4QHxGTd-4p5XM9QFtjc/s266/Unknown-3.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="266" data-original-width="190" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5BkMp63x94QjXT2O8fA7lZnC5P4bY_gxUTGXI1CJo5R0bktELguAWlsy62qlpOt48n9TvU3wRDxJEBtdq9P0tiamibYGUygnOOsSnq1l6-ZyFfQOBp0dRyk1a4QHxGTd-4p5XM9QFtjc/w286-h400/Unknown-3.jpeg" width="286" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tomoyuki Yamashita<br />1885 - 1946</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>Yamashita, MacArthur's opponent in the Philippines was a larger than life character. Like MacArthur, he was a superb student of military history and discipline. Yamashita proved his worth by leading the Japanese to a stunning victory over forces that outnumbered his own by about three to one in Malyasia. Singapore, the Gibraltar of Asia, surrendered to the Japanese in February 1942 and many thousands of Chinese were killed in the Sook Ching massacre. Yamashita was dubbed the Tiger of Malaya. After his triumph at Singapore, Yamashita was subsequently sidelined to a post in Manchuria. Until 1944 when he was summoned in to lead a desperate defense of the Philippines. After the American landing on Lingayen Gulf on January 7, 1945 Yamashita withdrew with his staff and the bulk of his forces to the mountains entrusting Manila to a force composed mainly of Japanese marines led by Rear Admiral Sanji Iwabuchi.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmI3_bfYE3J7ZDFtoeAhDlWrEdooSJH5IH91OCsD1nwC983qFQTHsevG9YtyBLhqp3_GEyUePMjZ6NyH6uLusNAjGB2zbsDgyNJQtX4shZUdIpaVc1V66s1N3i8M6fMAs04VJRQeDQzUw/s1152/c1d42ab9-27bb-4650-9e73-d591e6296604.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="864" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmI3_bfYE3J7ZDFtoeAhDlWrEdooSJH5IH91OCsD1nwC983qFQTHsevG9YtyBLhqp3_GEyUePMjZ6NyH6uLusNAjGB2zbsDgyNJQtX4shZUdIpaVc1V66s1N3i8M6fMAs04VJRQeDQzUw/w300-h400/c1d42ab9-27bb-4650-9e73-d591e6296604.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plaza Cuartel / Palawan Plaque<br />Courtesy of Rocky Cueva</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The return of MacArthur and the Americans to Leyte triggered brutal reprisals against captive Americans. On the beautiful island of Palawan, for example, around 150 American POWs were burned to death on December 14, 1944. The news of this atrocity lent urgency to American efforts to liberate imprisoned Americans on Luzon and throughout the archipelago.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgewqa-uTeuG-yZhQ-R474Aw4sM_o3rIt0XoOPOuTbmb5zGA0U2YgzgmS_-Nn8SIwt7jUL6qOhzPrMHQr8zpiqbMV2iyQmkCBVhraWYtYLMmRiyk6xG0OeN8t_mnFK2D9r88-xlbZTwlAk/s259/Unknown.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="259" data-original-width="194" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgewqa-uTeuG-yZhQ-R474Aw4sM_o3rIt0XoOPOuTbmb5zGA0U2YgzgmS_-Nn8SIwt7jUL6qOhzPrMHQr8zpiqbMV2iyQmkCBVhraWYtYLMmRiyk6xG0OeN8t_mnFK2D9r88-xlbZTwlAk/w300-h400/Unknown.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rear Adrmiral Sanji Iwabuchi<br />1895 - 1945</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The egotistical MacArthur dreamed of a triumphal march through downtown Manila. Iwabcuhi, in command of around 15,000 Japanese troops, was determined to defend Manila to the death and spoil MacArthur's plans. A 29 day house-to-house battle ensued that consumed the lives of around 2,000 American troops, nearly all of the Japanese defenders and over 100,000 Filipino civilians. Scott relates in unrelenting detail the slaughter that nearly wiped Manila off the map. <b><i>Rampage</i></b> is not a book for the faint of heart or stomach. Babies were bayoneted. Rape was commonplace. Iwabuchi finally used a knife to commit suicide inside of the Agricultural building on February 26, 1945 bring the battle of Manila to its horrifying end.</p><p>While MacArthur made the right strategic decision to return to the Philippines, he blundered badly in its tactical execution. In 1942 had had declared Manila an open city in order to spare its civilian population the ravages of war through its streets. In 1944 he naively expected the Japanese would do as he had done in declaring Manila an open city. They did nothing of the kind, fighting like caged animals in a doomed struggle.</p><p>On February 23, 1945 MacArthur returned to his Manila home in the penthouse of the Manila hotel. he found the body of a dead Japanese colonel sprawled across his threshold. His home had been looted and his precious book collection had been burned. The wanton destruction of his Manila home makes MacArthur's magnanimous attitude as the proconsul in charge of the subsequent occupation of Japan all the more noteworthy. This magnanimity did not, of course, extend to MacArthur's treatment of Yamashita who was summarily convicted of war crimes by an American tribunal and hanged on February 26, 1946. Yamashita had lost control of the troops under his control and someone needed to pay the price. As Scott points out, the rampage which took place in Manila in 1945 had its precedents in the 1937 Rape of Nanking and brutal reprisals in China that followed the Doolittle Raid. </p><p>A shattered Manila has never regained its lost status as the Pearl of the Orient. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigif8YJKHx9I2Zb0T16mYyN-Lgwq8W6twDpTIxIOHjpzKQUZtq_subGWLsrFd4Z9w8-w-g_aENzGb09iSl_MIpxJ-2pcFEV_NAacgVIkuwHC1ZQ8pEPGDUYfhPvDa3nqm-XrAUXo4jcLQ/s261/Unknown-2.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="193" data-original-width="261" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigif8YJKHx9I2Zb0T16mYyN-Lgwq8W6twDpTIxIOHjpzKQUZtq_subGWLsrFd4Z9w8-w-g_aENzGb09iSl_MIpxJ-2pcFEV_NAacgVIkuwHC1ZQ8pEPGDUYfhPvDa3nqm-XrAUXo4jcLQ/w640-h474/Unknown-2.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Battle of Manila Memorial</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKTJauGTTvXBimAjQDGBmAhaWtb3-92i94AWMJLI5RcvE3eglP0Hhic5iXGV4HRBPhzTsMZ-WWI_OQqkZYulNlidcytyN3LaYeIetfvjHXt76zrfJY9qTORuBKrIkz2uXMdhjjr8G0umo/s1425/Amer-Invaded-5f+%25284%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1425" data-original-width="975" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKTJauGTTvXBimAjQDGBmAhaWtb3-92i94AWMJLI5RcvE3eglP0Hhic5iXGV4HRBPhzTsMZ-WWI_OQqkZYulNlidcytyN3LaYeIetfvjHXt76zrfJY9qTORuBKrIkz2uXMdhjjr8G0umo/w274-h400/Amer-Invaded-5f+%25284%2529.jpg" width="274" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="sans-serif" style="text-align: start;">You can find signed copies of our books at these web sites...</span></span><br /><div style="font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.americainvades.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.americainvades.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.italyinvades.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.italyinvades.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.anadventurein1914.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.anadventurein1914.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.americainvaded.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.americainvaded.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;">!</div></div><p class="MsoCommentText" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><br style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;" /><span style="font-family: electralh; font-size: medium;"></span><span lang="" style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"></span><br style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;" /></span></p><div style="background-color: white;"><div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Or regular copies on Amazon...</span></div><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Christopher-Kelly/e/B00RW8QZG6/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1539454238&sr=8-1">www.amazon.com/Christopher-Kelly/e/B00RW8QZG6/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1539454238&sr=8-1</a></span></div><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Or on Kindle...</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B00R1ZXKMW" style="color: #888888;">www.amzn.com/B00R1ZXKMW</a></span></div><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: large;"></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B0178GCYDO" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.amzn.com/B0178GCYDO</span></a></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B01LXD1KHQ" style="color: #888888;">www.amzn.com/B01LXD1KHQ</a></span></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B073RJQ8PK" style="color: #888888;">www.amzn.com/B073RJQ8PK</a></span></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><div style="color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Listen to my interview with Bob Cudmore...<a href="http://bobcudmore.com/thehistorians/tracks/ChristopherKelly(August2017)(29)(mp3).mp3" style="color: #888888;">http://bobcudmore.com/thehistorians/tracks/ChristopherKelly(August2017)(29)(mp3).mp3</a></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And my interview...<a href="http://www.thebook-club.com/blog/bookshelf-interview-with-christopher-kelly">www.thebook-club.com/blog/bookshelf-interview-with-christopher-kelly</a></span></div><div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">And my most recent interview...<a href="http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2018/08/17/america-invaded-christopher-kelly">http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2018/08/17/america-invaded-christopher-kelly</a></span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheB0LJA8ZBAZZOuVZJFcVlxgRVrEV8IhvNcG04NW9CQiN6fz4oKK22VTFTNkwvBOejsF079hzTwostT0Xs1SIfeyoIyDQbcFNgjC9gKfBzCi8ckfOzosX83D54wJeTy0sB0wuEjBJlTBU/s1600/AICover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="405" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheB0LJA8ZBAZZOuVZJFcVlxgRVrEV8IhvNcG04NW9CQiN6fz4oKK22VTFTNkwvBOejsF079hzTwostT0Xs1SIfeyoIyDQbcFNgjC9gKfBzCi8ckfOzosX83D54wJeTy0sB0wuEjBJlTBU/s400/AICover.jpg" width="270" /></a></div><div><br /></div></div></div></div></div><p><br /></p><p> </p>Commander Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03602902461964252463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122629330054677829.post-46701676682584609942021-06-12T08:18:00.005-07:002021-06-13T10:10:15.124-07:00Musical Beds<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1PeVLSTQScfvTNVN9kHqAe3Qg31EFrLbpufH-SkmsQ0dZ30XB05jo2nYuUr1Meliv1SAI9NDJk16kEAgIfb2hC05ghyvzSoaWTri7phjAgSeTptoBLvFbvjbA7lSt2V2uUkwjUMXKjk0/s323/images-2.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="156" data-original-width="323" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1PeVLSTQScfvTNVN9kHqAe3Qg31EFrLbpufH-SkmsQ0dZ30XB05jo2nYuUr1Meliv1SAI9NDJk16kEAgIfb2hC05ghyvzSoaWTri7phjAgSeTptoBLvFbvjbA7lSt2V2uUkwjUMXKjk0/w640-h310/images-2.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>The caveman who knocks two rocks together just makes noise. But the caveman who knocks two rocks together in order to impress a cavegirl is the Ursprung of Music. Longing begets melody. Music is, per Schopenhauer, the crystallization of the human Will. Music is, per Shakespeare, the food of love. Music provides the background and inspiration for our coupling (Barry White), our decoupling (Burt Bacharach) and our re-coupling (Sinatra). Music has, for centuries, played its role in getting people into bed and peopling our world. Melody begets begetting.