This document provides commentary and analysis regarding the British Empire's involvement in Afghanistan. It discusses the failed British invasion of Afghanistan in the 19th century and the recent US-led NATO mission in Afghanistan. Major points made include:
- The British retreat from Kabul in 1842 involved a brigade of 700 British troops and 4,500 Indian troops retreating in harsh conditions and being attacked by over 30,000 Afghans.
- The US goal in Afghanistan was to gain bases near Central Asian oil and block China, but after 11 years and $1 trillion, this effort failed, representing a military and political defeat for the US.
- Remaining US troops in Afghanistan after 2014 withdrawals may face attacks from Pasht
This document provides brief biographies of several key leaders from the Revolutionary War period, including:
- Friedrich von Steuben, a Prussian officer who trained Washington's troops at Valley Forge.
- George Rogers Clark, who led attacks in the Northwest Territory and won important battles.
- Marquis de Lafayette, a French aristocrat who became a general and convinced France to aid the Americans.
- Francis Marion, who used guerilla tactics to win battles in South Carolina.
- Benedict Arnold, an American leader who later became infamous for attempting to betray West Point to the British.
- George Washington, the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army who led the
This document discusses the decline of British imperial power and manipulation over the 19th and 20th centuries. It argues that Britain's power was challenged by Russia in 1863 and that Germany broke the backbone of the British Empire in World War 1 and World War 2. It also discusses how Britain's resolve to hold onto India was broken by World War 2 and the naval mutiny of 1946. The document analyzes current geopolitical realities and argues that manipulation through war is no longer possible due to nuclear weapons. It contends that Western alliances like NATO have become ineffective while countries like Russia, China, and India have emerged as major powers.
Dr hamid hussain corrects william dalrymple's distortionsAgha A
This document discusses the Sepoy Rebellion of 1857-59 from the perspective of analyzing Sepoy perceptions of the military effectiveness of the East India Company (EEIC). It argues that over time from 1804 to 1857, the Sepoys' absolute faith in the invincibility of the EEIC military began to change as they witnessed some key military defeats and retreats, such as against the Mahrattas in 1804, failure to capture the Bhurtpore fort in 1805, reversals in the Nepal War of 1814-16, and the retreat from Kabul in the first Afghan War in 1842. These events shook the Sepoys' confidence in the military prowess and leadership abilities of the British
Theme 4 part 2 The English in North AmericaKristi Beria
The document summarizes the early English colonies in North America, including the failed Roanoke colony, the establishment of Jamestown colony which struggled initially, the development of tobacco farming which boosted Virginia's economy, and the Puritan settlements in New England including Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay colonies. It discusses the relations between the colonists and Native Americans, which grew increasingly hostile over land disputes and led to conflicts like the Pequot War and King Philip's War.
The document summarizes the complex relationship between India and Pakistan over several decades since partition in 1947. It touches on the disputed region of Kashmir and the wars fought between the two countries, as well as periods of both tension and attempts at diplomacy. More recently, rising tensions over terrorist attacks have led the new Indian Prime Minister Modi to pursue isolating Pakistan diplomatically, such as through discussions at the BRICS summit. Pakistan continues to deny involvement in the attacks.
This document provides a summary of a quiz on world history and politics conducted by Krishnadev Roy and Ritwik Ghosh. It includes 20 multiple choice questions about topics like shell shock, Remembrance Poppies, King Edward VIII abdicating the throne, Ho Chi Minh, the Alaska Purchase, the first Hindi film screened at the UN, and more. For each question, the correct answer is provided. The document announces that the finals of the quiz are coming up next.
The document summarizes Paul Revere's famous ride on April 18, 1775 to warn the Massachusetts militia that British troops were marching to Concord. It describes the chaotic mobilization of the British troops, the quick response of the American militia to the alarms, the panic that spread among civilians, and the first shots fired between the British and militia at Lexington green, marking the beginning of the Revolutionary War.
The History, War & Politics Quiz - NSIT Quiz Fest - 2013Sumit Bhagat
Here are the key details from the passage:
- X was a famous 15th century Italian artist and polymath (a person of wide-ranging knowledge or learning).
- Little is known about his early life, except for a story that as a schoolboy he showed his dislike of despots (absolute rulers) by quarreling with his schoolmaster.
- He went on to have a very successful career as an artist and architect in Florence, Italy. Some of his most famous works include the dome of Florence Cathedral and the design of the city of Pienza.
- X is widely considered to be one of the greatest masters of Italian Renaissance art. His work had a significant influence on later Western art.
This document provides brief biographies of several key leaders from the Revolutionary War period, including:
- Friedrich von Steuben, a Prussian officer who trained Washington's troops at Valley Forge.
- George Rogers Clark, who led attacks in the Northwest Territory and won important battles.
- Marquis de Lafayette, a French aristocrat who became a general and convinced France to aid the Americans.
- Francis Marion, who used guerilla tactics to win battles in South Carolina.
- Benedict Arnold, an American leader who later became infamous for attempting to betray West Point to the British.
- George Washington, the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army who led the
This document discusses the decline of British imperial power and manipulation over the 19th and 20th centuries. It argues that Britain's power was challenged by Russia in 1863 and that Germany broke the backbone of the British Empire in World War 1 and World War 2. It also discusses how Britain's resolve to hold onto India was broken by World War 2 and the naval mutiny of 1946. The document analyzes current geopolitical realities and argues that manipulation through war is no longer possible due to nuclear weapons. It contends that Western alliances like NATO have become ineffective while countries like Russia, China, and India have emerged as major powers.
Dr hamid hussain corrects william dalrymple's distortionsAgha A
This document discusses the Sepoy Rebellion of 1857-59 from the perspective of analyzing Sepoy perceptions of the military effectiveness of the East India Company (EEIC). It argues that over time from 1804 to 1857, the Sepoys' absolute faith in the invincibility of the EEIC military began to change as they witnessed some key military defeats and retreats, such as against the Mahrattas in 1804, failure to capture the Bhurtpore fort in 1805, reversals in the Nepal War of 1814-16, and the retreat from Kabul in the first Afghan War in 1842. These events shook the Sepoys' confidence in the military prowess and leadership abilities of the British
Theme 4 part 2 The English in North AmericaKristi Beria
The document summarizes the early English colonies in North America, including the failed Roanoke colony, the establishment of Jamestown colony which struggled initially, the development of tobacco farming which boosted Virginia's economy, and the Puritan settlements in New England including Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay colonies. It discusses the relations between the colonists and Native Americans, which grew increasingly hostile over land disputes and led to conflicts like the Pequot War and King Philip's War.
