Comments on: Why the Allies Won http://www.sindark.com/2008/01/08/why-the-allies-won/ dispatches from Canada's capital Thu, 04 Dec 2008 03:06:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: a sibilant intake of breath » Blog Archive » Rommel and cryptography http://www.sindark.com/2008/01/08/why-the-allies-won/#comment-43069 a sibilant intake of breath » Blog Archive » Rommel and cryptography Tue, 03 Jun 2008 22:40:42 +0000 http://www.sindark.com/2008/01/08/why-the-allies-won/#comment-43069 [...] with so many examples in warfare, this demonstrates the huge role of chance in determining outcomes. Had security been better at the [...] [...] with so many examples in warfare, this demonstrates the huge role of chance in determining outcomes. Had security been better at the [...]

]]> By: pugsville http://www.sindark.com/2008/01/08/why-the-allies-won/#comment-32184 pugsville Thu, 17 Jan 2008 00:14:07 +0000 http://www.sindark.com/2008/01/08/why-the-allies-won/#comment-32184 I however found overy shallow, illconsidered, occasionally inaccurate. (though his spelling is better than mine) far to many bland sweeping generalizations without much arguement to back them up. Sure the germans didnt mechanizse fully, ddint build a lot of trucks and tanks but if they didnt have the fuel to drive them around isnt it a mute point? I however found overy shallow, illconsidered, occasionally inaccurate. (though his spelling is better than mine) far to many bland sweeping generalizations without much arguement to back them up. Sure the germans didnt mechanizse fully, ddint build a lot of trucks and tanks but if they didnt have the fuel to drive them around isnt it a mute point?

]]> By: Edward http://www.sindark.com/2008/01/08/why-the-allies-won/#comment-31874 Edward Sat, 12 Jan 2008 00:14:11 +0000 http://www.sindark.com/2008/01/08/why-the-allies-won/#comment-31874 I don't dispute that history would've changed if Nelson had missed Napoleon. But I question whether the state of today's world would've changed much. Or would some kind of correcting event have occurred to set us back on the same path? Of course, nobody can prove it either way since parallel universes are still mostly fantasy (and/or theoretical). But it is an interesting thought nonetheless. I don’t dispute that history would’ve changed if Nelson had missed Napoleon. But I question whether the state of today’s world would’ve changed much. Or would some kind of correcting event have occurred to set us back on the same path?

Of course, nobody can prove it either way since parallel universes are still mostly fantasy (and/or theoretical). But it is an interesting thought nonetheless.

]]> By: Milan http://www.sindark.com/2008/01/08/why-the-allies-won/#comment-31835 Milan Fri, 11 Jan 2008 13:53:42 +0000 http://www.sindark.com/2008/01/08/why-the-allies-won/#comment-31835 Edward, I think war provides some of the best examples of "decisive turning points in history." Chasing Napoleon, Admiral Lord Nelson missed him in Malta by three days. If he had caught him in Valetta harbour - instead of finding his fleet at anchor at the mouth of the Nile - it's fair to say that history could have turned out rather differently. Overy's book provides a number of compelling examples of this phenomenon from WWII. Edward,

I think war provides some of the best examples of “decisive turning points in history.” Chasing Napoleon, Admiral Lord Nelson missed him in Malta by three days. If he had caught him in Valetta harbour - instead of finding his fleet at anchor at the mouth of the Nile - it’s fair to say that history could have turned out rather differently.

Overy’s book provides a number of compelling examples of this phenomenon from WWII.

]]> By: Edward http://www.sindark.com/2008/01/08/why-the-allies-won/#comment-31818 Edward Fri, 11 Jan 2008 06:09:05 +0000 http://www.sindark.com/2008/01/08/why-the-allies-won/#comment-31818 I bought this book many years ago (when I was in England, ironically), but I never got around to reading it. Hearing someone give it such good reviews will mean that I'll need to dust it off and finally have a look! Not having read the book and having a limited knowledge on the subject, I'm hardly an expert on this matter; however, I disagree with the premise that there are "decisive turning points in history where the world is pressed along one path as another is closed off." Decisive events in history may change its course, but I don't think that history has shown that it would necessarily change its overall trajectory. Consider, for example, a scenario where Einstein might've been killed in an accident. It might've taken longer for the world to discover nuclear energy, but someone would've eventually figured it out. Similarly, dictator's victory in battle may delay human progress, but I believe that the world can converge to a similar point in history - even if the path it takes is circumferential. I bought this book many years ago (when I was in England, ironically), but I never got around to reading it. Hearing someone give it such good reviews will mean that I’ll need to dust it off and finally have a look!

Not having read the book and having a limited knowledge on the subject, I’m hardly an expert on this matter; however, I disagree with the premise that there are “decisive turning points in history where the world is pressed along one path as another is closed off.” Decisive events in history may change its course, but I don’t think that history has shown that it would necessarily change its overall trajectory. Consider, for example, a scenario where Einstein might’ve been killed in an accident. It might’ve taken longer for the world to discover nuclear energy, but someone would’ve eventually figured it out. Similarly, dictator’s victory in battle may delay human progress, but I believe that the world can converge to a similar point in history - even if the path it takes is circumferential.

]]> By: a sibilant intake of breath » Blog Archive » Love and Hydrogen http://www.sindark.com/2008/01/08/why-the-allies-won/#comment-31701 a sibilant intake of breath » Blog Archive » Love and Hydrogen Wed, 09 Jan 2008 12:38:15 +0000 http://www.sindark.com/2008/01/08/why-the-allies-won/#comment-31701 [...] perilous thing to fly. That particular story resonated nicely with the recently completed Why the Allies Won, both touching upon the theme of Germany pushing technology forward, but often doing so in ways [...] [...] perilous thing to fly. That particular story resonated nicely with the recently completed Why the Allies Won, both touching upon the theme of Germany pushing technology forward, but often doing so in ways [...]

]]> By: Milan http://www.sindark.com/2008/01/08/why-the-allies-won/#comment-31558 Milan Sun, 06 Jan 2008 07:14:08 +0000 http://www.sindark.com/2008/01/08/why-the-allies-won/#comment-31558 On the issue of strategic bombing during WWII, see: <a href="http://www.sindark.com/2007/08/30/a-closer-look-at-the-war-museum-controversy/" title="a sibilant intake of breath » Blog Archive » A closer look at the War Museum controversy" rel="nofollow">A closer look at the War Museum controversy</a> Thursday, August 30th, 2007 <a href="http://www.sindark.com/2007/08/28/the-ugliness-of-war/" title="a sibilant intake of breath » Blog Archive » The ugliness of war" rel="nofollow">The ugliness of war</a> Tuesday, August 28th, 2007 On the issue of strategic bombing during WWII, see:

A closer look at the War Museum controversy
Thursday, August 30th, 2007

The ugliness of war
Tuesday, August 28th, 2007

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