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ2m0JSZ8zMUZFpDq8a_eVhgc7GEjz1JyREYOd0TsMLa47Mnv5CLFdgJvKWrxaeSKVSYvt4YQkHzUXfv9unAZLv78Ms6mgqZzSHSDXmMUGOfLEa4_3cPkW4JtnPQOwcqSz0XWubx5JhHU/s336/images.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="336" data-original-width="207" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ2m0JSZ8zMUZFpDq8a_eVhgc7GEjz1JyREYOd0TsMLa47Mnv5CLFdgJvKWrxaeSKVSYvt4YQkHzUXfv9unAZLv78Ms6mgqZzSHSDXmMUGOfLEa4_3cPkW4JtnPQOwcqSz0XWubx5JhHU/w246-h400/images.jpeg" width="246" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I-Pod<br />The death of music</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Until the music stops. The iPod, an expression of onanistic solipsism, marks the death of music. The iPod divorces music from its essentially social role. Technology snuffs out the spark once inspired by music. Technology spawns porn and kills romance.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNpUWA7_cY-Z-FPuNAGXX-9K6enerHgVG-FA3_Z0L9bez59x88iQVpGpK3aPZrscOeKSwlEhWUH5F7wm1h9t3xlwxthoFIMr8KpWdNkduANTx6ayLbfBnsaUUGWX-kk8qQBh7n3RSPWNk/s259/Unknown.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNpUWA7_cY-Z-FPuNAGXX-9K6enerHgVG-FA3_Z0L9bez59x88iQVpGpK3aPZrscOeKSwlEhWUH5F7wm1h9t3xlwxthoFIMr8KpWdNkduANTx6ayLbfBnsaUUGWX-kk8qQBh7n3RSPWNk/w400-h300/Unknown.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>In 1969, long before HIV or iPods, the film <b><i>Bob and Carol and Ted and Alice</i></b> purported to revolutionize human sexuality and...bedding. Out with bourgeois morality, in with polymorphous perversity. Four to a bed requires a double King plus...? Orgies over romance. But still the foursome's bed was a static place behind closed doors. </p><p><br /></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVPak16tOOaFb8FZCxmqY4Dg-jO9q3q3ErfLTGbQlbHwatSXhXnXXjOvzRIDI6qUPHsOBgipAwxfRTyp2LGc2rbEv1iuuJOyyLhFYdqL6VfFNzD_NY_idZRrrIvJFSmi3zLITs8htby80/s225/Unknown-2.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVPak16tOOaFb8FZCxmqY4Dg-jO9q3q3ErfLTGbQlbHwatSXhXnXXjOvzRIDI6qUPHsOBgipAwxfRTyp2LGc2rbEv1iuuJOyyLhFYdqL6VfFNzD_NY_idZRrrIvJFSmi3zLITs8htby80/w400-h400/Unknown-2.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bivvy Bag<br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>The 21st century equivalent of Bob and Carol etc's bed is represented by...the bivvy bag! A mobile bed for one that can go into the world's most inhospitable places. A divvy bag is the perfect sleeping vehicle for a lonely man exploring a lonely planet. A bed for the post-musical age awash with internet porn.<div><br /><p></p><p>What will be next? Beds cannot be merely static and the world must, somehow, be peopled. We will witness a fusion of technology, motion and sex. Get ready for it...Meaningless sex in the back of Driverless cars all to the strains of Tuneless songs sung by Soul-less robots!</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKTJauGTTvXBimAjQDGBmAhaWtb3-92i94AWMJLI5RcvE3eglP0Hhic5iXGV4HRBPhzTsMZ-WWI_OQqkZYulNlidcytyN3LaYeIetfvjHXt76zrfJY9qTORuBKrIkz2uXMdhjjr8G0umo/s1425/Amer-Invaded-5f+%25284%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1425" data-original-width="975" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKTJauGTTvXBimAjQDGBmAhaWtb3-92i94AWMJLI5RcvE3eglP0Hhic5iXGV4HRBPhzTsMZ-WWI_OQqkZYulNlidcytyN3LaYeIetfvjHXt76zrfJY9qTORuBKrIkz2uXMdhjjr8G0umo/w274-h400/Amer-Invaded-5f+%25284%2529.jpg" width="274" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="sans-serif" style="text-align: start;">You can find signed copies of our books at these web sites...</span></span><br /><div style="font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.americainvades.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.americainvades.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.italyinvades.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.italyinvades.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.anadventurein1914.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.anadventurein1914.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.americainvaded.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.americainvaded.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;">!</div></div><p class="MsoCommentText" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><br style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;" /><span style="font-family: electralh; font-size: medium;"></span><span lang="" style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"></span><br style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;" /></span></p><div style="background-color: white;"><div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Or regular copies on Amazon...</span></div><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Christopher-Kelly/e/B00RW8QZG6/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1539454238&sr=8-1">www.amazon.com/Christopher-Kelly/e/B00RW8QZG6/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1539454238&sr=8-1</a></span></div><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Or on Kindle...</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B00R1ZXKMW" style="color: #888888;">www.amzn.com/B00R1ZXKMW</a></span></div><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: large;"></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B0178GCYDO" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.amzn.com/B0178GCYDO</span></a></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B01LXD1KHQ" style="color: #888888;">www.amzn.com/B01LXD1KHQ</a></span></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B073RJQ8PK" style="color: #888888;">www.amzn.com/B073RJQ8PK</a></span></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><div style="color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Listen to my interview with Bob Cudmore...<a href="http://bobcudmore.com/thehistorians/tracks/ChristopherKelly(August2017)(29)(mp3).mp3" style="color: #888888;">http://bobcudmore.com/thehistorians/tracks/ChristopherKelly(August2017)(29)(mp3).mp3</a></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And my interview...<a href="http://www.thebook-club.com/blog/bookshelf-interview-with-christopher-kelly">www.thebook-club.com/blog/bookshelf-interview-with-christopher-kelly</a></span></div><div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">And my most recent interview...<a href="http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2018/08/17/america-invaded-christopher-kelly">http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2018/08/17/america-invaded-christopher-kelly</a></span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheB0LJA8ZBAZZOuVZJFcVlxgRVrEV8IhvNcG04NW9CQiN6fz4oKK22VTFTNkwvBOejsF079hzTwostT0Xs1SIfeyoIyDQbcFNgjC9gKfBzCi8ckfOzosX83D54wJeTy0sB0wuEjBJlTBU/s1600/AICover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="405" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheB0LJA8ZBAZZOuVZJFcVlxgRVrEV8IhvNcG04NW9CQiN6fz4oKK22VTFTNkwvBOejsF079hzTwostT0Xs1SIfeyoIyDQbcFNgjC9gKfBzCi8ckfOzosX83D54wJeTy0sB0wuEjBJlTBU/s400/AICover.jpg" width="270" /></a></div><div><br /></div></div></div></div></div><br /></div>Commander Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03602902461964252463noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122629330054677829.post-42008549238064527702021-06-03T19:34:00.039-07:002021-06-09T15:38:11.464-07:00Invading the Dominican Republic<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYPXrTiEs6bVz8InDCPenpSEIsvNdUTIhAop4KXoEld7BcG7pOYXrp3u8HL8D3sPfxncE6g2AQ4Nj2g33KUM09t-vUL9zvS6kCGvWN0fXh4z7dJDgoe5Y55H6H7BStkdNmmaLzIa7dlUs/s4032/IMG_8731+2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYPXrTiEs6bVz8InDCPenpSEIsvNdUTIhAop4KXoEld7BcG7pOYXrp3u8HL8D3sPfxncE6g2AQ4Nj2g33KUM09t-vUL9zvS6kCGvWN0fXh4z7dJDgoe5Y55H6H7BStkdNmmaLzIa7dlUs/w640-h480/IMG_8731+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Commander K "Invades" <br />the Dominican Republic</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">What is it that Christopher Columbus, President Johnson (LBJ), the US Marine Corps and actress Kim Novak all had in common? They all have a strong connection to the Dominican Republic.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Columbus, LBJ and the US Marines all invaded The Dominican Republic. And as for Kim Novak's surprising connection to the Caribbean island -- read on...</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBcKr3jWObR0kCJwBzz0oiVthxZoIczCtsUqxCiDXkhNA5LCv-40vqEioOIxSxboHGmQrgJ8slrC_KrO3_ME8umE2-ej0eosfhcelqmyVV6GA9PL_EesmIwXrnag1ZUzpPYoLAbo3W7BA/s1268/IICover.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1268" data-original-width="822" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBcKr3jWObR0kCJwBzz0oiVthxZoIczCtsUqxCiDXkhNA5LCv-40vqEioOIxSxboHGmQrgJ8slrC_KrO3_ME8umE2-ej0eosfhcelqmyVV6GA9PL_EesmIwXrnag1ZUzpPYoLAbo3W7BA/w259-h400/IICover.jpg" width="259" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">www.italyinvades.com</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>In <b><i>Italy Invades: How Italians Conquered the World</i></b> we pointed out how Columbus and the Italians left their mark on the Dominican Republic...</p><p>"The Dominican Republic gained its independence from Haiti in 1844, but Italians made their mark on the territory much earlier than that.</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj80X4WJGI2MNlJYTKFLVa9x5fPek0EryD6QvHBK_UzaHTjcdEFYua8y-ym8ZnONRXrhhtk_QwDj-5OgMyUbkJ4wprNFC9J6uDD2b_6mUlOy4xQY7RfaS0ouHZT5nCui0hNA8-S7dcUWe4/s4032/IMG_9013.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj80X4WJGI2MNlJYTKFLVa9x5fPek0EryD6QvHBK_UzaHTjcdEFYua8y-ym8ZnONRXrhhtk_QwDj-5OgMyUbkJ4wprNFC9J6uDD2b_6mUlOy4xQY7RfaS0ouHZT5nCui0hNA8-S7dcUWe4/w640-h480/IMG_9013.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Palace of Diego Columbus<br />Santo Domingo, DR</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br />One need not look far to find signs of Italian “invasions” in the Dominican Republic. A visitor to La Isabella will find the Casa Almirante, or Admiral’s House. This was the first American home of the famous Genoese explorer Christopher Columbus. The palace of Diego Columbus, the oldest son of Columbus, is in the capital of the Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo. Most impressively, the Columbus lighthouse, built in the shape of a cross and completed in 1992, casts incandescent beams from its 102-foot-high perch in Santo Domingo.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2zBD-GX9PcU9-pUusZkqt5ZXyaRNSn3MALnGVgHGuzI3ZyBaSLGBxP8ke0zVL5-xkeJeJh8QPteen23L-Ow3SSq9uWaTfhvzM8vZ27IE3OcSiEvhapadGbOsdGt43itK7sLfl-AfI3YI/s3088/IMG_8951.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2316" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2zBD-GX9PcU9-pUusZkqt5ZXyaRNSn3MALnGVgHGuzI3ZyBaSLGBxP8ke0zVL5-xkeJeJh8QPteen23L-Ow3SSq9uWaTfhvzM8vZ27IE3OcSiEvhapadGbOsdGt43itK7sLfl-AfI3YI/w480-h640/IMG_8951.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christopher x 2!<br />Columbus & Kelly<br />Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Christopher Columbus has become a highly controversial figure in world history. His detractors have denounced him as racist, greedy for gold, a religious fanatic, and too comfortable with slavery. His defenders have pointed to his undoubted courage, his extraordinary seamanship, and his stubborn determination. They have also noted the impossibility of imposing twenty-first-century values onto the fifteenth century and the unfairness of blaming Columbus for all the evils of subsequent European colonialism.