The document summarizes the complex relationship between India and Pakistan over several decades since partition in 1947. It touches on the disputed region of Kashmir and the wars fought between the two countries, as well as periods of both tension and attempts at diplomacy. More recently, rising tensions over terrorist attacks have led the new Indian Prime Minister Modi to pursue isolating Pakistan diplomatically, such as through discussions at the BRICS summit. Pakistan continues to deny involvement in the attacks.
This document provides a summary of a quiz on world history and politics conducted by Krishnadev Roy and Ritwik Ghosh. It includes 20 multiple choice questions about topics like shell shock, Remembrance Poppies, King Edward VIII abdicating the throne, Ho Chi Minh, the Alaska Purchase, the first Hindi film screened at the UN, and more. For each question, the correct answer is provided. The document announces that the finals of the quiz are coming up next.
The document summarizes Paul Revere's famous ride on April 18, 1775 to warn the Massachusetts militia that British troops were marching to Concord. It describes the chaotic mobilization of the British troops, the quick response of the American militia to the alarms, the panic that spread among civilians, and the first shots fired between the British and militia at Lexington green, marking the beginning of the Revolutionary War.
The History, War & Politics Quiz - NSIT Quiz Fest - 2013Sumit Bhagat
Here are the key details from the passage:
- X was a famous 15th century Italian artist and polymath (a person of wide-ranging knowledge or learning).
- Little is known about his early life, except for a story that as a schoolboy he showed his dislike of despots (absolute rulers) by quarreling with his schoolmaster.
- He went on to have a very successful career as an artist and architect in Florence, Italy. Some of his most famous works include the dome of Florence Cathedral and the design of the city of Pienza.
- X is widely considered to be one of the greatest masters of Italian Renaissance art. His work had a significant influence on later Western art.
The document summarizes the lives and accomplishments of several famous American frontiersmen and women from the 18th and 19th centuries. It describes mountain men like Jim Bridger and Kit Carson who trapped furs across the American West and lived off the land for months at a time. It also profiles explorers like Lewis and Clark, pathfinders like Daniel Boone, and later figures involved with the Pony Express and Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. The lives of these pioneers were difficult but helped shape the settlement and exploration of North America.
Slideshow created by Pearson detailing the conditions of slavery in the South prior to the outbreak of the American Civil War. Content owned by Pearson, from the textbook and American Journey.
The battles of Trenton and Princeton were important Revolutionary War victories for the colonists led by General George Washington. In Trenton on December 26, 1776, Washington launched a surprise attack against Hessian troops commanded by Colonel Johann Rall, who were caught off guard while celebrating Christmas. The poorly prepared Hessians were defeated within two hours, with over 900 captured. In Princeton on January 3, 1777, Washington outmaneuvered British forces led by General Cornwallis and General Mawhood, defeating them and gaining another much-needed victory for the colonial cause.
The document discusses obstacles and steps taken to improve relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Some initial obstacles included Afghanistan not recognizing Pakistan, a border dispute, Afghanistan supporting separatist movements in Pakistan and breaking diplomatic relations multiple times. However, both countries also took steps like high-level visits in 1956 and 1973 to improve relations. Pakistan also accommodated Afghan refugees and allowed transit access.
Story of the Civil War experience of my 2nd great grandfather John L. Haworth and his 3 brothers. All served the Union in the 3rd Tennessee Infantry, Co. "K".
Bjmc i,jmc, unit-i, Indian national movementRai University
The document provides background information on the Indian National Movement and the Indian (John Company's) Army. It discusses how the British East India Company raised and maintained large armies in India for over 150 years, composed mainly of Indian sepoys but led by British officers. Tensions grew between the sepoys and British due to issues like the introduction of new gun cartridges greased with cow and pig fat, which violated Hindu and Muslim beliefs. This triggered the Indian Rebellion of 1857 against British rule, starting with sepoy mutinies in Meerut and the rebellion's spread to Delhi under the Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah II. Ultimately the British were able to suppress the rebellion through military force and took direct control
General George Washington's resounding defeat of Lord Cornwallis's British army at Yorktown in October 1781, effectively ending the American Revolutionary War. With the arrival of French naval support, Washington and allied French forces were able to lay siege to Yorktown, bombarding Cornwallis's forces. Facing inadequate supplies and no hope of relief or reinforcement, Cornwallis surrendered his entire army, prompting the British to negotiate an end to hostilities. The following year, the Treaty of Paris was signed, formally recognizing American independence and concluding the Revolutionary War.
The document provides details about various wars, battles, military operations and leaders. It begins with information about the first Durga Puja being organized in honour of Robert Clive after his victory in the Battle of Plassey in 1757. It then identifies the French and Indian War as the North American conflict that was part of the larger Seven Years' War between Britain and France. Several other military operations, leaders, weapons and events are then identified succinctly in response to questions.
The Plains Wars were a series of conflicts between Native American tribes and the United States Army from 1862 to 1890. The wars were sparked by white settlement encroaching on Native lands, breaking of treaties by the U.S. government that reduced reservation sizes, and the Army's lack of understanding of Indian perspectives. Notable conflicts included Little Crow's War in 1862, the Sand Creek Massacre in 1864 where over 160 Cheyenne were killed, and Red Cloud's War from 1866 to 1868 where Red Cloud defeated the Army and forced the closure of forts along the Bozeman Trail. Ultimately, the wars ended with Native Americans losing more of their lands and rights as the U.S. continued westward expansion.
The African Burial Ground and the History of Slavery in New York CityBob Mayer
At one point, New York City was second only to Charleston in the number of slaves. When Wall Street was actually a defensive wall, half-freed blacks formed a community north of it, outside the wall. They were denied, by law, from burying in the city so had their own burial ground. What happened to it?
