Stupid Wars on Danny Schechter Radio Show

A Veterans Day special show with the News Dissector.
You can listen to it at this link

Our latest article in the World Policy Journal, online...

Mike and I always wondered why good dictators don't have moustaches?

http://www.worldpolicy.org/blog/2010/10/08/seven-habits-highly-effective-dictators

Howard Zinn, RIP

Howard Zinn was a professor of history at Boston University while Mike and I were there and was an inspiration, as someone who was committed to an alternative view of history and non-violence.

If you haven't read his seminal work "A People's History of the United States" check it out. He was one of the few well-known historians and academics committed to telling the other side of the story.

"...remarkable job..." - Jordan Rich of WBZ Boston

We had a great interview with Jordan Rich of WBZ Boston on June 8, 2008. He knew a lot of history, asked great questions and really liked the book. Check out his show for an informative and entertaining hour or two. He graciously let us quote him:

"If you think you know your history, think again. The authors of "Stupid Wars" have done a remarkable job recalling several of the dumbest ideas that ended up wasting lives, time and treasure. War is sometimes necessary, but it's never pretty. Now, thanks to Mike and Ed, we have the proof that war is exceedingly stupid."

Jordan Rich
WBZ Boston

New Bird Poop War?

Is a new war over bird poop on the horizon? As recently reported in the New York Times guano has recently returned to its rightful state of valuable natural resource. With the rising cost of synthetic fertilizer and the growing demand for organic foods, mining guano has suddenly become economically viable. The always-ready-to-shovel-poop Peruvians have swung into action to grab their share of the poop swag.
With Peru in on the action and Chile probably looking to ramp up its production, will Bolivia revive its claim to the pooplands and charge to the coast with shovels in hand? The country already marks its defeat in the War of the Pacific by hurling invective at the hated Chileans every year on March 23. They even call the holiday "The Day of the Sea" to remind themselves of what they have lost. The name has an ominous ring. It would be as if Mexico celebrated "The Day of Los Angeles" every year. So it's can't really be much longer before the Bolivians take their own rhetoric seriously and make a grab for gobs of poop. After all, as we know, Stupid Wars are hard to end.

Michael

First review is in

It's a nice one from the Armchair General Magazine. It starts:

"Stupid Wars is an anthology of cautionary tales about what happens when political leaders channel Wile E. Coyote as their military advisor.

It covers 16 actions the authors consider to be among the most ill-considered or badly bungled military operations in history, from "Valens and the End of the Roman Empire: AD 377" to "The Soviet Coup against Gorbachev: 1991." Reading it is like watching a series of train wrecks, with Robin Williams providing commentary..."

Click here for the review