</p><p><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_xaXB6UFfDJuV9lgUYkBSwx2XQFp5LgYL8iklYEKMtOM9iQDoHSW8H_DS4wtiR1M50kMdaXEhv-4EignWOVBEaVPdoxuI-6wUwri-9mPY0iqhQpQLkeKzv739PazvR1c8ai4Tue-vcds/s2048/ColumbusSacto1+%25281%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1471" data-original-width="2048" height="461" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_xaXB6UFfDJuV9lgUYkBSwx2XQFp5LgYL8iklYEKMtOM9iQDoHSW8H_DS4wtiR1M50kMdaXEhv-4EignWOVBEaVPdoxuI-6wUwri-9mPY0iqhQpQLkeKzv739PazvR1c8ai4Tue-vcds/w640-h461/ColumbusSacto1+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christopher Columbus & Queen Isabella<br />Sacramento, CA</td></tr></tbody></table><p>What is indisputable about Columbus is that he changed the world forever. To biologists, he is known as the father of the Columbian Exchange, which may arguably rank as the most consequential Italian invasion in history. As a result of the Columbian Exchange, Europeans received tomatoes, potatoes, cocoa, tobacco, and boatloads of silver from the New World. Spaghetti Bolognese did not exist before Columbus. There was no Swiss chocolate before the introduction of cocoa to Europe. The Spanish, in fact, kept the existence of chocolate a secret for a century after Columbus.</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDnJcNJINqQQHtBxAFl1W058EBKKKtYDzw9mp_FpkWSERN-NAlLknjq6XONz4BiO21YStuGm6P8nBE04LLv7BeCN1drnI-W80RDIjVRKMT4iC9b0erpyLVeAFNwi5Ue09bLNTDr2Rnvik/s4032/IMG_9049.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDnJcNJINqQQHtBxAFl1W058EBKKKtYDzw9mp_FpkWSERN-NAlLknjq6XONz4BiO21YStuGm6P8nBE04LLv7BeCN1drnI-W80RDIjVRKMT4iC9b0erpyLVeAFNwi5Ue09bLNTDr2Rnvik/w400-h300/IMG_9049.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Columbus Plaque / Santo Domingo</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Those living in what became known as the Americas received horses, pigs, the lowly earthworm, and Christian missionaries. Lacking immunities, they also received new diseases, such as the smallpox that eventually ravaged the indigenous population of two continents. It has been estimated that, thirty years after the first arrival of Columbus, over 90 percent of the native population of the island of Hispaniola was killed by enslavement and disease.</p><p>Not all exchanges are fair.</p><p>Some scientists have gone so far as to claim that Columbus, in a sense, reversed continental drift and restored Pangaea to the world. It seems inarguable to say that, for better or worse, the Genoese sea captain transformed our world, making it a smaller, more connected planet.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEsHD1l3QhfRD5icg1NBHlcbZ5Z-6NPb5SYeVo8GTKKzesPQgpEQcQ4P2Q98BpMlqsWfP6PQ-9DMdNGY5qa1BPYHIQYlBDvYB6kLCyHJF7YB5IIH5FPNinDsRfm_NFgbf4syBFEIXfTX4/s300/th-21.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="235" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEsHD1l3QhfRD5icg1NBHlcbZ5Z-6NPb5SYeVo8GTKKzesPQgpEQcQ4P2Q98BpMlqsWfP6PQ-9DMdNGY5qa1BPYHIQYlBDvYB6kLCyHJF7YB5IIH5FPNinDsRfm_NFgbf4syBFEIXfTX4/w313-h400/th-21.jpg" width="313" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rafael Trujillo<br />1891 - 1961</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Rafael Trujillo, who ruled the Dominican Republic for thirty years, from 1930 until his assassination in 1961, was an admirer of Mussolini and received his first foreign decoration from Il Duce. The British foreign minister to the Dominican Republic went so far as to suggest that Trujillo “<i>viewed himself as a prospective Dominican Mussolini</i>.”</p><p>In spite of this, the two dictators clashed over tobacco interests in the 1930s, and Mussolini even threatened to dispatch elements of the Italian Navy to the Dominican Republic in 1935 over the Barletta incident.</p><p>After the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, Trujillo’s Dominican Republic joined the Allied side. Italian submarines prowled menacingly in the Caribbean waters surrounding the Dominican Republic until the Italian capitulation of 1943.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu-k0mZ0QHhyym3SlY4XMkc21tyKkOb12X0zKaAh-lt6x6e90ShcS4dUNRTEP0-NUgPmFWNvXLZKn8ZLxFJABNkgX0LqXshyphenhyphenCAM9flYBPa2uzLgR0A_I5Brekdcdy26LIY3lT9lYtonaA/s300/th-22.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu-k0mZ0QHhyym3SlY4XMkc21tyKkOb12X0zKaAh-lt6x6e90ShcS4dUNRTEP0-NUgPmFWNvXLZKn8ZLxFJABNkgX0LqXshyphenhyphenCAM9flYBPa2uzLgR0A_I5Brekdcdy26LIY3lT9lYtonaA/w267-h400/th-22.jpg" width="267" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dulcita Lieggi<br />Miss Dominican Republic 2012</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br />The Italian diaspora has had a significant impact on the Dominican Republic. For example, Francisco Gregorio Billini, who was of Italian heritage, served briefly as the twenty-third president of the Dominican Republic in the 1880s. Much more recently, Miss Dominican Republic 2012 was the lovely Dulcita Lieggi, also of Italian stock."</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLnfRiPHwP4fdy3peghQsZ8MkhmyuUICHju-EtOz1zXQtqC5OOEi4GSLK74swT7zw2yL-CEVkQgB8t55cXxOvq6Gm12VwaQSJZfHW1RYz_7FbY4qrmA2NVphxVKO8b2F1r8_tj7Afj4BM/s600/AICover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="405" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLnfRiPHwP4fdy3peghQsZ8MkhmyuUICHju-EtOz1zXQtqC5OOEi4GSLK74swT7zw2yL-CEVkQgB8t55cXxOvq6Gm12VwaQSJZfHW1RYz_7FbY4qrmA2NVphxVKO8b2F1r8_tj7Afj4BM/w270-h400/AICover.jpg" width="270" /></a></div><br /><p>In <b><i>America Invades</i></b> (<a href="http://www.americainvades.com">www.americainvades.com</a>) we discussed American invasions and their influence on this sun-washed Caribbean island...</p><p>"The Dominican Republic lies on the eastern side of the Caribbean island of Hispaniola, with Haiti on the western portion. It has long had strong and close ties with the United States, and today more than a million people of Dominican origin live in the United States. The Dominican Republic is famous for (among many other things) beaches, a temperate climate, and amazing baseball players—today there are more Major League Baseball players from the Dominican Republic than from any other nation except the United States.</p><p>The Dominican Republic has also at times had a tumultuous political history. We have taken an interest in the Dominican Republic pretty much from the beginning of our history, and we have sent in the Marines a few times. Well, quite a lot of times, actually.</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCKarKB76V87C5uPlpI7XAHAT_PQWO_Xgr_XbxTqi28BWtJgBWJviyCVbLl-PQu8euD-K-mP5mIymB2KlIvUIkReeF7l2KRx_on3eGwfnIa1xAyV-GerfwdxrHU_I4k074_QX3oah1fo4/s4032/IMG_8610.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCKarKB76V87C5uPlpI7XAHAT_PQWO_Xgr_XbxTqi28BWtJgBWJviyCVbLl-PQu8euD-K-mP5mIymB2KlIvUIkReeF7l2KRx_on3eGwfnIa1xAyV-GerfwdxrHU_I4k074_QX3oah1fo4/w400-h300/IMG_8610.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Monument to the Heroes of the Restoration<br />Santiago De Los Caballeros, DR</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The Dominican Republic was first colonized by the Spanish and then the French. And some of our first military engagements in the area were against them. During the Undeclared War against the French, for instance, in 1800, marines from the USS <i>Constitution</i> under Captain Daniel Carmick captured the French ship <i>Sandwich</i> before spiking guns at Puerto Plata.</p><p>African slaves were imported to work the sugar-cane plantations. Toussaint L’Ouverture’s Revolution in the first decade of the nineteenth century meant that Haiti ruled the Dominican Republic until it gained its independence in 1844.</p><p>During the US Civil War, the Dominican Republic reverted to Spanish rule. Our distraction with fighting the Civil War made it difficult to enforce the Monroe Doctrine.</p><p>Teddy Roosevelt’s corollary to the Monroe Doctrine held that “<i>the US had the responsibility to protect foreign lives and pay foreign debts</i>” while keeping European powers from encroaching on the Western hemisphere. President Woodrow Wilson would cite Roosevelt’s corollary to justify his intervention in the Dominican Republic.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqWa2203dwZTth7o99UHRQJlg565T2yvHxlpJUDiGRj6n1JKUQsSsnCUZA2Ba9DYldi9v0FcwKOPllzPR1Pkd5o4rVrrjcy8lGoi-SfqQRQi0FMCutbCziqBeweo2zF3imr892DYFSUcc/s4032/IMG_7953.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqWa2203dwZTth7o99UHRQJlg565T2yvHxlpJUDiGRj6n1JKUQsSsnCUZA2Ba9DYldi9v0FcwKOPllzPR1Pkd5o4rVrrjcy8lGoi-SfqQRQi0FMCutbCziqBeweo2zF3imr892DYFSUcc/w300-h400/IMG_7953.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">USMC Plaque<br />Katy Trail, MO</td></tr></tbody></table><p>In April 1903, marines from the USS <i>Atlanta</i> landed to guard US diplomats in Santo Domingo City during conflict there.</p><p>Things got even busier in 1904 as the USS <i>Detroit</i> was dispatched to try to bring peace between the different factions in the country and protect US interests. In January, the USS <i>Detroit</i> landed marines at Puerto Plata. A few days later, the ship landed marines at Sosua. After a few more days, the USS Detroit and this time the USS Hartford were landing more US marines and sailors in the country. In February, it was the turn of USS <i>Newark</i> and <i>Columbia</i> to land marines and sailors, this time at Santo Domingo. The Clyde Line steamer New York had been red upon by revolutionaries, and the revolutionaries also had opened re on our landing party. With the assistance of naval gun re, our men drove the revolutionaries out of the city.</p><p>Things were a little more peaceful in 1905–1906. We kept a floating battalion in Dominican waters on board the USS Yankee, but in the end, they were withdrawn. Something similar happened with the USS Prairie in 1912.</p><p>In 1914, US ships intervened with gunfire to prevent the bombardment of Puerto Plata.</p><p>And in 1916, our forces went in again. President Wilson intervened on behalf of Jimenez, who was the fifth Dominican president since 1911. Jimenez was engaged in a civil war with the anti-American defense minister Arias.</p><p>Admiral Caperton of the USN landed a party of six hundred bluejackets and marines at Santo Domingo on May 12, 1916, and on May 13, he delivered an ultimatum to Arias to get himself and his forces out of the city.</p><p>US occupation of the country followed with assorted operations. For instance, the USN gunboat <i>Sacramento </i>landed 130 marines at Puerto Plata on June 1, 1916. That day, H. J. Hirshinger became the first US marine to be killed in the Dominican Republic. Colonel “Uncle Joe” Pendleton led an assault that captured Santiago. He declared, “<i>We are not in an enemy’s country though many of the inhabitants may be inimical to us</i>.”</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-OfTf3g-4b0lClAZdHbCTwKrm6t8vCr_KR9kCC1Lupgc4RojnDhr9woE1woUrQDmoiQbzvZWgFLMEWyA6Iw4sWhCM8fq4bLCLIlPPuhzns-0xnyXkzQtEeBb_EX-X8IPb8oGo7BSLKBY/s1722/AIMarines.