The History of Artemas Ward Park -- The Marlborough Historical Societypebrodeur
The history of Ward Park, located in Marlborough, Massachusetts. Researched, written, and presented by Paul Brodeur, trustee of the Marlborough Historical Society, on March 22, 2011
The document summarizes the causes and key events of the Indian Rebellion of 1857. It discusses:
- Political, social, religious, economic, administrative, and military causes of the rebellion.
- Key starting points of the rebellion in Meerut and Delhi in May 1857. Rebel sepoys took control of Delhi and persuaded Bahadur Shah II to support them.
- Spread of the rebellion to other regions including Lucknow, Kanpur, Jhansi, and others. Key leaders included Nana Sahib, Begum Hazrat Mahal, and Rani Laxmibai.
- British suppression of the rebellion, with Delhi and other cities retaken by mid-1858. Key
British Strategic Manipulation Defeats USSR and Dictates Pakistans Foreign Po...Agha A
1) In 1950, the Soviet Union's acting ambassador in Iran desperately sought a meeting with Pakistan's third secretary, Saad Rashidul Khairi, to request that Pakistan's Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan first visit the USSR before traveling elsewhere, as it would be in Pakistan's interest.
2) However, British agents in Pakistan's government, including Foreign Secretary Ikramullah, successfully convinced Liaquat Ali Khan to first visit the United States after being invited, causing the USSR to view this as a snub and become sworn enemies with Pakistan.
3) As a result of British manipulation, Pakistan's foreign policy from its early years was firmly directed by British and
American revolution by Samantha Umphreysam umphrey
The document summarizes key battles and military leaders of the American Revolution. It describes Francis Marion's military career leading up to the Revolutionary War. It also discusses Samuel Nicholas' role in establishing the Continental Marines and Daniel Morgan's marksmanship skills that helped defeat the British. Finally, it provides brief overviews of Henry Knox's artillery expertise, Arthur St. Clair's political involvement, and key details of several major battles including Fort Ticonderoga, Trenton, King's Mountain, and Yorktown.
The document summarizes several key events from the Indian Wars period:
1) The Sand Creek Massacre of 1864 where Colonel Chivington led Colorado Volunteers in brutally killing over 400 Cheyenne tribe members, including women and children, despite assurances of safety.
2) The Fetterman Fight of 1866 where over 2,000 Native Americans laid an ambush, killing all 80 of Colonel Fetterman's soldiers.
3) The Battle of Little Bighorn in 1876, also known as Custer's Last Stand, where Lieutenant Colonel Custer and all of his men were killed within an hour by Lakota Sioux and Cheyenne warriors led by Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse
Here are 3 potential sources for information on Christopher Columbus and early American history:
1. Garasan R.I. Anglo-American Countries - Ternopil: SMP "Aston", 1998.-96p. This book may contain background information on Christopher Columbus's voyage and early European exploration and colonization of North America.
2. Karpenko O.V. Focus on the USA. English student’s book.- Kharkiv. : Vesta: Vid-vo «Ranok», 2006.-80p. As the title suggests, this book focuses specifically on the history and culture of the United States and would likely cover Christopher Columbus and the early colonial period.
3. Koganov
The document provides historical context for conflict between ethnic groups in Rwanda:
- Rwanda has two main ethnic groups, the Hutu majority and Tutsi minority, who migrated from different parts of Africa.
- Under Belgian colonial rule from 1916-1962, the Tutsis gained privileges over the Hutus through a system of ethnic identification cards. This exacerbated existing tensions between the groups.
- After Rwanda gained independence in 1962, the Hutus took power and discriminated against Tutsis, leading to growing resentment and violence between the groups in the following decades.
- The document examines the Indian Wars of the 19th century between the United States and Native American tribes like the Cheyenne and Lakota.
- It describes treaties signed that forced Native Americans onto limited reservations and disputes over land, culminating in violent conflicts like the Sand Creek Massacre and Battle of Little Bighorn.
- The U.S. government pursued policies aimed at assimilation and control of Native Americans, including through forced relocation, destruction of the buffalo population, and establishment of boarding schools.
Us military effectiveness in future wars some Liddell Hart to understand alsoAgha A
The document discusses the geopolitical importance of Afghanistan and argues that it provides strategic advantages to the US against China and Russia. It makes three key points:
1) Afghanistan's location allows the US to threaten the "soft underbelly" of China and Russia, as described by geographer Halford Mackinder in 1904. Maintaining a presence in Afghanistan disrupts China's efforts to gain access to the Arabian Sea through Pakistan.
2) Afghanistan can be used as a base to destabilize Central Asian countries and Russia's Siberian corridor, undermining their power.
3) Continued US involvement in Afghanistan counters Pakistani influence and allows the US to support smaller ethnic groups in both Afghanistan and
The document provides background on Pakistan's use of proxy forces and low-intensity conflicts dating back to independence from Britain. It summarizes that Pakistan viewed Afghanistan as a "massive proxy reservoir" to counter India. When the U.S. withdrew support in 1989, Pakistan aligned with China and continued supporting Taliban proxies in Afghanistan. The author draws on first-hand experiences in Afghanistan and insights from military contacts to analyze U.S. strategy and the role of Pakistan.
The document summarizes the lives and accomplishments of several famous American frontiersmen and women from the 18th and 19th centuries. It describes mountain men like Jim Bridger and Kit Carson who trapped furs across the American West and lived off the land for months at a time. It also profiles explorers like Lewis and Clark, pathfinders like Daniel Boone, and later figures involved with the Pony Express and Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. The lives of these pioneers were difficult but helped shape the settlement and exploration of North America.
Slideshow created by Pearson detailing the conditions of slavery in the South prior to the outbreak of the American Civil War. Content owned by Pearson, from the textbook and American Journey.
The battles of Trenton and Princeton were important Revolutionary War victories for the colonists led by General George Washington. In Trenton on December 26, 1776, Washington launched a surprise attack against Hessian troops commanded by Colonel Johann Rall, who were caught off guard while celebrating Christmas. The poorly prepared Hessians were defeated within two hours, with over 900 captured. In Princeton on January 3, 1777, Washington outmaneuvered British forces led by General Cornwallis and General Mawhood, defeating them and gaining another much-needed victory for the colonial cause.
