Victor Davis Hanson | The Western Way of War

[@panagiotisbalaktaris7825]

If you want to understand the present learn the past from Victor Davis Hanson.

[@alexhamilton9913]

Me at the bar after 3 beers

[@ASMRARTHOR]

Best part: “Military thought and practice remains immune through the ages because it’s entirely a human phenomenon, and the human mind, despite suggestions that we’re changing or evolving at a rapid rate, has not changed. Human nature’s constant. Therefore war itself has laws that are immutable and can be studied across time and space.” This could be read on papyrus as a lost script in Alexandria, attributed to some bygone philosopher, or any other historical figure, and should be remembered as such, for how pertinent an assessment this conclusion will remain for another thousand years.

[@mic982]

VDH's ability to analyze, assess then coalesce concepts and data are nothing short of remarkable; and the best evidence of his genius is our ability, if we listen and think carefully, to grasp his thoughts. He doesn't just speak to the intelligentsia, he speaks effectively to the common man - the 'Hoi Polloi' as he describes it. Such a rare thing today.

[@keahilumho8914]

My favorite classicist today. God bless him and all the works of his hands!!

[@elainesanders5450]

Love listening to this amazing man and the way he weaves seamlessly from antiquity to the present day . What a treat !!!

[@GH-ub7qz]

the western way of war introduced the soldier versus the warrior. you hint at it but it made a huge difference

[@stickemuppunkitsthefunlovi4733]

Also nation vs nation state.

[@justinokraski3796]

I disagree. China developed the concept independently

[@TuskKult]

@@justinokraski3796 ​ YEAH? THEN WHY DON'T YOU GO MARRY CHINA THEN. 😡

[@rkitchen1967]

Read his book " The Western Way of War". I read it when it came out, in 1994 I believe, and it is a great read.

[@theodorebarnhart4396]

Dr VDH is an american treasure. 😎

[@standardranchstash221]

He’s Western treasure.

[@GlobalDrifter1000]

More a turd I would say.

[@Coral1979]

Yes, I agree. We have to soak up his information like a sponge. Soak it up!❤

[@tonyclifton2230]

The guy is a clown propagandist warmonger. I would love to debate him tell him a few truths.

[@davidryan3079]

Not really. He loves neocon wars.

[@stanw909]

It would be nice to know what year this was but a gem of a lecture. (Edit) it has been brought to my attention that it is from 2007. Thanks everyone.

[@KenJackson_US]

I was wondering that too.

[@hubrisnaut]

The video shows that at the beginning. University of Calgary, March 22, 2007

[@stanw909]

@@hubrisnaut thanks

[@hubrisnaut]

Your welcome. It was on the very brief graphic at the beginning. It was so fast, I missed it a first. I also thought people who were just listening to audio they wouldn't know. @@stanw909

[@CUTSCOLOR1]

2007

[@bobtowncarguy82]

Always enjoy listening to VDH and his speeches.

[@jeffharmed1616]

Outstanding. Whether it’s the quality & uniqueness of his thinking, his flawless, efficient and unhesitating presentation or his focus and objectivity, Doctor Hanson has delivered his best work yet IMHO. Dr Hanson’s opening argument was that the West’s success was not just due to its technological superiority, which in turn was due to its kernel system of relative freedom, but also its success was due to its value-based core of unwavering high moral that made it a better war machine. In support of his argument, I think of the Roundheads as having the same esprit de corps which made it one the few western armies to remain undefeated. In conclusion Dr Hanson arrays the weakness of the west to conquest by divisive tactics and the strategy of “strength into weakness”. The West has 2 outstanding weaknesses, Israel and the EU. Iran is testing Israeli support and Putin is testing EU support. Didn’t Xi Jinping say during the Trump administration that he would unleash the whirlwind?

[@balazsfoldes4700]

The reason I think why NATO strategy failed so spectacularly in Ukraine is because what Dr. Hanson said about Western aversion to losses. If we decide to invade a country, and we suffer high losses in blood and treasure, our publics revolt and our military/political leadership faces immense pressure to cease the conflict, and we assumed that must be the case for Russia also. So the entire strategy was centered around inflicting enough losses on Russia so they would be forced to stop by the pressure comig from the bottom up. But as it seems, Russia doesn't put anything onto the battlefield that they aren't willing to lose, and able to replace. For any Western country, this strategy would have already succeeded, as Russia (even going by their own official numbers) has already lost more men than the entire Western coalition in all of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts combined, both of which are widely considered complete "complete debacles" by Western publics and militaries alike.