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1252" data-original-width="1722" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-OfTf3g-4b0lClAZdHbCTwKrm6t8vCr_KR9kCC1Lupgc4RojnDhr9woE1woUrQDmoiQbzvZWgFLMEWyA6Iw4sWhCM8fq4bLCLIlPPuhzns-0xnyXkzQtEeBb_EX-X8IPb8oGo7BSLKBY/w400-h291/AIMarines.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">USMC Museum<br />Triangle, VA<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>The US Marines would occupy the country from 1916 to 1924. They brought a kind of peace to the country and helped bring baseball to the Dominican Republic.<p></p><p>During World War II, the Dominican Republic joined the Allied side, and accordingly, we sent lend-lease military aid, including aircraft to the Dominican Republic. To some extent, military links continued after World War II. For instance, in 1947, the USN helped the Trujillo government intercept craft carrying rebels who were supported by Cuba. And throughout the 1950s, the United States sent military aid to the Dominican Republic, along with a variety of training missions.</p><p>Gradually, however, the United States began to distance itself from the repressive Trujillo regime. Military assistance was cut off in 1960, and in 1961, Trujillo was assassinated. And following the re-emergence of two of Trujillo’s brothers in the Dominican Republic, the USN put on a show of force to demonstrate US disapproval.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6hIysXPg-8_1Pm0rlqGODdNTzcjYpmnb9356VUXfpE5H0xPKLm92UgPKDGVdibwdV48FrslbXIBBPv7etweSCPCgFnVnkZKBqLqZYikNByoDZRE7VEj9KwKOZhZIBXPH1uC23ophAgjE/s585/440px-37_Lyndon_Johnson_3x4.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="585" data-original-width="440" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6hIysXPg-8_1Pm0rlqGODdNTzcjYpmnb9356VUXfpE5H0xPKLm92UgPKDGVdibwdV48FrslbXIBBPv7etweSCPCgFnVnkZKBqLqZYikNByoDZRE7VEj9KwKOZhZIBXPH1uC23ophAgjE/w301-h400/440px-37_Lyndon_Johnson_3x4.jpg" width="301" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LBJ Invaded the Dominican Republic</td></tr></tbody></table><p>A few years later, we sent in the troops again. After another civil war broke out, LBJ intervened in the Dominican Republic in 1965. The US Marines and two brigades of the 82nd Airborne were deployed alongside the forces of other OAS nations. At least nine US soldiers were killed, mainly by snipers in Santo Domingo." (Source: <a href="http://www.americainvades.com">www.americainvades.com</a>)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Beac86mN8XM" width="320" youtube-src-id="Beac86mN8XM"></iframe></div><br /><p>But what about Kim Novak? What is her connection to the Dominican Republic? In Hitchcock's 1958 <b><i>Vertigo</i></b> her cool blonde beauty reduced Jimmy Stewart to a Pygmalion puddle of nerves. In 2016 Sight & Sound named <b><i>Vertigo</i></b> the greatest motion picture of all time.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwrdwuKm5qJKIePBAe3P8K8331yUxEMvcC_u5ZwH99AlS7PCC5juL03coH9Qe9AxqoQKrXcYSTks4diPbwmPOacTuyo4piy_7T-yf1nFvdD6IoJFAD37XA_UlrWsLcQ3CrCUrs-axeXL4/s440/440px-Vertigo_1958_trailer_Novak.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="246" data-original-width="440" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwrdwuKm5qJKIePBAe3P8K8331yUxEMvcC_u5ZwH99AlS7PCC5juL03coH9Qe9AxqoQKrXcYSTks4diPbwmPOacTuyo4piy_7T-yf1nFvdD6IoJFAD37XA_UlrWsLcQ3CrCUrs-axeXL4/w400-h224/440px-Vertigo_1958_trailer_Novak.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kim Novak: Could have "Invaded" the DR?!</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br />Kim Novak briefly dated Ramfis Trujillo, the son of the Dominican dictator. Ramfis Trujillo (1929 - 1969) was a playboy who later died in a high speed accident while driving a sports car in Spain. He led a flamboyant life and also seems to have personally executed some of his father's assassins. But Novak could, theoretically, have become the first lady of the Dominican Republic...! Kim Novak is now 88 years old and lives quietly in California.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqCPYgiT17YvNhKh9fr2GUkItUDsY05TLExQ-rZW27oO41TIm2du4A_WjANqtISx-DUSDIKSZ7tBwa7kOqgNWLj2dqIlxXOM2PRfwnKNhyRCr23OFdaaXtCrCVcsNIlCcYsxVcJrTjmVQ/s4032/IMG_9060.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqCPYgiT17YvNhKh9fr2GUkItUDsY05TLExQ-rZW27oO41TIm2du4A_WjANqtISx-DUSDIKSZ7tBwa7kOqgNWLj2dqIlxXOM2PRfwnKNhyRCr23OFdaaXtCrCVcsNIlCcYsxVcJrTjmVQ/w300-h400/IMG_9060.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Santo Domingo</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /><b><i>Travel Notes</i></b>: Even during the Global COVID-19 Pandemic the Dominican Republic has remained open to tourists from the USA and many other countries. Many go to Punta Cana on the eastern coast of the DR for sun and sand.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJS9uxUGp1Nwx5DS7xsjegg0XkLXHCirNi1h8Lv4LG8A6kUgPDLe5KkU0kg9wJyyKUskGoTgxD2Zin69zU2WgcC9UpGE1fLZmy9Le-xNWTLdKbArx6OfYsztykSu073G14-CiXZVVWq50/s4032/IMG_8697+2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJS9uxUGp1Nwx5DS7xsjegg0XkLXHCirNi1h8Lv4LG8A6kUgPDLe5KkU0kg9wJyyKUskGoTgxD2Zin69zU2WgcC9UpGE1fLZmy9Le-xNWTLdKbArx6OfYsztykSu073G14-CiXZVVWq50/w400-h300/IMG_8697+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">La Aurora Cigar Factory<br />Santiago De Los Caballeros</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The DR has been an agricultural nation for many years growing sugar, fruit and, of course, tobacco. Rum is the national spirit and the mojitos are delicious! There are many cigar factories on the island. I recently had the opportunity to visit the Aurora Cigar Factory in Santiago De Los Caballeros. Here is their website...<a href="https://www.laaurora.com.do/?lang=en" rel="nofollow">https://www.laaurora.com.do/?lang=en</a>.</p><p>Check this out for information on the Factory Tour at La Aurora...<a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g635962-d4102284-Reviews-La_Aurora_Cigar_Factory-Santiago_de_los_Caballeros_Santiago_Province_Dominican_Re.html">https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g635962-d4102284-Reviews-La_Aurora_Cigar_Factory-Santiago_de_los_Caballeros_Santiago_Province_Dominican_Re.html</a>.</p><p>A fine hotel from which to explore the fascinating ancient historical section of Santo Domingo is Casas Del XVI...<a href="https://www.casasdelxvi.net">https://www.casasdelxvi.net</a>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAQ9kEkEz7t0CrsZXuRVfUPJpLyyxMFFRcWLImtcvElwZbylvngyHoSHqxXvOK5AN7sBPzKBOa5rKbDhhvi2JARNlaSp9XTk5MNxL-PdtHDr0X7HRiVl7Csmcc-OA9phiuoOSO9bWfsL0/s4032/IMG_8953+2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAQ9kEkEz7t0CrsZXuRVfUPJpLyyxMFFRcWLImtcvElwZbylvngyHoSHqxXvOK5AN7sBPzKBOa5rKbDhhvi2JARNlaSp9XTk5MNxL-PdtHDr0X7HRiVl7Csmcc-OA9phiuoOSO9bWfsL0/w300-h400/IMG_8953+2.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p>Commander Kelly says, "Visit the Dominican Republic, watch <b><i>Vertigo</i></b> and drink a mojito!" </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3rccQXoYvCQkjwzF5JQ63Dcaag7KDHioA3HPBBA4bn7-x1Bn5P6U1GccngL3E4Rk7eAQQBlJUNAUAfjZLHWARnC3dMqJeb33MctUpCD4bE8I81ZxsI67j_DusWg-hrN1KeA-VuhlHpkc/s1425/AmericaInvadedCover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1425" data-original-width="975" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3rccQXoYvCQkjwzF5JQ63Dcaag7KDHioA3HPBBA4bn7-x1Bn5P6U1GccngL3E4Rk7eAQQBlJUNAUAfjZLHWARnC3dMqJeb33MctUpCD4bE8I81ZxsI67j_DusWg-hrN1KeA-VuhlHpkc/w274-h400/AmericaInvadedCover.jpg" width="274" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="sans-serif" style="text-align: start;">You can find signed copies of our books at these web sites...</span></span><br /><div style="font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.americainvades.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.americainvades.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.italyinvades.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.italyinvades.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.anadventurein1914.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.anadventurein1914.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.americainvaded.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.americainvaded.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;">!</div></div><p class="MsoCommentText" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><br style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;" /><span style="font-family: electralh; font-size: medium;"></span><span lang="" style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"></span><br style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;" /></span></p><div style="background-color: white;"><div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Or regular copies on Amazon...</span></div><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Christopher-Kelly/e/B00RW8QZG6/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1539454238&sr=8-1">www.amazon.com/Christopher-Kelly/e/B00RW8QZG6/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1539454238&sr=8-1</a></span></div><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Or on Kindle...</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B00R1ZXKMW" style="color: #888888;">www.amzn.com/B00R1ZXKMW</a></span></div><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: large;"></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B0178GCYDO" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.amzn.com/B0178GCYDO</span></a></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B01LXD1KHQ" style="color: #888888;">www.amzn.com/B01LXD1KHQ</a></span></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B073RJQ8PK" style="color: #888888;">www.amzn.com/B073RJQ8PK</a></span></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><div style="color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Listen to my interview with Bob Cudmore...<a href="http://bobcudmore.com/thehistorians/tracks/ChristopherKelly(August2017)(29)(mp3).mp3" style="color: #888888;">http://bobcudmore.com/thehistorians/tracks/ChristopherKelly(August2017)(29)(mp3).mp3</a></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And my interview...<a href="http://www.thebook-club.com/blog/bookshelf-interview-with-christopher-kelly">www.thebook-club.com/blog/bookshelf-interview-with-christopher-kelly</a></span></div><div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">And my most recent interview...<a href="http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2018/08/17/america-invaded-christopher-kelly">http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2018/08/17/america-invaded-christopher-kelly</a></span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheB0LJA8ZBAZZOuVZJFcVlxgRVrEV8IhvNcG04NW9CQiN6fz4oKK22VTFTNkwvBOejsF079hzTwostT0Xs1SIfeyoIyDQbcFNgjC9gKfBzCi8ckfOzosX83D54wJeTy0sB0wuEjBJlTBU/s1600/AICover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="405" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheB0LJA8ZBAZZOuVZJFcVlxgRVrEV8IhvNcG04NW9CQiN6fz4oKK22VTFTNkwvBOejsF079hzTwostT0Xs1SIfeyoIyDQbcFNgjC9gKfBzCi8ckfOzosX83D54wJeTy0sB0wuEjBJlTBU/s400/AICover.jpg" width="270" /></a></div></div></div></div></div><p><br /></p><p> </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Commander Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03602902461964252463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122629330054677829.post-30746490193189726972021-04-23T14:02:00.003-07:002021-04-23T15:07:38.559-07:00Dogs on the Right / Cats on the Left<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0EIDbFPNalmQNYIhhBhNR1PwCVyt5LsHgi-N7gyjzMejh2Dk_yHKHe3VXk1RIjhJ-PJFAUQnKQqylSNbCH9ds-n4NM3GqgoTJs6k7S8ct7Ph_STx3Pm4P_rQBgL7gh28HQBOzG6O34Lo/s239/th-15.