The document discusses obstacles and steps taken to improve relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Some initial obstacles included Afghanistan not recognizing Pakistan, a border dispute, Afghanistan supporting separatist movements in Pakistan and breaking diplomatic relations multiple times. However, both countries also took steps like high-level visits in 1956 and 1973 to improve relations. Pakistan also accommodated Afghan refugees and allowed transit access.
Story of the Civil War experience of my 2nd great grandfather John L. Haworth and his 3 brothers. All served the Union in the 3rd Tennessee Infantry, Co. "K".
Bjmc i,jmc, unit-i, Indian national movementRai University
The document provides background information on the Indian National Movement and the Indian (John Company's) Army. It discusses how the British East India Company raised and maintained large armies in India for over 150 years, composed mainly of Indian sepoys but led by British officers. Tensions grew between the sepoys and British due to issues like the introduction of new gun cartridges greased with cow and pig fat, which violated Hindu and Muslim beliefs. This triggered the Indian Rebellion of 1857 against British rule, starting with sepoy mutinies in Meerut and the rebellion's spread to Delhi under the Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah II. Ultimately the British were able to suppress the rebellion through military force and took direct control
General George Washington's resounding defeat of Lord Cornwallis's British army at Yorktown in October 1781, effectively ending the American Revolutionary War. With the arrival of French naval support, Washington and allied French forces were able to lay siege to Yorktown, bombarding Cornwallis's forces. Facing inadequate supplies and no hope of relief or reinforcement, Cornwallis surrendered his entire army, prompting the British to negotiate an end to hostilities. The following year, the Treaty of Paris was signed, formally recognizing American independence and concluding the Revolutionary War.
The document provides details about various wars, battles, military operations and leaders. It begins with information about the first Durga Puja being organized in honour of Robert Clive after his victory in the Battle of Plassey in 1757. It then identifies the French and Indian War as the North American conflict that was part of the larger Seven Years' War between Britain and France. Several other military operations, leaders, weapons and events are then identified succinctly in response to questions.
The Plains Wars were a series of conflicts between Native American tribes and the United States Army from 1862 to 1890. The wars were sparked by white settlement encroaching on Native lands, breaking of treaties by the U.S. government that reduced reservation sizes, and the Army's lack of understanding of Indian perspectives. Notable conflicts included Little Crow's War in 1862, the Sand Creek Massacre in 1864 where over 160 Cheyenne were killed, and Red Cloud's War from 1866 to 1868 where Red Cloud defeated the Army and forced the closure of forts along the Bozeman Trail. Ultimately, the wars ended with Native Americans losing more of their lands and rights as the U.S. continued westward expansion.
The African Burial Ground and the History of Slavery in New York CityBob Mayer
At one point, New York City was second only to Charleston in the number of slaves. When Wall Street was actually a defensive wall, half-freed blacks formed a community north of it, outside the wall. They were denied, by law, from burying in the city so had their own burial ground. What happened to it?
The History of Artemas Ward Park -- The Marlborough Historical Societypebrodeur
The history of Ward Park, located in Marlborough, Massachusetts. Researched, written, and presented by Paul Brodeur, trustee of the Marlborough Historical Society, on March 22, 2011
The document summarizes the causes and key events of the Indian Rebellion of 1857. It discusses:
- Political, social, religious, economic, administrative, and military causes of the rebellion.
- Key starting points of the rebellion in Meerut and Delhi in May 1857. Rebel sepoys took control of Delhi and persuaded Bahadur Shah II to support them.
- Spread of the rebellion to other regions including Lucknow, Kanpur, Jhansi, and others. Key leaders included Nana Sahib, Begum Hazrat Mahal, and Rani Laxmibai.
- British suppression of the rebellion, with Delhi and other cities retaken by mid-1858. Key
British Strategic Manipulation Defeats USSR and Dictates Pakistans Foreign Po...Agha A
1) In 1950, the Soviet Union's acting ambassador in Iran desperately sought a meeting with Pakistan's third secretary, Saad Rashidul Khairi, to request that Pakistan's Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan first visit the USSR before traveling elsewhere, as it would be in Pakistan's interest.
2) However, British agents in Pakistan's government, including Foreign Secretary Ikramullah, successfully convinced Liaquat Ali Khan to first visit the United States after being invited, causing the USSR to view this as a snub and become sworn enemies with Pakistan.
3) As a result of British manipulation, Pakistan's foreign policy from its early years was firmly directed by British and
American revolution by Samantha Umphreysam umphrey
The document summarizes key battles and military leaders of the American Revolution. It describes Francis Marion's military career leading up to the Revolutionary War. It also discusses Samuel Nicholas' role in establishing the Continental Marines and Daniel Morgan's marksmanship skills that helped defeat the British. Finally, it provides brief overviews of Henry Knox's artillery expertise, Arthur St. Clair's political involvement, and key details of several major battles including Fort Ticonderoga, Trenton, King's Mountain, and Yorktown.
The document summarizes several key events from the Indian Wars period:
1) The Sand Creek Massacre of 1864 where Colonel Chivington led Colorado Volunteers in brutally killing over 400 Cheyenne tribe members, including women and children, despite assurances of safety.
2) The Fetterman Fight of 1866 where over 2,000 Native Americans laid an ambush, killing all 80 of Colonel Fetterman's soldiers.
3) The Battle of Little Bighorn in 1876, also known as Custer's Last Stand, where Lieutenant Colonel Custer and all of his men were killed within an hour by Lakota Sioux and Cheyenne warriors led by Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse
Here are 3 potential sources for information on Christopher Columbus and early American history:
1. Garasan R.I. Anglo-American Countries - Ternopil: SMP "Aston", 1998.-96p. This book may contain background information on Christopher Columbus's voyage and early European exploration and colonization of North America.
2. Karpenko O.V. Focus on the USA. English student’s book.- Kharkiv. : Vesta: Vid-vo «Ranok», 2006.-80p. As the title suggests, this book focuses specifically on the history and culture of the United States and would likely cover Christopher Columbus and the early colonial period.
3. Koganov
The document provides historical context for conflict between ethnic groups in Rwanda:
- Rwanda has two main ethnic groups, the Hutu majority and Tutsi minority, who migrated from different parts of Africa.