[@jackmihoff7168]

Neither Ukraine or Israel live up to Western ideals. Support for either one, especially Israel, is a mockery to our supposed ideals.

[@markobucevic8991]

@@balazsfoldes4700 Also dont forget the actual casualties between the two forces. Ukraine lost half a million men vs russias and its people of like 100-200k as of today (and this is with donbas resistance included within the 8 years of stand off). There is a fight on russias side which is for the people in donbas cause ukranians are of russian blood. Nato would probably fight harder if their own people are getting killed by for someone outside... yeah ukraine´s future is numbered.

[@Durangotek]

His presentation is not all encompassing. I say that in response to your comment of US having two weaknesses, there is also the possibility that the US itself can become weak. Hanson didn't mention anything about debt, education, and other countries willingness to follow the system the west has established.

[@9mwood]

I always thought Jared Diamonds Guns Germs and Steel was a little hard to take seriously. He mentions that Papua New Guinea would have invented aviation if they had the same “Guns Germs and Steel” as Europe.

[@R14-m4z]

😂😂😂 It's almost like race isn't just skin tone, but actual brain power and evolutionary necessity. If you evolved in a tough environment, you became tough (Arabs, Russians, Europeans), if you evolved in a more feminine city environment, you became a poofter (French, Chinese, etc.).

[@joangratzer2101]

JARED DIAMONDS PREMISE IN A NUTSHELL: THE WEST IS SITUATED ON A NORTH/SOUTH AXIS , NO COMMON CLIMATE MEANT NO COMMON CROPS, IT DID NOT ALLOW FOR READY MIGRATION TO DISTANT LANDS AND WAS NOT CONDUCIVE TO TRADING. EUROPE ON THE OTHER HAND IS SITUATED ON A WEST/EAST AXIS WHICH MEANT A COMMON CLIMATE WHICH FACILITED MORE TRADING AND INVENTIVENESS. THIS IS THE REASON WHY EUROPE DIXCOVERED AMERICA AND NOT VISA VERSA.

[@classicallpvault]

Are you aware that the brain is 85% of the genome and there is a massive overlap between disease resistance and intelligence? Even down to specific mutations (like TB resistance and high IQ among Ashkenazi Jews, due to a recessive gene that is beneficial with one copy and causes Tay-Sachs with 2 copies). If the Papuas had had livestock giving them the same diseases we got, they would have suffered from the same naturally eugenic mass outbreaks of disease that we suffered from and as a result their average IQs would undoubtedly have been a lot higher. It's not a coincidence that most highly developed cultures, except for the Incas, Zapotec, Aztec and Mayan empires, arose in the Old World among people who had livestock living among them and the highest cultures arose in Europe where people were literally surrounded by open sewers 24/7. Disease-induced mortality salients have a significant eugenic effect and the elevation of civilisation is downstream from a rise in general intelligence. The impact of outbreaks of TB on baboon populations has been observed and they showed symptoms of higher intelligence and elevated pro-sociality even in generations born after the outbreak (until the population fell apart and spread out among other baboon colonies) so the same phenomenon has been observed in non-human primates significantly more primitive than we are. The impact of germs cannot be underestimated but it's not infecting people you're at war with that gives you the advantage, as the book claims, but the eugenic effect they have on your own gene pool.

[@timarnold9868]

Yeah BS show watched it also.

[@Fractured_Unity]

What evidence do you have to dispute him? There’s significant evidence that the most developed civilizations all had very similar circumstances and were all connected by trade with each other. It’s a very convincing theory to explain how Eurasia dominated the game of civilization building.

[@ernestcote3398]

One of the scariest lines I ever heard in a movie was "I've got time. I've got money. Let's go make some trouble." That was the female in Charlie Wilson's War. She had the open life, the finances of Rothchild and she was against the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan. It immediately frightened me, that reminder that there are more clerics, jihadists, communist and other that just want the sensation of killing. Why does mankind want to return to "eat or be eaten"? Why do they think they are better off in conflict than in agreement?

[@Johnny-dp5mu]

Look at how the nature of how earth works... power, dominance, greed, fear, fight, flight... The ruling elite the wolves, the masses the sheep kept ignorant for good reason... Not going to change... religions any different? You decide. Base your conclusions on the evidence and outcomes. Sheep follow...good luck trying to make even one sheep become the good Shepard. All the very best. Use your brain not those of others and you will not be a sheep.