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="162" data-original-width="239" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0EIDbFPNalmQNYIhhBhNR1PwCVyt5LsHgi-N7gyjzMejh2Dk_yHKHe3VXk1RIjhJ-PJFAUQnKQqylSNbCH9ds-n4NM3GqgoTJs6k7S8ct7Ph_STx3Pm4P_rQBgL7gh28HQBOzG6O34Lo/w640-h434/th-15.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>President Trump defied conventional wisdom in many ways. He famously refused to host a dog at the White House despite the long history of Presidential dogs from FDR's Scottish Terrier (<i>Fala</i>) to Obama's Portuguese Water Dog (<i>Bo</i>). Dogs are very popular among Americans and this decision could conceivably have cost Trump thousands of votes in the close 2020 election and, perhaps, even cost him his re-election.</p><p>Perhaps Trump failed to recognize that man's best friends are natural born Conservatives? Dogs are clearly on the right, while cats are natural Lefties.</p><p>Dogs have no issue with nationalism. Dachshunds and German shepherds are proudly German. Chihauhaus are proud Mexicans. Shih Tzus are proud of their Chinese heritage. And so on.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv77B-T3MGxhFBOVqX-M_MUlOviecjtSaBpAZmFQVSA-BwS9tf-ARDlfoc2TSxOpM7RJfwSsZcrNkVwO6YmaKJSb8NLhRDevTVdsrm3efXRafGIXSQpZqvdAtosxvEtpKocTyQU24nPFc/s231/th-20.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="154" data-original-width="231" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv77B-T3MGxhFBOVqX-M_MUlOviecjtSaBpAZmFQVSA-BwS9tf-ARDlfoc2TSxOpM7RJfwSsZcrNkVwO6YmaKJSb8NLhRDevTVdsrm3efXRafGIXSQpZqvdAtosxvEtpKocTyQU24nPFc/w400-h267/th-20.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't Defund Me!</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Many dogs are working stiffs. Dogs are important partners in the Global War on Terror, sniffing out bombs and patrolling foreign bases. There are many "blue" dogs working in police canine units. But even extreme leftists dare not ask for us to defund the police dogs!</p><p>Cats are indolent, uncooperative and unteachable. Perfect little furry Commissars.</p><p>Dogs believe in private property. They are territorial. "My Bone!" "My Yard!"</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji1srFq1exidyWiUp9o7XY0jsKRmE4AQvp74fJzSRanfCPLJK43rnezuU5hYv40MX-QLXMyDC-KPCCIC4ys97sM4REFx2kMkgZ1ATqRtbonzWOAUb7RLfZ5_YInoTnlmy0JCv1Vg4rWxg/s300/th-16.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji1srFq1exidyWiUp9o7XY0jsKRmE4AQvp74fJzSRanfCPLJK43rnezuU5hYv40MX-QLXMyDC-KPCCIC4ys97sM4REFx2kMkgZ1ATqRtbonzWOAUb7RLfZ5_YInoTnlmy0JCv1Vg4rWxg/w400-h400/th-16.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>Cats are unapologetic Communists. They are quite content to appropriate food from their comrades' bowls. All property is theft according to feline / Marxist principles; so all cats are thieves. Some of them swell to Garfield-size on pilfered kibble, reminding us of Orwell's <b><i>Animal Farm</i></b> pigs who are "more equal than others". </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCknwd47QgobQCPpMSMuQFVTMdz01yNinMgqacrE_j1pCO5yu4-StvAnw6ILSXArsiZ2VC4pSVAkfoNwgPTxlrOgWsglX9sMjyPlzSEha_jBRW0s12HzFGyeaQWguFPLxAcTYSh0QBSaM/s234/th-18.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="166" data-original-width="234" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCknwd47QgobQCPpMSMuQFVTMdz01yNinMgqacrE_j1pCO5yu4-StvAnw6ILSXArsiZ2VC4pSVAkfoNwgPTxlrOgWsglX9sMjyPlzSEha_jBRW0s12HzFGyeaQWguFPLxAcTYSh0QBSaM/w400-h284/th-18.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Furry Commissars!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Cats are elitists. They look down their feline noses at humanity, dogs and other creatures. They purr and they purr, all the while seeming to deliver dull environmental lectures on the "sustainability of their kitty litter boxes"!</p><p>Dogs are fanatically loyal. Cats are notoriously unfaithful -- always "catting" about!</p><p>A few dog breeds may even be considered "Right Wing Extremists". Dobermanns clearly have fascist tendencies. Poodles are, of course, monarchists. But the vast majority of dogs, from pure bred to mutt are comfortably Republican.</p><p>Dogs are proud. Cats are disdainful.</p><p>Dogs protect hearth and home. Cats are often burglars!</p><p>Dogs amass a horde of bones. Cats seek a redistribution of kibble.</p><p>Dogs, as noted earlier, serve in the military. Cats are primarily pacifists -- unless you are a mouse or bird!</p><p>Cats play the race card, insisting that Black Cats' Lives Matter. But dogs understand instinctively that pooches of all colors and shapes have value.</p><p>Please note that Lions are an exception to the rule. Clearly they subscribe to monarchist principles. And are not to be trifled with.</p><p>There are always going to be a few exceptions. AOC does have a rather cute French Bulldog named <i>Deco.</i>..?</p><p>Dogs are fine with building a wall. It keeps out foxes and other interlopers. Cats leap on top of a wall flicking their tails and parading their general disdain for human contrivances.</p><p>Winston Churchill, Britain's great Conservative leader, will always be identified as a bulldog; no matter that he really kept poodles. John Lennon was, of course, a cat person. "Imagine all the cat toys!"</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigOseptJubJgZGSVz1d48oVP4G771lj5EiuyhNOtcRdG4xxS1iu9MzzWZsZ-3Un5eeyGRD8WBShsewwNUVQcKpJIq3GBM7iBIq_rIyl6b-16U75d5iUUCAjNCLpV2xe_KI2x6RuuALvBQ/s247/th-19.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="152" data-original-width="247" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigOseptJubJgZGSVz1d48oVP4G771lj5EiuyhNOtcRdG4xxS1iu9MzzWZsZ-3Un5eeyGRD8WBShsewwNUVQcKpJIq3GBM7iBIq_rIyl6b-16U75d5iUUCAjNCLpV2xe_KI2x6RuuALvBQ/w400-h246/th-19.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Reagan had his beloved <i>Rex</i> (A King Charles Spaniel). Cats "feel the Bern"!</p><p>Dogs on the Right / Cats on the Left.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3rccQXoYvCQkjwzF5JQ63Dcaag7KDHioA3HPBBA4bn7-x1Bn5P6U1GccngL3E4Rk7eAQQBlJUNAUAfjZLHWARnC3dMqJeb33MctUpCD4bE8I81ZxsI67j_DusWg-hrN1KeA-VuhlHpkc/s1425/AmericaInvadedCover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1425" data-original-width="975" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3rccQXoYvCQkjwzF5JQ63Dcaag7KDHioA3HPBBA4bn7-x1Bn5P6U1GccngL3E4Rk7eAQQBlJUNAUAfjZLHWARnC3dMqJeb33MctUpCD4bE8I81ZxsI67j_DusWg-hrN1KeA-VuhlHpkc/w274-h400/AmericaInvadedCover.jpg" width="274" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="sans-serif" style="text-align: start;">You can find signed copies of our books at these web sites...</span></span><br /><div style="font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.americainvades.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.americainvades.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.italyinvades.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.italyinvades.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.anadventurein1914.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.anadventurein1914.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.americainvaded.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.americainvaded.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;">!</div></div><p class="MsoCommentText" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><br style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;" /><span style="font-family: electralh; font-size: medium;"></span><span lang="" style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"></span><br style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;" /></span></p><div style="background-color: white;"><div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Or regular copies on Amazon...</span></div><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Christopher-Kelly/e/B00RW8QZG6/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1539454238&sr=8-1">www.amazon.com/Christopher-Kelly/e/B00RW8QZG6/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1539454238&sr=8-1</a></span></div><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Or on Kindle...</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B00R1ZXKMW" style="color: #888888;">www.amzn.com/B00R1ZXKMW</a></span></div><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: large;"></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B0178GCYDO" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.amzn.com/B0178GCYDO</span></a></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B01LXD1KHQ" style="color: #888888;">www.amzn.com/B01LXD1KHQ</a></span></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B073RJQ8PK" style="color: #888888;">www.amzn.com/B073RJQ8PK</a></span></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><div style="color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Listen to my interview with Bob Cudmore...<a href="http://bobcudmore.com/thehistorians/tracks/ChristopherKelly(August2017)(29)(mp3).mp3" style="color: #888888;">http://bobcudmore.com/thehistorians/tracks/ChristopherKelly(August2017)(29)(mp3).mp3</a></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And my interview...<a href="http://www.thebook-club.com/blog/bookshelf-interview-with-christopher-kelly">www.thebook-club.com/blog/bookshelf-interview-with-christopher-kelly</a></span></div><div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">And my most recent interview...<a href="http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2018/08/17/america-invaded-christopher-kelly">http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2018/08/17/america-invaded-christopher-kelly</a></span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheB0LJA8ZBAZZOuVZJFcVlxgRVrEV8IhvNcG04NW9CQiN6fz4oKK22VTFTNkwvBOejsF079hzTwostT0Xs1SIfeyoIyDQbcFNgjC9gKfBzCi8ckfOzosX83D54wJeTy0sB0wuEjBJlTBU/s1600/AICover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="405" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheB0LJA8ZBAZZOuVZJFcVlxgRVrEV8IhvNcG04NW9CQiN6fz4oKK22VTFTNkwvBOejsF079hzTwostT0Xs1SIfeyoIyDQbcFNgjC9gKfBzCi8ckfOzosX83D54wJeTy0sB0wuEjBJlTBU/s400/AICover.jpg" width="270" /></a></div></div></div></div></div><br />Commander Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03602902461964252463noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122629330054677829.post-66724862291345902772021-03-15T13:07:00.007-07:002021-04-07T11:45:31.851-07:00The Patriots<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBd30hlxQ7eEMYUqxrlPextidZRvvs4xp4E9cLwUpotdiexFqGJrLUB0PyQAIpeqhaTcVFDSnS4_C993-XEBL6uk5Eg-EPEonommW1FkxyJe9ZDqERKHEyBLvS6xffuvNVfYawNw3xvO4/s275/download-4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="183" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBd30hlxQ7eEMYUqxrlPextidZRvvs4xp4E9cLwUpotdiexFqGJrLUB0PyQAIpeqhaTcVFDSnS4_C993-XEBL6uk5Eg-EPEonommW1FkxyJe9ZDqERKHEyBLvS6xffuvNVfYawNw3xvO4/w426-h640/download-4.