- Under Belgian colonial rule from 1916-1962, the Tutsis gained privileges over the Hutus through a system of ethnic identification cards. This exacerbated existing tensions between the groups.
- After Rwanda gained independence in 1962, the Hutus took power and discriminated against Tutsis, leading to growing resentment and violence between the groups in the following decades.
- The document examines the Indian Wars of the 19th century between the United States and Native American tribes like the Cheyenne and Lakota.
- It describes treaties signed that forced Native Americans onto limited reservations and disputes over land, culminating in violent conflicts like the Sand Creek Massacre and Battle of Little Bighorn.
- The U.S. government pursued policies aimed at assimilation and control of Native Americans, including through forced relocation, destruction of the buffalo population, and establishment of boarding schools.
Us military effectiveness in future wars some Liddell Hart to understand alsoAgha A
The document discusses the geopolitical importance of Afghanistan and argues that it provides strategic advantages to the US against China and Russia. It makes three key points:
1) Afghanistan's location allows the US to threaten the "soft underbelly" of China and Russia, as described by geographer Halford Mackinder in 1904. Maintaining a presence in Afghanistan disrupts China's efforts to gain access to the Arabian Sea through Pakistan.
2) Afghanistan can be used as a base to destabilize Central Asian countries and Russia's Siberian corridor, undermining their power.
3) Continued US involvement in Afghanistan counters Pakistani influence and allows the US to support smaller ethnic groups in both Afghanistan and
The document provides background on Pakistan's use of proxy forces and low-intensity conflicts dating back to independence from Britain. It summarizes that Pakistan viewed Afghanistan as a "massive proxy reservoir" to counter India. When the U.S. withdrew support in 1989, Pakistan aligned with China and continued supporting Taliban proxies in Afghanistan. The author draws on first-hand experiences in Afghanistan and insights from military contacts to analyze U.S. strategy and the role of Pakistan.
This document provides a firsthand account of British Army operations in Afghanistan from 2004-2014 as seen by the author, a consultant who worked in Afghanistan during that time. It describes how the British operations lacked clear strategy and purpose, with troops sent into Helmand province in small, vulnerable groups ("penny packets") without sufficient consideration for the local conditions and threat of the Taliban. This approach directly played into the hands of the Taliban and resulted in needless British casualties. Political leaders like Tony Blair sent the troops to Afghanistan without a coherent strategic aim, simply to appease the US, while ignoring local dynamics and making the soldiers targets.
This document provides a summary of the British Army's operations in Afghanistan during the Fourth Afghan War from the perspective of the author, who worked as a consultant in Afghanistan from 2004-present. Some key points:
- The author witnessed British Army operations firsthand and argues they lacked clear strategy, with troops sent into Helmand province in small groups without adequate consideration of risks.
- Political motivations like currying favor with the US and opportunities for career advancement led to poor military decisions by British leaders.
- Troops were vulnerable to ambush walking into traps set by the Taliban, who stepped up operations in Helmand in response to the British presence.
- Without proper strategy or understanding of local dynamics,
How the British neglect their military heroes and their gravesAgha A
This document provides an account of the Battle of Chillianwallah fought in 1849 between British and Sikh forces. It summarizes that the battle was highly significant as it was one of the bloodiest battles for the British in India and marked a rare defeat for them, despite having numerical advantages. The battle damaged the prestige of the British military and influenced rising nationalist sentiments in India, contributing to the Sepoy Rebellion of 1857.
Ambush survey afghanistan,british army and FM 31 21Agha A
1) The document discusses the background leading up to Britain's involvement in Afghanistan, known as the Fourth Afghan War. It notes that the US trained and funded Pakistani special forces (SSG) and intelligence (ISI) from 1955-1979, which later fought against Western forces.
2) General Musharraf deceived the US while preserving Pakistani Taliban assets and extracting $25 billion from the US as an "ally". Britain followed the US without a clear strategic aim, sending troops to Helmand in 2006 to "win hearts and minds" under the misleading politician Tony Blair.
3) British troops in Helmand were vulnerable targets divided into small groups, walking into a trap as their presence threatened Pakistan over Baluch
Mattis is strategically clueless more naieve than naievest milkmaidAgha A
General Mattis' comments about broadening common ground with Pakistan are criticized by the author. The author argues that Mattis and other high-ranking US military officials primarily seek to advance their own careers rather than make strategic decisions in the best interests of the US. Additionally, the author asserts that Pakistan's military establishment, including the ISI, have been the real opponents of the US in Afghanistan, having used the country as a proxy battleground, while the US has failed to recognize and address this strategic reality. The author believes the US occupation of Afghanistan has been a failure of US policy due to its unwillingness to accommodate Pakistani influence in the region.
General Musharraf carried out a brilliant strategic deception of the US after their occupation of Afghanistan. The US failed to understand key realities, including that Pakistan saw Afghanistan as strategic depth and its proxies like the Taliban controlled much of the Pashtun south. The US wasted years with unrealistic objectives and failed to address the core issues of Pakistan's role and its dispute with India over Kashmir. As a result, the US surge was futile and they suffered unnecessary casualties while the Taliban recovered in Pakistan. A compromise respecting Pakistani influence may have avoided US failure in Afghanistan.
This document provides an introduction and background to the author's account of the US Army in Afghanistan. The author has observed Afghanistan closely since 2004 as a consultant based in Kabul. Drawing from his experience in the Pakistani military and conversations with ISI officers, the author analyzes the geopolitical factors influencing the US presence in Afghanistan and Pakistan's view of its "strategic depth" in Afghanistan. The author argues that the real obstacle to US goals in Afghanistan has been the Pakistani establishment centered in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, not minor players attacked by drones or in the Afghan surge.
- African Americans have contributed to US wars since the colonial era but faced policies of exclusion and discrimination. They served in supporting roles but were often barred from bearing arms.
- During the Revolutionary War, the Continental Congress allowed free African Americans to enlist out of necessity due to shortfalls, though they faced opposition. An estimated 5,000 African Americans fought for the colonial forces.
- The Civil War marked the first official authorization for African American recruitment and enlistment, with over 180,000 serving in the Union Army and Navy. 38,000 African American soldiers died, comprising 40% of casualties despite being 10% of the Union forces.