[@Benjamin-vm8di]

Beacuse their set of values is different to yours. Let's look at Muslims, they truly believe in Islam and life after death, this life is of no meaning if they are promised honour and glory in the life after. It all boils down to what one values. The West will never be compatible with many Eastern views on life due to our values not aligning. I will never be able to understand or respect a Muslim father who kills his own daughter for honour.

[@jimmierustler4887]

The people who think like that are the ones who will never fight on the front lines.

[@FINNIUSORION]

So much has happened and changed in America since this lecture was given.

[@zeanamush]

This is super old, but still relevant

[@andrewharris3900]

Very relevant given the current turmoil in the world. The West needs to stick to its principles while also rebuffing Authoritarianism, Islamism etc.

[@landsknecht8654]

​@@andrewharris3900A little to late.... we are done but had a good run.

[@chegadesuade]

I definitely believe that VDH is the greatest living military historian and classicist, I don't think there's anyone who understands and explains the development of the Western world better than he does. My only complaint on this lecture is the incessantly coughing audience, is there a campfire in there or something? Control yourselves please.

[@MCMLXIable]

This lecture was recorded in late March in Canada, still cold season.

[@TheRomeerome]

There Goes My Hero ❤

[@jjforcebreaker]

Now that's a gem!

[@cvr527]

I would like to see VDH compare what he stated in this lecture to what has occurred in the last 3 to 4 years.

[@ellengran6814]

I would rather say last 2-3 decades....According to a US study, US wars last decades are comparable to WW2. Tens of millions of people all over the world are dead/starving/suffering due to US fight to govern the world. More and more countries around the world oppose this US/NATO world dictatorship.

[@Donald-h2o]

Take the value of this man's words that he uses in his speech and how they work like a good novel that you can read such as Huckleberry Finn or another great novel back in the Roman days even even Hitler's day

[@sstritmatter2158]

Wow very insightful

[@tropics8407]

Brilliant 👍 you weave it well 👊

[@kashmirha]

Wow!!! Just wow. When you get statements after statements that change or rather explain things in your mind.

[@tobyplumlee7602]

I love learning from one better read than myself add a great practical intelligents and you have this wonderful man. A true American patriot and national treasure.

[@timarnold9868]

Well educated and smart!

[@RandallvanOosten-ln5wf]

This message was delivered some years ago and is both insightful and powerful. Perhaps one deadly weakness at loose in the West, unaccounted for, at the time, by VDH is Feminism. It has thoroughly corrupted virtually all the public and private institutions of the West and made deep inroads into the military. DEI, for example, is the spawn of Feminism and designed to replace competent men with women and POC. One look at our current military brass will cause one to forego any notion of success on the battlefield. For Feminists, to conquer the American military will be, for them, their crowning achievement and for America a civilizational disaster.

[@blondequijote]

Yeah there's another much less public intellectual by the acronym TFM who has a lot to say about feminism and why even the first wave was bad. He can't say it on yt though

[@TeaParty1776]

When can we expect Russia and China to invade?

[@adamantlyadam5201]

@@blondequijotehaha, I know who you’re talking about.

[@coltenshaw9919]

When was this recorded? Early 2000's? Actually curious just because I've never heard of this professor till just now

[@AvelierPlays]

Sounds like maybe 2007 or 2009. He mentions Libia which wasn’t attacked and bombed by US and NATO until 2011

[@coltenshaw9919]

@@AvelierPlays think 06-07 because he talked about Israel invading Lebanon that summer. And I don't think this was recorded in the late 80's

[@rickh9396]

March 22, 2007, per the slide at the beginning, right before VDH starts his speech.

[@peterj.fallon4327]

@@rickh9396observant

[@traceeburris511]

Whoa. I said things like that, years ago and, I've never met Victor. Have a think.

[@rickh9396]

This was more or less a summary of VDH's book "Carnage and Culture: Landmark Battles in the Rise to Western Power".

[@landsknecht8654]

The Western way of war uses amazing arms and armor. Gives short-term victories in 5 to 10 years. The East: "That is cute we out trade you and out breed you." Total victory in 50 to 100 years

[@Jrb-lf8hg]

He makes me think about things differently.

[@AllSeeingI-d2n]

When was this lecture given?

[@mma_3139]

Interesting video. Does anyone know if there's a counter to this talk? Or a talk about the Eastern way of war?