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p>Patriotism seems currently out of fashion. For many, pride itself seems to be associated with right wing extremism and violence (Proud Boys, etc.). Why should we care about the lives of long dead white males? To many of the "Woke," the Founding Fathers were an over-rated pack of slave-holding racists, right? How are these stuffed shirts of the 18th Century relevant to our technology-obsessed 21st Century culture?</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHVrXL8Mw1hFAg7cvEIrNboP2K0yFobCaC_9P4-4U70Qal1uPWjaWmI297LaJ5xerYlljlMIbVXtBV_6edsmwqMYK7M_DQfFH1HCnXPaLkASTrxL2d8sLDhqs_iqGWEdB9ysJfsf9NqbI/s259/download-5.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHVrXL8Mw1hFAg7cvEIrNboP2K0yFobCaC_9P4-4U70Qal1uPWjaWmI297LaJ5xerYlljlMIbVXtBV_6edsmwqMYK7M_DQfFH1HCnXPaLkASTrxL2d8sLDhqs_iqGWEdB9ysJfsf9NqbI/w400-h300/download-5.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Winston Groom </b>1943 - 2020: RIP</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br />The late Winston Groom, author of <b style="font-style: italic;">Forrest Gump </b>(novel 1986, film 1994), turned his attention from Fiction to History in later life. Groom's final book, <b><i>The Patriots</i></b> (<a href="http://www.amzn.com/1426221495">www.amzn.com/1426221495</a>) published in 2020, asks us to focus on the lives of three Founding Fathers who helped to make America Great from its beginning. Groom was a US Army officer during the Vietnam War and a Southern voice (born in Alabama) who was not afraid of cutting against the grain of contemporary thought.</p><p><b><i>The Patriots</i></b> presents us with biographies of three key figures in the Founding of America...Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. None of these men were saints and Groom's work is no mere hagiography. Hamilton threw his promising life away in a pointless duel with Aaron Burr. Jefferson was a slave owner who seems to have fathered six children with his slave Sally Hemings. Adams could be brusque and unpleasant. Adams was a one term President who did not attend the inauguration of his successor Jefferson -- remind of anyone? But these were men who shaped the United States of America in the critical early days of the Republic. Moreover, these founding fathers affirmed principles that are today recognized as the bedrock of Conservatism...the Rule of Law, Gun Rights, Business Values and Financial Probity. Having witnessed the tyranny of George III, all three of these men were advocates of limited government with Jefferson suggesting that government ought to be "<i>rigorously frugal and simple</i>".</p><p>Adams made his historical mark long before becoming the second US president. The Boston Massacre occurred in March 1770 when British soldiers fired on and killed several members of a Boston mob that were hurling icy snowballs at them. Adams was a rising lawyer who took on the extremely unpopular task of defending eight British soldiers. He argued successfully that they were acting in self-defense. Six were acquitted and two were convicted of manslaughter. The rule of law applies to ALL -- no matter how unpopular the alleged transgressor may be. Adams would have understood the civic necessity of a proper legal defense for the cop who killed George Floyd.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQAQDY8vkaTmN2Y-GvsUM0Ny2_5t23ADuZ6spc6ejxNctuVxBN90VyDP9___Y9n2gCLv87dQvWCpBEXp6tPCTi3nyeDdropGQzS3w0hgM_oqG9bqlfD12vkeXEIglrqP1tadSTxkXxQK8/s860/14a+Thomas+Jefferson+%25281%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="860" data-original-width="755" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQAQDY8vkaTmN2Y-GvsUM0Ny2_5t23ADuZ6spc6ejxNctuVxBN90VyDP9___Y9n2gCLv87dQvWCpBEXp6tPCTi3nyeDdropGQzS3w0hgM_oqG9bqlfD12vkeXEIglrqP1tadSTxkXxQK8/s320/14a+Thomas+Jefferson+%25281%2529.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thomas Jefferson tombstone:<br /><i>Author of the Declaration of American Independence / of the Statute of Virginia for religious freedom / & Father of the University of Virginia</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Jefferson was the greatest writer among the Founding fathers penning the immortal words of the Declaration of Independence. Jefferson was a thorough Revolutionary who insisted that "<i>the tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants</i>." What exactly would Jefferson have made of those who stormed the Capital on January 6, 2021?</p><p>We know for certain that Jefferson was an avid hunter and a gun collector who owned eleven pistols and a shotgun declaring, "<i>I am a great friend to the manly and healthy exercises of the gun.</i>" President Jefferson demonstrated a strong acumen for business purchasing the 828,000 square miles of the Louisiana Territory from Emperor Napoleon for the sum of $15 million or three cents an acre, effectively doubling the size of the United States. Two centuries before Trump, Jefferson knew all about the Art of the Deal. Insatiably curious, Jefferson dispatched Lewis and Clark to explore the West all the way to the Pacific Ocean.</p><p>Bitter partisan feelings did NOT begin with the 2020 Presidential elections. Feelings ran high and editorial could be scorching in the early days of our Republic. Thomas Jeffersons' words at his first inauguration speak eloquently to those of us in the 21st century on social media who may be inclined to block out or excoriate those with whom we disagree. Jefferson said, "<i>We are all republicans, we are all federalists...Every difference of opinion is not a difference of principle...Let us restore to social intercourse that harmony and affection without which liberty, and even life itself is a dreary thing</i>." </p><p>Alexander Hamilton never became president. An illegitimate immigrant from Nevis, young Hamilton studied law at King's College in New York (later Columbia University). He served as a loyal aide-de-camp to General Washington during the American Revolution. He amply demonstrated his ardor for his country on the field of battle leading the Continentals who stormed a British redoubt with fixed bayonets at the battle of Yorktown in 1781. As the nation's first Treasury Secretary he established sound credit for the United States and, though accused by political opponents of many transgressions, was scrupulously free of corruption and self-dealing. Hamilton did more than any man to make the United States as Groom writes, "<i>one of the safest nations in which to invest</i>". His untimely death at the hands of Aaron Burr was a tragic loss for our country. Musical theater has brought his life back into deserved prominence in the 21st century.</p><p><b><i>The Patriots</i></b> concludes with the summation that Adams, Jefferson and Hamilton were men "<i>driven by their own passions and particular genius</i>" who "<i>chanced their fortunes on creating a more just and promising world</i>." Groom's literary recalling of their lives is a deeply Conservative act that pays proper respect to our founding fathers and gives us a measure of inspiration for the future. Winston Groom, who died of a heart attack in September 2020, was an American Patriot who will be sorely missed.</p><p><br /></p><p><b><i>Travel Notes, etc:</i></b></p><p>If you are near Philadelphia be sure to check out the excellent Museum of the American Revolution which features George Washington's tent (<a href="https://americanconservativeinlondon.blogspot.com/2017/09/museum-of-american-revolution.html">https://americanconservativeinlondon.blogspot.com/2017/09/museum-of-american-revolution.html</a>)</p><p>My own forebear, William Lee Davidson, served alongside Alexander Hamilton during the Yorktown campaign...<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4122629330054677829/6481761839499153267">https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4122629330054677829/6481761839499153267</a></p><p>I reviewed Winston Groom's <b><i>The Allies</i></b> earlier...<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4122629330054677829/6089705246017757121">https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4122629330054677829/6089705246017757121</a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8lZK2sgjYSQ" width="320" youtube-src-id="8lZK2sgjYSQ"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3rccQXoYvCQkjwzF5JQ63Dcaag7KDHioA3HPBBA4bn7-x1Bn5P6U1GccngL3E4Rk7eAQQBlJUNAUAfjZLHWARnC3dMqJeb33MctUpCD4bE8I81ZxsI67j_DusWg-hrN1KeA-VuhlHpkc/s1425/AmericaInvadedCover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1425" data-original-width="975" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3rccQXoYvCQkjwzF5JQ63Dcaag7KDHioA3HPBBA4bn7-x1Bn5P6U1GccngL3E4Rk7eAQQBlJUNAUAfjZLHWARnC3dMqJeb33MctUpCD4bE8I81ZxsI67j_DusWg-hrN1KeA-VuhlHpkc/w274-h400/AmericaInvadedCover.jpg" width="274" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="sans-serif" style="text-align: start;">You can find signed copies of our books at these web sites...</span></span><br /><div style="font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.americainvades.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.americainvades.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.italyinvades.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.italyinvades.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.anadventurein1914.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.anadventurein1914.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.americainvaded.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.americainvaded.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;">!</div></div><p class="MsoCommentText" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><br style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;" /><span style="font-family: electralh; font-size: medium;"></span><span lang="" style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"></span><br style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;" /></span></p><div style="background-color: white;"><div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Or regular copies on Amazon...</span></div><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Christopher-Kelly/e/B00RW8QZG6/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1539454238&sr=8-1">www.amazon.com/Christopher-Kelly/e/B00RW8QZG6/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1539454238&sr=8-1</a></span></div><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Or on Kindle...</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B00R1ZXKMW" style="color: #888888;">www.amzn.com/B00R1ZXKMW</a></span></div><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: large;"></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B0178GCYDO" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.amzn.com/B0178GCYDO</span></a></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B01LXD1KHQ" style="color: #888888;">www.amzn.com/B01LXD1KHQ</a></span></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B073RJQ8PK" style="color: #888888;">www.amzn.com/B073RJQ8PK</a></span></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><div style="color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Listen to my interview with Bob Cudmore...<a href="http://bobcudmore.com/thehistorians/tracks/ChristopherKelly(August2017)(29)(mp3).mp3" style="color: #888888;">http://bobcudmore.com/thehistorians/tracks/ChristopherKelly(August2017)(29)(mp3).mp3</a></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And my interview...