- After the Civil War, six African American regiments served in the Indian
Britiish-French Invasions and Struggle for Independence.pptmuttahirahmedkhan1
The document summarizes the pre-independence scenario in India following the decline of the Mughal Empire and increasing invasions and influence of European powers like the French and British. It led to conflicts between local rulers and the British East India Company as they sought to expand trade and territorial control over India. Key events discussed include the establishment of trading posts and forts by the British EIC in various regions, the Battle of Plassey in 1757 which marked the Company's first major military victory, and the 1857 Indian Rebellion against British rule which failed due to lack of unity and leadership among independence fighters.
1. The document discusses the British colonial legacy's influence on the Pakistan Army, specifically examining its impact on the army's performance in the 1965 war.
2. It notes that both the Indian and Pakistan Armies inherited organizational structures, tactics, and traditions from nearly 190 years under British rule in India.
3. The British Indian Army was deliberately kept outdated compared to European armies, with outdated equipment, training focused on fighting tribes rather than modern warfare, and slow introduction of Indian officers, resulting in both armies lacking modern military doctrines and traditions after independence.
LETTERS TO STAFF COLLEGE QUETTA AND WHAT IS WRONG WITH PAKISTAN ARMY SYSTEMSAgha A
1. The document discusses the British colonial legacy and its influence on the Pakistan Army's performance and conduct in the 1965 war with India. It argues that both the pre-1947 Indian Army and post-1947 Pakistani and Indian armies were products of 190 years of British rule in India and were influenced by British military traditions and systems.
2. Specifically, it notes that the British Indian Army that the Pakistan and Indian armies descended from was deliberately kept outdated by the British compared to European armies. It also lacked strong indigenous leadership traditions due to the British policy of not allowing native Indians to become commissioned officers until late. These British colonial legacies continued to influence the armies' conduct negatively.
The document discusses the negative influence of the British colonial legacy on the Pakistan Army. Some key influences included:
1) The British Indian Army that the Pakistan Army descended from was deliberately kept outdated, focusing more on imperial policing than combat effectiveness. It lacked modern equipment, training, and reforms.
2) There was no strong leadership tradition in the Indian/Pakistani armies, as British policy prevented Indians from becoming officers for many years. This created officers who saw the army only as a career.
3) British military doctrine was extremely conservative. The British Indian Army focused on outdated tactics and saw little need for reform even as other armies modernized. Staff work and combined arms coordination were weak areas that continued in
LETTERS TO STAFF COLLEGE QUETTA AND WHAT IS WRONG WITH PAKISTAN ARMYAgha A
1. The document discusses the British colonial legacy and its influence on the Pakistan Army's performance and conduct in the 1965 war with India. It argues that both the pre-1947 Indian Army and post-1947 Pakistani and Indian armies were products of the 190-year British rule in India and were influenced by British military traditions and systems.
2. Specifically, it notes that the British Indian Army that the Pakistan and Indian armies descended from was deliberately kept outdated by the British in terms of equipment, training, and modernization compared to British and other armies. It also lacked strong indigenous leadership traditions due to British policies of excluding Indians from becoming commissioned officers.
3. These British colonial legacies, including inter-arm rivalry and compartment
The document discusses the roles of Punjab and Baluch regiments in the 1971 war. It was published on September 2023 with a DOI number and was written by Agha H Amin.
Major Agha H. Amin was commissioned in the old PAVO Cavalry in 1983. He served in various command, staff, research, logistics and instructional positions over his military career. In his civilian career, he performed projects in infrastructure and transmission lines in Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Turkmenistan. He has authored over 120 books and journals on military topics. The document goes on to describe a battle of Pandu fought by the 4/10 Baluch battalion against India in the 1947-48 Kashmir war, and criticizes the omission of accurate accounts of the battle from official Pakistani military histories.
Battles of Najafgarh , Gangiri and Delhi RidgeAgha A
- The 6th Dragoon Guards regiment arrived in Bengal, India from England in November 1856 and was stationed in Meerut at the time of the 1857 rebellion.
- During the rebellion, the regiment saw action at Ghaziabad, Badli Ki Serai, Delhi, and helped destroy a rebel battery at Eidgah with no reported casualties.
- It lost a few men at the battles of Ghaziabad, Badli Ki Serai, and in minor actions in July 1857 but overall emerged from the rebellion relatively lightly compared to other British units.
- However, the limited historical sources available in Pakistan make it difficult for researchers there to find all details on the regiment's role and casualties during
The battalion was part of an infantry brigade deployed at Sulaimanke Headworks during the 1965 war with India. It saw little serious action as it primarily engaged Indian border police posts that were no match for regular Pakistani army battalions. The battalion suffered only 3 fatal casualties for the entire war, showing it faced little militarily credible opposition. While the battalion performed well, it must be remembered that it faced inferior Indian border police rather than other army units.
This document summarizes the performance of the 9 Punjab battalion during the 1965 war with India. The battalion was part of the 12th Division of the Pakistan Army and was tasked with capturing the town of Chhamb. Despite having significant superiority in tanks and artillery, the 12th Division failed to cross the Tawi River on the first day. The 9th Punjab battalion suffered 15 killed and 31 wounded but managed to form a bridgehead across the Tawi. After the war, the battalion was praised for its performance and received several awards, though its strategic impact was limited due to the overall failure of Operation Grand Slam.
The battalion was deployed as a guard battalion but parts saw action in 1965 war including C Company commanded by Major Anis. C Company withdrew from its position exposing the rear of 16 Punjab to Indian attack, effectively sealing 16 Punjab's fate. C Company's withdrawal doomed 16 Punjab and was described as cowardly and the cause of 16 Punjab's debacle. While most of 8 Punjab saw no action, C Company under Major Anis performed poorly and was to blame for 16 Punjab's defeat.
1) The battalion was deployed as part of 11 Division along the Ravi-Sutlej Corridor according to maps.
2) The battalion faced a brigade-level attack from the Indian army using three infantry battalions and a tank squadron.
3) A captain from the Pakistani artillery played a crucial role by engaging the attacking forces with 60 medium shells, repulsing the Indian attack.