[@landsknecht8654]

Well, it's a lot more complex, but to keep it very simple and watered down, here you go: The Western way of war uses amazing arms and armor. Gives short-term victories in 5 to 15 years. The East: "That is cute we out trade you and out breed you." Complete total victory in 50 to 185 years. This is why the Eastern Roman Empire does not exist and this is why Turkey and China are here, for example. This is also why China will outlast the United States. But at least the West will give great hobbies for future people looking at our gadgets and weapons and armor after we are all gone and replaced. Heck but there are restaurants in Asia like in Vietnam, China, Japan, Korea and other places where they have waiters and waitresses in German World War II uniforms! The West at least today have a very sort term thought prospective at lease after the enlightenment. Play most western people at least Americans don't realize we're in a war with China through trade and other means besides actual Warfare. Warfare to the East is not always a hot fight in the battlefield but rather a long term struggle for existence. This is why many Eastern countries are very ethnocentric they wouldn't have let's say none Muslims in power, or if you move to Vietnam you have to change your last name to Vietnamese one.

[@landsknecht8654]

Another good example is: Japan Lost World War II but in 100 years Japan will probably be still a culture and country onces they realize Classical liberalism from the West was a huge mistake. The U.S. will probably break up into different countries because we're so diverse and lack a uniting culture and uniting religion. But hey we may stop existing but future poeple will be collecting our old equipments and dress up as U.S. Marines in Halloween and in parties.

[@garymills562]

Innovation, China cannot match western creativity and innovation. The CCP offered the idea of population control, China is facing a man power shortage. This critical shortage is compounded by non immigration policy. China is in negative growth, the future is in question for this "workers paradise".

[@harveyyoung3423]

Being 60 years old, I'm probably too old to fight, unless I guess things get really desperate. Being something of an educated person anyway, I guess, even if I was younger, I would be deemed more useful, more efficiently and effectively disposed into some kind of desk job. For both these reasons then, it is somewhat difficult to construct a judgment with reasons here. That is an ambiguous statement of course: It is difficult to construct a reason in terms of facts because, at this point in time at least, it is probably still a very unlikely requirement for many people who would not normally want to enlist in the military anyway. For most people it is probably not even considered as possible career. For most people war is something to watch in a movie or in some horror on the news. In that sense war recollections for my generation and the previous one is an exchange of war movies or events in the News. You have to go back two generations before conscription is a thing a necessity not a possibility, and I imagine there are not many left now with a memory of War on the the kind of scale from World War 2. I have talked at length to soldiers from World War Two particularly an officer on the Dunkerque beach evacuation, and an artillery soldier at Monte Cassio. There is another person with a much more extreme experience even than those but they never talked about it. War experience for the following generation though is not unknown. From the 1950's though to the 1980's I've talked to some of them at great length socially and worked with them on buildign sites and factories. More recently I have spoken but do not know some soldiers from recent wars from the 1990's to now. They had very different recollections and attitudes towards it than the others. It maybe because more recent generations are not so taciturn about there memories or maybe its that they were worse or closer in age top me. One I met walking home and we began talking about the army and he ended up telling me all about Wittgenstein and the Bruschelov Offensive of the Eastern Front of World War One. It was the first lesson when he went to military collage in Germany. He was very bitter about the whole thing, as was a very disturbed man I met in a pub. They had returned to country that didn’t seem to hold much value and respect for their bravery. That it was all about the “Tony Blare Illegal War” discourse. They were unemployed and one was definitely psychologically unemployable. I did meet one though who was well disposed to depart back into battle. So to get back to the question of judgement and reasons: firstly we are dependent on trusting higher authorities for “objective reasons” not just in terms of facts and intelligence, but in terms of present and past honesty in there stations and roles, disposing of their public duty properly and sincerely. You know what if it’s a rich man trick: the rich make money create massive inequality cause chaos around the world after the 1990’s and expect to get the poor in this country to fight the wars of consequence, where they are off to an island somewhere. It could be dismissed as a lefty and conspiracy world view I guess. In this kind of propagandising, all the heroic stories from past generations will be amassed as so much friendly fire to entice people to be Heroes (Hero come from Greek or medieval root as does Heroin listen to the Velvet Underground Song or David Bowie) One discourse predictably doing the rounds on GM News is the question of “Will the Snowflake Generation be upto fighting the Russian Army?”. This was dealt with very effectively on GB News, by a guy from the “other” You Tube channel “Podcast of the Lotus Eaters, a couple of nights ago. I can’t add anything more to what he said in his exchange. They have probably posted it by now. It made me proud to watch him take his opposing “man siren” out. I had indeed began to think that the Woke thing was a middle class trigger for poor working class white men: you know “If you are unsure if you are a man or a women or a trans or a mangina, then prove it by going to fight a war in that traditional patriarchal role. You are either for the trans men or a soldier. Look non white men are fighting are you like them or a middleclass Culture studies snowflake? Get off of your computer war games and be real “The ladies are going to love it” (That’s a line from “The Mummy” remake, of a remake, of a remake, back to the Pelopenetian wars and beyond) Secondly the judgment and reason for me is a bit of a Kantian Categorical Violation by contingency of non universality, I will probably never have to conform to my maxim of “yes everybody must be ready to fight”. Indeed the middleclass generally do not, and if they do are officers because of special rarer skills and education, those “above” them just leave the country, they were only here for the money anyway it contingent and defeasible, as a middleclass educated person might say. There’s so0emthign deeply disingenuous about the rich and middle class doing what Owen James called “Cosplay Soldiering”. Any way his targets head seems to have stopped spinni9ng now and is facing the right direction quietly. That all said, and congenially in line with the far left’s hermeneutics of suspicion and counter to German Romantic Idealism of the Heroic Napoleonic enlightenment soldier, there is a realism the left seem unable to see grasp and assent judgment to: there are bad people out there, and they can be organised into a State with an modern technological military. War is real it cannot be deconstructed with collection of Post structuralist texts. Obviously written in a rush this morning so charity for spelling grammar and even errors. I thank you and look forward to your discussion