<a href="http://www.thebook-club.com/blog/bookshelf-interview-with-christopher-kelly">www.thebook-club.com/blog/bookshelf-interview-with-christopher-kelly</a></span></div><div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">And my most recent interview...<a href="http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2018/08/17/america-invaded-christopher-kelly">http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2018/08/17/america-invaded-christopher-kelly</a></span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheB0LJA8ZBAZZOuVZJFcVlxgRVrEV8IhvNcG04NW9CQiN6fz4oKK22VTFTNkwvBOejsF079hzTwostT0Xs1SIfeyoIyDQbcFNgjC9gKfBzCi8ckfOzosX83D54wJeTy0sB0wuEjBJlTBU/s1600/AICover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="405" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheB0LJA8ZBAZZOuVZJFcVlxgRVrEV8IhvNcG04NW9CQiN6fz4oKK22VTFTNkwvBOejsF079hzTwostT0Xs1SIfeyoIyDQbcFNgjC9gKfBzCi8ckfOzosX83D54wJeTy0sB0wuEjBJlTBU/s400/AICover.jpg" width="270" /></a></div></div></div></div></div>Commander Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03602902461964252463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122629330054677829.post-59368986446243151652021-02-03T19:00:00.010-08:002021-03-16T19:20:00.281-07:00Foyle's War<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/l338p2nDzS4" width="320" youtube-src-id="l338p2nDzS4"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>Those of us who enjoy History and are stuck at home during this wretched pandemic would do well to check out the British miniseries <b><i>Foyle's War </i></b>(<a href="http://www.amzn.com/B011T0C7DW" target="_blank">www.amzn.com/B011T0C7DW</a>). This detective series ran for nine seasons from 2002 until 2015 on ITV. The series was created by the husband and wife team of Anthony Horowitz (Writer) and Jill Green (Executive Producer). It features outstanding performances from Michael Kitchen (DCS Foyle), Honeysuckle Weeks (Samantha Stewart) and Anthony Howell (Sgt. Paul Milner). Another highlight are the series' excellent cameo appearances from Charles Dance (<b><i>GOT</i></b>) to John Mahoney's (<b><i>Fraser</i></b>'s Dad) final television role.</p><p>The mystery elements are cleverly plotted in the finest British tradition. The 90 minute length of each episode allows for added complexity and density. These are essentially 28 mini-movies on crime in Southeastern England. Most are set with the ferocious backdrop of World War II. Millions are being killed around the globe but someone still needs to worry about Colonel Mustard dead in his library in Hastings. Enter DCS Foyle. The final two seasons feature plots drawn from the Cold War.</p><p>But it is the unfailing respect for the past that I find so attractive about this series. The visual attention to accurate detail is evident in the brilliantly arranged locations, costuming, grooming, cars, planes and sets. This is a stylish and rewarding WW2 series.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5CjbA4Jt5FjGPPvAgW69i2PCQFJHKDB_RzqfXmXYymAkFFfUXyvoQWqdWkMg8uR68as8QwlCWQlGwGtOJ8E9Rj5MqQL6g0J9AIrTdic1jO2hEkdrG1YRrf3bljsXHuG-nypO8edTIC-o/s1386/RAFLogo.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1196" data-original-width="1386" height="345" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5CjbA4Jt5FjGPPvAgW69i2PCQFJHKDB_RzqfXmXYymAkFFfUXyvoQWqdWkMg8uR68as8QwlCWQlGwGtOJ8E9Rj5MqQL6g0J9AIrTdic1jO2hEkdrG1YRrf3bljsXHuG-nypO8edTIC-o/w400-h345/RAFLogo.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>Anthony Horowitz is a prolific author who wrote most of the screenplays for <b><i>Foyle's War</i></b>. His plots are all drawn from real historic events that took place from 1940 to 1947. Like Patrick O'Brian, he relied upon sound research rather than imagination. The series begins in 1940 with the imminent prospect of a cross channel German invasion codenamed "Seelöwe" ("Sealion"). Fear and even paranoia have gripped seaside communities such as Hastings. The Home Guard is not sitcom fodder (<b><i>Dad's Army</i></b>) but rather the first line of defense against Hitler's planned blitzkrieg against Britain. Foyle's son, Andrew (played by Julian Ovenden) is a dashing RAF Spitfire pilot. -- one of "the Few" to whom so much is owed.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj89zRAOzFogbr1MkBTYSyJ3cPQtq1jzWXBthsUaUEb-TxMnhTxT4puF_YkOv69Lxcsn7K2fMp_8E7Acp-AW8Tg0Ck4Oy3xS1KAL5JtKoXb41KebJqcol26SVFReJiUs7tLBX8Rv1GHNIE/s300/th-14.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="222" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj89zRAOzFogbr1MkBTYSyJ3cPQtq1jzWXBthsUaUEb-TxMnhTxT4puF_YkOv69Lxcsn7K2fMp_8E7Acp-AW8Tg0Ck4Oy3xS1KAL5JtKoXb41KebJqcol26SVFReJiUs7tLBX8Rv1GHNIE/w296-h400/th-14.jpg" width="296" /></a></div><br /><p>Other plots involve actual historic incidents such as the debacle at Slapton Sands in Devon where on April 27, 1944, American soldiers from the 4th Division were rehearsing D-Day landing plans. They were interrupted by torpedoes launched by German E-boats. Hundreds were killed and the incident was hushed up the tragedy due to intelligence concerns regarding the upcoming Normandy plans.</p><p>The grim reality and tawdriness of wartime Britain is unflinchingly depicted in the series. Ration coupons and the trade in black market goods are a constant presence right into the Cold War era. World War II was clearly a catalyst for the birth of Feminism and Civil Rights. These themes are explored in episodes featuring British versions of "Rosie the Riveter" and racial tensions in a segregated US Army base in England.</p><p>An episode loosely based on the SS massacre of American prisoners at Malmedy is featured in a later episode. This incident, which took place during the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944, is moved for dramatic purposes into the earlier Normandy campaign.</p><p>Horowitz gets high marks for cliché avoidance. Christopher Foyle does NOT have an affair with his lovely driver played by the charming Honeysuckle Weeks. Though, of course, Eisenhower did have a wartime affair with Kay Summersby his beautiful Anglo-Irish chauffeur. Everyone with a German accent is NOT guilty. And so on.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6I3xCY2Cu9KmfcifkM5_qvd3DqnTKRcHNX1A7Jr8jer6b-6BSHrH1_cC2Nk-HUQWAGS5xEsDvuqlFC1EqZz31HtPcOWavP5SZvyU-Eac_SYoF1XjQM6BEttGu4PuIB59iPGQFxdo0QUI/s2048/CRKIWMLondon2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1463" data-original-width="2048" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6I3xCY2Cu9KmfcifkM5_qvd3DqnTKRcHNX1A7Jr8jer6b-6BSHrH1_cC2Nk-HUQWAGS5xEsDvuqlFC1EqZz31HtPcOWavP5SZvyU-Eac_SYoF1XjQM6BEttGu4PuIB59iPGQFxdo0QUI/w400-h286/CRKIWMLondon2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Commander K at IWM, London</td></tr></tbody></table><p><b><i><br />Foyle's War</i></b> is an extended History lesson about WW2 and Cold War that draws on meticulous research. Terry Charman, a curator for the Imperial War Museum, served as an advisor throughout the series. But this is no dry dessicated History lesson! Each episode is a neatly plotted mystery which Foyle solves with coolness and sangfroid. <b><i>Foyle's War</i></b> brings History to life.</p><p>From a British perspective, Americans were late to join both World Wars. Personally, I have been late to appreciate <b style="font-style: italic;">Foyle's War </b>which began in 2002. Commander Kelly gives <b><i>Foyle's War</i></b> 5 stars and recommends it as the perfect pandemic binge option.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/t3fAeg7aNm0" width="320" youtube-src-id="t3fAeg7aNm0"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3rccQXoYvCQkjwzF5JQ63Dcaag7KDHioA3HPBBA4bn7-x1Bn5P6U1GccngL3E4Rk7eAQQBlJUNAUAfjZLHWARnC3dMqJeb33MctUpCD4bE8I81ZxsI67j_DusWg-hrN1KeA-VuhlHpkc/s1425/AmericaInvadedCover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1425" data-original-width="975" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3rccQXoYvCQkjwzF5JQ63Dcaag7KDHioA3HPBBA4bn7-x1Bn5P6U1GccngL3E4Rk7eAQQBlJUNAUAfjZLHWARnC3dMqJeb33MctUpCD4bE8I81ZxsI67j_DusWg-hrN1KeA-VuhlHpkc/w274-h400/AmericaInvadedCover.jpg" width="274" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="sans-serif" style="text-align: start;">You can find signed copies of our books at these web sites...</span></span><br /><div style="font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.americainvades.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.americainvades.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.italyinvades.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.italyinvades.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.anadventurein1914.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.anadventurein1914.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.americainvaded.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.americainvaded.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;">!</div></div><p class="MsoCommentText" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><br style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;" /><span style="font-family: electralh; font-size: medium;"></span><span lang="" style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"></span><br style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;" /></span></p><div style="background-color: white;"><div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Or regular copies on Amazon...</span></div><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Christopher-Kelly/e/B00RW8QZG6/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1539454238&sr=8-1">www.amazon.com/Christopher-Kelly/e/B00RW8QZG6/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1539454238&sr=8-1</a></span></div><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Or on Kindle...</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B00R1ZXKMW" style="color: #888888;">www.amzn.com/B00R1ZXKMW</a></span></div><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: large;"></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B0178GCYDO" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.amzn.com/B0178GCYDO</span></a></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B01LXD1KHQ" style="color: #888888;">www.amzn.com/B01LXD1KHQ</a></span></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B073RJQ8PK" style="color: #888888;">www.amzn.com/B073RJQ8PK</a></span></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><div style="color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Listen to my interview with Bob Cudmore...<a href="http://bobcudmore.com/thehistorians/tracks/ChristopherKelly(August2017)(29)(mp3).mp3" style="color: #888888;">http://bobcudmore.com/thehistorians/tracks/ChristopherKelly(August2017)(29)(mp3).mp3</a></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And my interview...<a href="http://www.thebook-club.com/blog/bookshelf-interview-with-christopher-kelly">www.thebook-club.com/blog/bookshelf-interview-with-christopher-kelly</a></span></div><div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">And my most recent interview...