The battalion was deployed in September 1965 as part of Operation Grand Slam, relieving the 13th Punjab battalion near Dalpat-Chak Kirpal. According to Brigadier Rizvi, the battalion attacked towards Fatwal along with 13 Lancers, advancing up to 6 miles near Kasur and suffering 9 killed and 21 wounded. However, records list the battalion as losing either 9, 11, or 10 killed. The battalion had little impact as it joined the war late when the focus had shifted, and did not receive any awards despite actions in the Rann of Kutch prior to the war.
NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT IN 1857-59 BATTLESAgha A
This document provides biographical and career details of Major Agha.H.Amin, who was commissioned in the old PAVO Cavalry in March 1983. It discusses his education, various military and civilian positions held over his career, publications authored, and contact information. The document also briefly describes a study aid about British infantry battalions that participated in the battles of 1857-59 in India, including their roles, operations, casualties, and contributions to the outcome of the war.
The 2nd Battalion of the Punjab Regiment fought in the 1965 war against India. While it received several gallantry awards, the document argues that its role was exaggerated and it did not actually face most of the major Indian attacks. Only one company saw direct fighting on the first day, and it dispersed against heavy odds. The battalion was deployed away from the main sites of battle and did not face significant enemy forces apart from this initial engagement. Its impact on the decisive Battle of Chawinda was marginal.
This document provides information about Major Agha.H.Amin, including his military and civilian career experiences. It notes that he was commissioned in the old PAVO Cavalry in March 1983, attended Saint Marys Academy Lalazar and Forman Christian College Lahore, and served in various command, staff, research, logistics and instructional positions in the military. It also lists some of his civilian career projects and publications. The document provides his contact email addresses.
1ST BATTALION WARWICKSHIRE REGIMENT IN 1857-59 BATTLES.pdfAgha A
- 1st Battalion HM 8th Foot was stationed in India when the 1857 rebellion broke out. It was involved in securing areas around Delhi.
- At the siege of Delhi in September 1857, it suffered 46 of its total 57 fatal casualties and played a marginal role in the assault.
- Overall it saw minor action in other battles, with limited casualties. The majority of its casualties occurred at the decisive battle of Delhi.
Northumberland Fusiliers in 1857-59 Battles.pdfAgha A
The 1st Battalion of the 5th Regiment of Foot (Northumberland Fusiliers) was stationed in Mauritius when it was called to reinforce British forces in India during the 1857 uprising. The battalion arrived in Calcutta in July and August 1857. It participated in key battles including relieving Arrah where it suffered two casualties, the first relief of Lucknow where it suffered heavy losses and helped ensure the relief's success, the defense of the Lucknow garrison, and operations through 1858. The battalion performed outstandingly and suffered high casualties of 62 men, including five officers killed in action, primarily during the relief of Lucknow. Its role was pivotal in some of the major battles, but relatively minor in others
43 BALUCH IN 1971 AND INDIAN OFFICER WHO SAW THEMAgha A
1) The document analyzes the performance of the 43rd Baluch battalion in the 1971 war, which suffered heavy casualties after being poorly employed by incompetent commanders in the 88th Brigade.
2) When the 5th East Bengal battalion defected to the Indian side, the 43rd Baluch battalion was brought in to replace it, even though they were inexperienced and unprepared for the situation.
3) In an attack by Indian forces guided by defectors, the 43rd Baluch battalion suffered the highest fatalities of any battalion on the western front due to being put into a vulnerable position by the failed leadership of the 88th Brigade commander and 10th Division commander.
Battle of Gangiri-Heavy Price paid by HM 6 Dragoon Guards for Gallantry Agha A
Battle of Gangiri-Heavy Price paid by HM 6 Dragoon Guards for Gallantry https://www.academia.edu/52632772/Battle_of_Gangiri_Heavy_Price_paid_by_HM_6_Dragoon_Guards_for_Gallantry via @academia
4th Punjab Infantry now 9 FF Pakistan Army and 42 Highlanders led the Final ...Agha A
The 4th Punjab Infantry battalion arrived in Calcutta in November 1857, meaning it missed the decisive battles of the war, including the siege of Delhi and the relief and evacuation of Lucknow. The battalion's participation in the battle of Cawnpore was minimal and it suffered no casualties. The battalion played a significant role in the final assault on Lucknow in March 1858, leading the assault on Martiniere with the 4th Punjab Infantry while the 42nd Highlanders and 90th Foot attacked frontally. The British enjoyed overwhelming artillery superiority, evidenced by the 42nd Highlanders suffering only 10 fatal casualties over 10 days of operations culminating in the final capture of Lucknow.
WHY PAKISTAN ARMY OR INDIAN ARMY CAN NEVER PRODUCE A MUSTAFA KAMAL- SOMETHING...Agha A
WHY PAKISTAN ARMY OR INDIAN ARMY CAN NEVER PRODUCE A MUSTAFA KAMAL- SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG IN THE GENES
April 2020
DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.20723.27689
Project: MILITARY HISTORY
Agha H Amin
Open Source Contributions to Postgres: The Basics POSETTE 2024ElizabethGarrettChri
Postgres is the most advanced open-source database in the world and it's supported by a community, not a single company. So how does this work? How does code actually get into Postgres? I recently had a patch submitted and committed and I want to share what I learned in that process. I’ll give you an overview of Postgres versions and how the underlying project codebase functions. I’ll also show you the process for submitting a patch and getting that tested and committed.
End-to-end pipeline agility - Berlin Buzzwords 2024Lars Albertsson
We describe how we achieve high change agility in data engineering by eliminating the fear of breaking downstream data pipelines through end-to-end pipeline testing, and by using schema metaprogramming to safely eliminate boilerplate involved in changes that affect whole pipelines.
A quick poll on agility in changing pipelines from end to end indicated a huge span in capabilities. For the question "How long time does it take for all downstream pipelines to be adapted to an upstream change," the median response was 6 months, but some respondents could do it in less than a day. When quantitative data engineering differences between the best and worst are measured, the span is often 100x-1000x, sometimes even more.
A long time ago, we suffered at Spotify from fear of changing pipelines due to not knowing what the impact might be downstream. We made plans for a technical solution to test pipelines end-to-end to mitigate that fear, but the effort failed for cultural reasons. We eventually solved this challenge, but in a different context. In this presentation we will describe how we test full pipelines effectively by manipulating workflow orchestration, which enables us to make changes in pipelines without fear of breaking downstream.