[@danielhutchinson6604]

Falling into the assumption that Humans are either "Right" or "Left", appears to remove any thoughts of compromise or actual thought from human existence? Left and Right are selling points for promotion of profits that fit within certain product marketing definitions. I discussed Fragging with an Employee in 1970. His references appear to reflect the lack of reverence for experience that was common among US Troops in Vietnam. As my friends returned from the Southeast Asian Colonial conflict, the tales of horror accumulated. The process of enforcing a colonial domination of other Nations , appears to become more unfashionable as statements opposing the concept accumulate. The USA appears to be facing the same loss of Empire as the British did after WW2.

[@Johnny-dp5mu]

Way way too much gobble although what I did read was interesting mostly already known at least for me. The generals I dealt with were profound liars as as politicians

[@stuzo666]

Yawwwwwn clueless

[@danielhutchinson6604]

@@stuzo666 Brainless?

[@robsrockinout]

When was the film date?

[@jwjoelwilder]

We need a date for these lectures. First VDH can guess the future as well as anyone and secondly if he were Liberal he would donate his old clothes but as a conservative he wears them.

[@007kingifrit]

based on his mentions of israel i assume 2006 ish

[@appidydafoo]

Brilliant historian

[@iliasmastoris529]

The western way of war was predicated on the citizen soldier, not the mass levy of unwilling combatants, and as a result, concensus qmong the polity.

[@АндрейКаминский-г9в]

It is obvious that the West is the most socially developed part of humanity. Unfortunately, this fact was and is the basis for chauvinism. One way or another, the preaching of civilizational superiority comes down to the idea “We know what is best and have the right to teach others.” And these lessons come at a very high cost to humanity.

[@Paradisusinfernalis6815]

As far I visited all the continents and I surely say west is the best - there are maybe places with more romantic sunsets- but all the rest is a big - no thank you , keep your plagues and bedbugs for you. Today in times when some people brand other as racist for just saying west is good - I will repeat it again- west is the best :) and if at the end we begin telling the story of our species from the times we learnt how to use tools for our advantage- isn’t is just natural that societies that made more advanced tools in general succeeded more than others …

[@stephenoverdorf4917]

The age of unconditional surrender and total war.

[@publius5278]

"The ultimate trade awaiting its ultimate practitioner." The judge on war. Cormac McCarthy

[@jPaulSmith1994]

Gotta love Dr. VDH!!

[@gozimusable1]

I listen to his Spotify podcast. Every. Single. Morning. First thing.

[@davidryan3079]

Joking, right?

[@malcolmbarnett8470]

Sympathies to you

[@thehanker5347]

Wow! This renewed my admiration for the west. (And made me realise where the leftists utopian ideas goes wrong)

[@raftguy1376]

Well, the progressive side is an important aspect of Western society. It’s one of the unique sentiments that drives us to adopt a more human forward sense of rights, rather than just sitting on the status quo, as most cultures do. But it has to be grounded in amore traditional conservative approach to maintain power. Its the two together that really makes us succeed.

[@ramon2008]

You should read why liberalism failed. All the foundational ideologies of the modern west are trash. The west is trash. Everything it produces is trash.