<a href="http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2018/08/17/america-invaded-christopher-kelly">http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2018/08/17/america-invaded-christopher-kelly</a></span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheB0LJA8ZBAZZOuVZJFcVlxgRVrEV8IhvNcG04NW9CQiN6fz4oKK22VTFTNkwvBOejsF079hzTwostT0Xs1SIfeyoIyDQbcFNgjC9gKfBzCi8ckfOzosX83D54wJeTy0sB0wuEjBJlTBU/s1600/AICover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="405" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheB0LJA8ZBAZZOuVZJFcVlxgRVrEV8IhvNcG04NW9CQiN6fz4oKK22VTFTNkwvBOejsF079hzTwostT0Xs1SIfeyoIyDQbcFNgjC9gKfBzCi8ckfOzosX83D54wJeTy0sB0wuEjBJlTBU/s400/AICover.jpg" width="270" /></a></div></div></div></div></div>Commander Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03602902461964252463noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122629330054677829.post-82034834148853568122021-01-18T18:31:00.009-08:002021-01-18T19:05:07.760-08:00Xi Fallin'<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1lWJXDG2i0A" width="320" youtube-src-id="1lWJXDG2i0A"></iframe></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><i></i></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfWU2vZ8xDs5m1EI5rvw2ncExC9S4-W-zHDZIjgE1i_IsGRQyZ1IpORj7AwQ-el4d5q_CSBCWHYpWNhvhEL_DQ1Y9QXkAes3eqVqaz4XbA_A5M4sGFvNQoy7S26XV8SPpXqUmOoSraNKw/s739/Xi_Jinping_2019.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="739" data-original-width="553" height="441" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfWU2vZ8xDs5m1EI5rvw2ncExC9S4-W-zHDZIjgE1i_IsGRQyZ1IpORj7AwQ-el4d5q_CSBCWHYpWNhvhEL_DQ1Y9QXkAes3eqVqaz4XbA_A5M4sGFvNQoy7S26XV8SPpXqUmOoSraNKw/w329-h441/Xi_Jinping_2019.jpg" width="329" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Xi Jinping</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i></i></b></div><b><i><br /><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></b><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">Xi Fallin'</span></i></b></p><div><br /></div><div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Xi’s a good man,</div><div style="text-align: left;">Loves his Mao</div><div><div style="text-align: left;">Loves Confucius </div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;">And China too</div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;">Xi’s a good man</div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;">Crazy ‘bout the navy</div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;">Loves Apples </div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;">And Karl Marx too</div></div></blockquote></div><div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxZIcniE2roFZecs9RNGgVOWFL2NqiceV88Tu3FSTF2QFpOm2DOfYOQ1z6KScJ56YSWdk48MvoCoBqDmZxsgW1DvbbxpSOkwUxZSMmW5eCSiFQBPRXundDAufHABR9keM8ta8b0Lw2FEw/s275/download.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxZIcniE2roFZecs9RNGgVOWFL2NqiceV88Tu3FSTF2QFpOm2DOfYOQ1z6KScJ56YSWdk48MvoCoBqDmZxsgW1DvbbxpSOkwUxZSMmW5eCSiFQBPRXundDAufHABR9keM8ta8b0Lw2FEw/w332-h220/download.jpg" width="332" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chinese Aircraft Carrier Liaoning</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>It's a long day</div><div>Livin’ in Wuhan</div><div>There’s a disease </div><div>Runnin’ right through</div><div>And I’m a bad virus</div><div>Infecting the world</div><div>I’m a bad virus</div><div>For killin’ so many</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEgP0pfmLT5rB39RA6-8GTRYKyr43mEFYhI3e0qPQtcsH28Dg2oRQjKGtqQhp-rrO8zObT0B1VtJmiqoxxfvB1q1Z06B5oHqa0DVysNZjx2cI_0qG_bkjCcm5plSU2pZN06cErRT52lS8/s300/images.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEgP0pfmLT5rB39RA6-8GTRYKyr43mEFYhI3e0qPQtcsH28Dg2oRQjKGtqQhp-rrO8zObT0B1VtJmiqoxxfvB1q1Z06B5oHqa0DVysNZjx2cI_0qG_bkjCcm5plSU2pZN06cErRT52lS8/w361-h202/images.jpg" width="361" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Now I’m Xi</div><div>Xi fallin'</div><div>Yeah I'm Xi</div><div>Xi Fallin' </div><div>Though China ain’t free</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimuYVjXKpUpzU6APLNFjt3TkOY7OWOzH9jCzZekvLbIX56n3wcm5By63scfOyzK6_J7yKc_hjgFHfRg010sPOFdhkabUXQV3JscR4bnh80vvU5y1c4_sUXCDmdo_vKPvVXrBTlQuJ1DHg/s310/download-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="163" data-original-width="310" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimuYVjXKpUpzU6APLNFjt3TkOY7OWOzH9jCzZekvLbIX56n3wcm5By63scfOyzK6_J7yKc_hjgFHfRg010sPOFdhkabUXQV3JscR4bnh80vvU5y1c4_sUXCDmdo_vKPvVXrBTlQuJ1DHg/w401-h211/download-1.jpg" width="401" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Now all the vaccines</div><div>Walkin’ through the valley</div><div>Move west down</div><div>The Great Wall</div><div>And all the bad viruses</div><div>Are standing in the shadows</div><div>And all the Covid widows</div><div>Are home with broken hearts</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4NGDR_bLnNFYFd3daa7Ja5iv_H79N3HKq2F-yPeQe14UnhjTcDqOZqVPkZ0_42xIAZhmAfRKv2ZxdHARIaXWd-XgeRX-zMw-0gJdgbEFI6VxUXttbLGNmVEb8x1K7kCin3DsKNB3z0ZM/s286/download-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="176" data-original-width="286" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4NGDR_bLnNFYFd3daa7Ja5iv_H79N3HKq2F-yPeQe14UnhjTcDqOZqVPkZ0_42xIAZhmAfRKv2ZxdHARIaXWd-XgeRX-zMw-0gJdgbEFI6VxUXttbLGNmVEb8x1K7kCin3DsKNB3z0ZM/w304-h187/download-3.jpg" width="304" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Now I’m Xi</div><div>Xi fallin'</div><div>But China ain’t free</div><div>Yeah I'm Xi</div><div>Xi fallin’</div><div>Xi fallin’</div><div>China ain’t free</div><div>Now I’m Xi fallin'</div><div>Now I'm </div><div>Yeah I'm Xi </div><div>Xi fallin' </div><div>Xi fallin'</div><div>Xi fallin'</div><div>And I'm Xi</div><div>Xi fallin'</div><div>Commie China ain’t free</div><div>Xi fallin'</div><div>Xi fallin </div><div>Now I'm </div><div>Xi fallin'</div><div><br /></div><div>I wanna glide down </div><div>Over Beijing and DC</div><div>I wanna spread Covid </div><div>Across the sky</div><div>I'm gonna Xi fall</div><div>Out into nothin'</div><div>Gonna lie to this</div><div>World for awhile</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQwzTZZ-ElXnx-bOpe9RNnu70rrlnlCT3dYTxTR5Z2ah2o7XYlNr3R1lure2wmDN2e-JeUaxUR86ID0GBjYhyZwpaGNPr6Dv4xyoDN7DUif_Yvlmli44PQRaTAExkEb9RQYHqNXGibxzQ/s300/download-2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQwzTZZ-ElXnx-bOpe9RNnu70rrlnlCT3dYTxTR5Z2ah2o7XYlNr3R1lure2wmDN2e-JeUaxUR86ID0GBjYhyZwpaGNPr6Dv4xyoDN7DUif_Yvlmli44PQRaTAExkEb9RQYHqNXGibxzQ/w348-h195/download-2.jpg" width="348" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Now
I'm Xi</div><div>Xi fallin'</div><div>Yeah I'm Xi</div><div>Xi fallin'</div><div>Xi fallin'</div><div>Yeah I'm Xi</div></div><div>Xi fallin'</div><div>Xi fallin'</div><div>Yeah I'm Xi</div><div>Xi fallin'</div><div>Commie China</div><div>Ain't Free!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="326" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1lWJXDG2i0A" width="393" youtube-src-id="1lWJXDG2i0A"></iframe></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>See my earlier blog <b><i>Xi Must Go / China Must Pay</i></b>...<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4122629330054677829/6088115180922605456" target="_blank">https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4122629330054677829/6088115180922605456</a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyM0bI2BvXbn73C71S6taXlGqLTGn7UPcRw_lgO_lX_otHvKLvarbuQvlWiBXbY1XNtAdZfruZfLA-u6iDpd5AtS6wxEDpRDZMZcWwtiQp462kR2qr4bm8zhTW4x0_23T2S-UsMjFjMc0/s1425/AmericaInvadedCover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1425" data-original-width="975" height="393" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyM0bI2BvXbn73C71S6taXlGqLTGn7UPcRw_lgO_lX_otHvKLvarbuQvlWiBXbY1XNtAdZfruZfLA-u6iDpd5AtS6wxEDpRDZMZcWwtiQp462kR2qr4bm8zhTW4x0_23T2S-UsMjFjMc0/w269-h393/AmericaInvadedCover.jpg" width="269" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="sans-serif" style="text-align: start;">You can find signed copies of our books at these web sites...</span></span><br /><div style="font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.americainvades.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.americainvades.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.italyinvades.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.italyinvades.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.anadventurein1914.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.anadventurein1914.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.americainvaded.com/" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.americainvaded.com</span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;">!</div></div><p class="MsoCommentText" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><br style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;" /><span style="font-family: electralh; font-size: medium;"></span><span lang="" style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"></span><br style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;" /></span></p><div style="background-color: white;"><div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Or regular copies on Amazon...</span></div><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Christopher-Kelly/e/B00RW8QZG6/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1539454238&sr=8-1">www.amazon.com/Christopher-Kelly/e/B00RW8QZG6/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1539454238&sr=8-1</a></span></div><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Or on Kindle...</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B00R1ZXKMW" style="color: #888888;">www.amzn.com/B00R1ZXKMW</a></span></div><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: large;"></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B0178GCYDO" style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: large;">www.amzn.com/B0178GCYDO</span></a></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B01LXD1KHQ" style="color: #888888;">www.amzn.com/B01LXD1KHQ</a></span></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amzn.com/B073RJQ8PK" style="color: #888888;">www.amzn.com/B073RJQ8PK</a></span></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><div style="color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Listen to my interview with Bob Cudmore...<a href="http://bobcudmore.com/thehistorians/tracks/ChristopherKelly(August2017)(29)(mp3).mp3" style="color: #888888;">http://bobcudmore.com/thehistorians/tracks/ChristopherKelly(August2017)(29)(mp3).mp3</a></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And my interview...<a href="http://www.thebook-club.com/blog/bookshelf-interview-with-christopher-kelly">www.thebook-club.com/blog/bookshelf-interview-with-christopher-kelly</a></span></div><div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">And my most recent interview...<a href="http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2018/08/17/america-invaded-christopher-kelly">http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2018/08/17/america-invaded-christopher-kelly</a></span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheB0LJA8ZBAZZOuVZJFcVlxgRVrEV8IhvNcG04NW9CQiN6fz4oKK22VTFTNkwvBOejsF079hzTwostT0Xs1SIfeyoIyDQbcFNgjC9gKfBzCi8ckfOzosX83D54wJeTy0sB0wuEjBJlTBU/s1600/AICover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="405" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheB0LJA8ZBAZZOuVZJFcVlxgRVrEV8IhvNcG04NW9CQiN6fz4oKK22VTFTNkwvBOejsF079hzTwostT0Xs1SIfeyoIyDQbcFNgjC9gKfBzCi8ckfOzosX83D54wJeTy0sB0wuEjBJlTBU/s400/AICover.jpg" width="270" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Commander Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03602902461964252463noreply@blogger.com0