[@davidsimpson5874]

This is old and much has happened that has saddened Dr. VDH.... And me.... Goodbye America. We surrendered to Mohammed and Karl Marx.

[@remicaron3191]

This is being told how great we are when in fact we have been a war plague on the planet for most of the time.

[@sergemozota1322]

Professor Emeritus Hanson asserts that there were seventeen Victoria Crosses awarded for the action at Rourke's Drift. Eleven VC's were awarded for that action.

[@TalleyrandsPuppet]

Hanson’s theories about war have been thoroughly refuted by real historians. He peddles his ideology as history. Worthless, unless you like being lied to.

[@Donald-h2o]

He's beating around the bush that role that he speaks of is we the people of the world no prejudice no hatred love our planet. As each other

[@DonBailey-od1de]

You don't count who didn't come back , you count those that did. You need to know that if you don't beat the enemy to his knees until he no longer can resist you , he will beat you into the ground and walk over your dead body , you need to walk over his. You don't fight politics you fight war. In love and war there are no rules.

[@joenuts5167]

Western culture is the best in the world

[@tranceverse535]

Notice that this channel doesn't bother tell us easily when this lecture was actually given.

[@cvr527]

it is at the start, 2007.

[@tranceverse535]

@@cvr527 thanks! Based on Victor's appearance and the context of his remarks, it was the second President Bush. Too bad contemporary YT content uploaders - even

[@tranceverse535]

Academic/scholarly channels often do not support their own credibility because they use these cut and paste, poorly attributed publication methods. Have a good day!

[@JOHN----DOE]

Astonished Hanson didn't mention The Iliad!! EVERYTHING he talks about is in there. The ESSENCE of Greek superiority is that, rather than being a giant family tribe with one war leader which will defend its son despite the son stealing another king's wife while on a diplomatic mission (!), the Greeks are united by laws and treaties to defend one king's rights, and they argue endlessly about strategy etc. in council while the Trojans--to their detriment--just do what their leader/big brother Hektor tells them to. Their somewhat-shared social structure is better at cultural defense, organization (getting 1000+ ships to Troy), listening to individual initiative (the Trojan Horse), and paying attention to communication among the ranks (cf. Oedipus' speeches Book II along with all the council meetings). Of course, this diversity and complexity is also a weakness--leading to the conflict between Akhilleus and Agamemnon. It's ALL there at the beginning. Non-literary types need to read the sources!

[@richardhausig9493]

I took Civilizations of the West in 11th grade thinking it was about cowboys too. Well...

[@markwrede8878]

We note that generals who understood the game of Go would have anticipated Pearl Harbor.

[@brucepoole8552]

Interesting, I would describe the democracy of the USA, at least currently, 2024, as a oligarchy, corporate power and the wealthiest control the election process, insuring their continuing power, capitalism with not enough regulation has morphed into a artificial form of democracy.

[@aniSprays]

he talks about the middle class just before the crash of ‘08. I wonder what he would say of the West’s Middle Class today

[@jimyoung9262]

He would likely refer to it in the past tense

[@comentedonakeyboard]

21:52 nowadays it would be called USS safe speech albeit the USS might get canceled to

[@lauralintonmacfarlane5264]

French nuclear technology is the primary business in Iran

[@georgevardan5924]

What do you mean? Could you give some specifics? In good sense… I am very interested.

[@obi0914]

"Farmer? Really? A man of your talents"

[@Hardball1Alpha]

He's written and spoken extensively of his family's farm in CA, with detailed experiences of multigenerational produce harvesting and large scale agricultural management. It's why he has such a love and respect for the "muscular" forms of labor, also why he focuses on how so many young Americans have no idea where their food comes from.

[@obi0914]

@@Hardball1Alpha its a quote from start wars

[@36cmbr]

He is saying that war is what makes his culture more successful than some other cultures. What if that statement is untrue?

[@awf6554]

In the current context, Ukraine is far more western than Russia.

[@Hardball1Alpha]

Became a member of ISI back in 1993. Then "that woman", my ex put a stop to all that.

[@Roonasaur]

Ah, Ahmedinijad . . . Remember when we were worried about him? The good old days . . .

[@Rufustfirefly2112]

William F would be proud

[@Somewhat-Evil]

I'm of two minds about this speaker. His argument and ideals I agree with 100%, but he makes small context errors every now and then that just annoy me. Nathan Bedford Forrest couldn't do anything to Sherman's supply lines because Sherman didn't have any. His army was living off the land with bummers/foragers seizing all necessary supplies to sustain his army during his March to the Sea. 😮‍💨

[@sofly7634]

Mucho info VDH gifts to US.

[@signawp]

Whatyearwasthis?

[@philg4116]

That's one reason I always enjoyed James Burke and his Connections, it wasn't a quarter coherent mess of napkin and margin scribblings like Hansen's ramblings on here.

[@FrankJoseph-tp2jz]

Chindits, Gurkhas unbeatable in close in

[@joestalin2375]

They have an Air Force?

[@FrankJoseph-tp2jz]

@@joestalin2375 not necessary with them. See what they did to the Japs in Burma

[@Durangotek]

Funny that cortez was so great that he didn't need those thousands of tlaxcalan warrior to help him out in bringing down Aztecs. It was good that Hanson mentioned them though...oh thats right he didn't.

[@tinolino58]

Regarding Patreus and Congress: the general was simply laying

[@FrankJoseph-tp2jz]

Read the Rodgers Ranger handbook 1779

[@OutOfElmo]

This is a very old lecture. Still relevant, but not current.

[@petersweeney5777]

“sometimes we call it democracy……..”. Well that comment aged well…..

[@jamesrice6096]

Combined arms, overwhelming force and logistics, converging columns. The American Way of Warfare. We don't do this anymore.

[@patriciakimball8150]

Seems we don’t fight to win -and don’t let Israel win, either.

[@Donald-h2o]

All races all people throughout the whole world come from this planet and we'll go back to this planet there is no prejudice in the truth. It's how the we the people of the world live our lives and make this world what it is. Is a very strong word if it's is taking wa e

[@tonynguyen2927]

Victor Davis Hanson is a lot smarter than Joe Biden and Obama combined.

[@aepedraza]

That's so classic eurocentric.

[@oFinalSolution]

Why did China decide to burn their naval fleet that could have allowed them to preempt European colonization by 400+ years? Why did China have a number of inventions that were not funded in China but made their way to Europe? Multiple patrons. This is the reason why world history is basically synonymous with European history. With the Middle East, we know 1000% there abandonment of scientific development that paralleled the west was because they gave up Hellenism for eastern mongolism! So once again, western culture. Sorry Americas, but there wasn’t much going on. Africa had warlords just like now.

[@andrewharris3900]

Based Eurocentrism.

[@AttentionDeficitDemocracy]

Hanson is a chicken hawk and a cheer leader for the Iraq fiasco. What he knows about war he learned from a safe distance. If you like armchair "warfare" without consequences for those who man the armchairs, this is for you. Very comforting hot air.

[@johnelliott0101]

You don’t know $@it about war. What you do know is what you read in your Dr Suess books. Woke!

[@michaelmisczuk1188]

Bull.

[@coltenbeachel645]

Nah he’s right. Anyone who supported Iraq once we knew they lied about WMD is a monster. I was OEF 13/14

[@juliusschwencke142]

..yeah, ok. But I love the way he presents himself. Would love to see him and you in a televised debate?

[@AttentionDeficitDemocracy]

@@juliusschwencke142 If you look at some of the comments, many are very very positive and others are very negative. It's a mindset of all or nothing, right or wrong, black or white. There is a certainty that "I'm right, case closed." As for Hanson, he's a public speaker and an academic. He approaches his topic with the seriousness it deserves. He get's mostly positive feedback and those who don't agree with him don't speak up. If they do it might lead to a trading of insults. I imagine he is content. He's got a career. But he's not in any hurry to reflect on the past because he is paying no price for not doing so.. I would recommend to you a book "Mission Accomplished, or how we won the war in Iraq." Respectfully.

[@gerartsmith]

👍🤔

[@scubemariononovsky-tb8js]

TINA JOHNSON LARY ANIEL

[@Donald-h2o]

Is psychological haven't even seen the podcast yet or what he has to speak of what he says the word American way war. Always remember we the people of the world are always at war with mother nature in our surroundings people getting away sometimes because they cannot love one another and back and support each other that is not war that is the truth

[@thinkingcitizen]

This man is an armchair expert who has actually never seen the bloody truth of War. I’m saying this as a Marine vet with deployments in Africa and Afghanistan

[@gamer-ff6mh]

He is a history professor. What else do you expect? Well but he is indeed shining some light of truth. Maybe 1 angle of it

[@cvr527]

Your deployments count for nothing in terms of understanding history, or war strategy. I say this as vet with multiple deployments. Your comment reflects an arrogance that is unbecoming.

[@thinkingcitizen]

@@gamer-ff6mh I was in NROTC engineering and then became an officer in the Marines, he's no modern war expert. His PhD is in Greek Classics and thinks the Iraq War is some kind of Alexandrian conquest. I never served in Iraq but know people who would laugh and spit in this man's face. Even someone like me who has seen war in Afghanistan will be careful not to comment directly on Iraq, yet this old man thinks he's the expert on all things Bhagdad. He knows nothing about lives of soldiers or the lives of civilian victims. He makes up ideas like "Western Way of War" to appease to a largely uneducated audience, knowing damn well the militaristic propaganda he is espousing.

[@thinkingcitizen]

@@cvr527 I was a Captain at discharge, I've studied and lived war strategy friend. I'm in DC right now, I work with people who admit the Iraq war was a massive mistake. Yet, this old man who has never sent a son to war, let alone himself, is an absolute grade A armchair quarterback. He's got his PhD in Greek Classics and thinks we are some kind of Graeco Roman Empire fighting conquests on behalf of the "West". Come and actually see what the world is like, families are all the same everywhere you go, differences are superficial. War, especially the Iraq War, was not some chess move-- instead it exposed peak stupidity at the highest levels of government which Iran and China have noted down permanently.

[@biggulpshinobi]

​@thinkingcitizen buddy you missed the whole point of the lecture. Since when is he trying to "propagandize" or claim he's some sort of expert on a region? It just sounds like you feel the need to get angry about some shit and use your title as a former vet as some sort of legitimization of your dogshit take.

[@jeanniedreemer1944]

I really admire Victor, but I find it so necessary to correct his pronunciation of the word NUCLEAR, not NUCULAR! I hear most presidents and mostly men doing this! It really irritates me greatly!!! Please check your pronunciations Victor. Otherwise, I think you’re brilliant and so correct on almost everything else! Thank you for these talks and lesions.

[@rezzer7918]

Used to be

[@İeaüt567]

Savaş teknolojisi.

[@JamesPeach]

5:40 It doesn't matter what he thinks. Fact of the matter is that Greeks are and were of the Mediterranean region. It doesn't matter how hard you try and steal their culture and attribute their way of life to yours, it won't change anything. How about you stop trying to steal the culture and instead put it into a context of reality? This is to say, attribute to the Mediterranean region what the Greeks established. That way we have an understanding of the area as the culture from around influencing one another and not the warped idea that the Greeks lived in a bubble and came up with their ideas on their own without anyone else. For example, Philosophy comes from Thales of Miletus. He moved to Miletus (a Greek colony in what is today Turkey) as a young boy, iirc. And his parents were Phoenician. So in fact the area was bussing with ideas and everyone learned from each other as that region had very sophisticated cultures.

[@kc4276]

Womp womp It's over.

[@rakshit8570]

I mean India's reference here and there is definitely wrong, but yeah we get gist.

[@psikeyhackr6914]

Agent Orange?

[@Donald-h2o]

Sonic the statement on the other side of the world which is my West my East now it's your West

[@markarmage3776]

If this homie thinks Japan shall fully accept you while being a foreigner, he's delusional. Or he just doesn't know anything about Japan.

[@intractablemaskvpmGy]

I think he means that they have fully taken on the "trappings" of western culture and society. Remember this was 2007. Look how things have changed since, especially with china- who has done nothing but ape western culture since. But, deep down they are the same people

[@merlinwizard1000]

275th, 14 February 2024

[@ДмитрийВербицкий-у7д]

Young Patricia Johnson Kimberly Thompson Joseph

[@qake2021]

✌️✌️👍🇧🇷🇷🇺🇮🇳🇨🇳🇿🇦➕️👍👏👏

[@alex990ism]

i sure am glad america is more about power profit and war instead of freedom and liberty

[@TeaParty1776]

Life is profit.

[@landsknecht8654]

The Western way of war uses amazing arms and armor. Gives short-term victories in 5 to 10 years. The East: "That is cute we out trade you and out breed you." Total victory in 50 to 100 years

[@td6460]

Couple of really bad takes here. 1) That the West is just an idea, and not an outward expression of DNA. 2) That capitalism, a system in use for a few hundred years, is the reason Western civilization is superior. Otherwise a decent talk.

[@leebarry5686]

War is due to savageness, I.e Godlessness and selfishness

[@TeaParty1776]

Religion has no rational way to settle disputes,thus the long history of religion-inspired war.