Making schema changes that affect many jobs also involves a lot of toil and boilerplate. Using schema-on-read mitigates some of it, but has drawbacks since it makes it more difficult to detect errors early. We will describe how we have rejected this tradeoff by applying schema metaprogramming, eliminating boilerplate but keeping the protection of static typing, thereby further improving agility to quickly modify data pipelines without fear.
ViewShift: Hassle-free Dynamic Policy Enforcement for Every Data LakeWalaa Eldin Moustafa
Dynamic policy enforcement is becoming an increasingly important topic in today’s world where data privacy and compliance is a top priority for companies, individuals, and regulators alike. In these slides, we discuss how LinkedIn implements a powerful dynamic policy enforcement engine, called ViewShift, and integrates it within its data lake. We show the query engine architecture and how catalog implementations can automatically route table resolutions to compliance-enforcing SQL views. Such views have a set of very interesting properties: (1) They are auto-generated from declarative data annotations. (2) They respect user-level consent and preferences (3) They are context-aware, encoding a different set of transformations for different use cases (4) They are portable; while the SQL logic is only implemented in one SQL dialect, it is accessible in all engines.
#SQL #Views #Privacy #Compliance #DataLake
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According to Ipsos AI Monitor's 2024 report, 65% Indians said that products and services using AI have profoundly changed their daily life in the past 3-5 years.
STATATHON: Unleashing the Power of Statistics in a 48-Hour Knowledge Extravag...sameer shah
"Join us for STATATHON, a dynamic 2-day event dedicated to exploring statistical knowledge and its real-world applications. From theory to practice, participants engage in intensive learning sessions, workshops, and challenges, fostering a deeper understanding of statistical methodologies and their significance in various fields."
Orchestrating the Future: Navigating Today's Data Workflow Challenges with Ai...Kaxil Naik
Navigating today's data landscape isn't just about managing workflows; it's about strategically propelling your business forward. Apache Airflow has stood out as the benchmark in this arena, driving data orchestration forward since its early days. As we dive into the complexities of our current data-rich environment, where the sheer volume of information and its timely, accurate processing are crucial for AI and ML applications, the role of Airflow has never been more critical.
In my journey as the Senior Engineering Director and a pivotal member of Apache Airflow's Project Management Committee (PMC), I've witnessed Airflow transform data handling, making agility and insight the norm in an ever-evolving digital space. At Astronomer, our collaboration with leading AI & ML teams worldwide has not only tested but also proven Airflow's mettle in delivering data reliably and efficiently—data that now powers not just insights but core business functions.
This session is a deep dive into the essence of Airflow's success. We'll trace its evolution from a budding project to the backbone of data orchestration it is today, constantly adapting to meet the next wave of data challenges, including those brought on by Generative AI. It's this forward-thinking adaptability that keeps Airflow at the forefront of innovation, ready for whatever comes next.
The ever-growing demands of AI and ML applications have ushered in an era where sophisticated data management isn't a luxury—it's a necessity. Airflow's innate flexibility and scalability are what makes it indispensable in managing the intricate workflows of today, especially those involving Large Language Models (LLMs).
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Session in https://budapestdata.hu/2024/04/kaxil-naik-astronomer-io/ | https://dataml24.sessionize.com/session/667627
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You can see the future first in San Francisco.
Over the past year, the talk of the town has shifted from $10 billion compute clusters to $100 billion clusters to trillion-dollar clusters. Every six months another zero is added to the boardroom plans. Behind the scenes, there’s a fierce scramble to secure every power contract still available for the rest of the decade, every voltage transformer that can possibly be procured. American big business is gearing up to pour trillions of dollars into a long-unseen mobilization of American industrial might. By the end of the decade, American electricity production will have grown tens of percent; from the shale fields of Pennsylvania to the solar farms of Nevada, hundreds of millions of GPUs will hum.
The AGI race has begun. We are building machines that can think and reason. By 2025/26, these machines will outpace college graduates. By the end of the decade, they will be smarter than you or I; we will have superintelligence, in the true sense of the word. Along the way, national security forces not seen in half a century will be un-leashed, and before long, The Project will be on. If we’re lucky, we’ll be in an all-out race with the CCP; if we’re unlucky, an all-out war.
Everyone is now talking about AI, but few have the faintest glimmer of what is about to hit them. Nvidia analysts still think 2024 might be close to the peak. Mainstream pundits are stuck on the wilful blindness of “it’s just predicting the next word”. They see only hype and business-as-usual; at most they entertain another internet-scale technological change.
Before long, the world will wake up. But right now, there are perhaps a few hundred people, most of them in San Francisco and the AI labs, that have situational awareness. Through whatever peculiar forces of fate, I have found myself amongst them. A few years ago, these people were derided as crazy—but they trusted the trendlines, which allowed them to correctly predict the AI advances of the past few years. Whether these people are also right about the next few years remains to be seen. But these are very smart people—the smartest people I have ever met—and they are the ones building this technology. Perhaps they will be an odd footnote in history, or perhaps they will go down in history like Szilard and Oppenheimer and Teller. If they are seeing the future even close to correctly, we are in for a wild ride.
Let me tell you what we see.
Build applications with generative AI on Google CloudMárton Kodok
We will explore Vertex AI - Model Garden powered experiences, we are going to learn more about the integration of these generative AI APIs. We are going to see in action what the Gemini family of generative models are for developers to build and deploy AI-driven applications. Vertex AI includes a suite of foundation models, these are referred to as the PaLM and Gemini family of generative ai models, and they come in different versions. We are going to cover how to use via API to: - execute prompts in text and chat - cover multimodal use cases with image prompts. - finetune and distill to improve knowledge domains - run function calls with foundation models to optimize them for specific tasks. At the end of the session, developers will understand how to innovate with generative AI and develop apps using the generative ai industry trends.
University of New South Wales degree offer diploma Transcript
A Lot of Assorted Nonsense About Afghanistan From Eric Margolis
1. A LOT OF ASSORTED NONSENSE ABOUT AFGHANISTAN FROM ERIC
MARGOLIS
ANALYSIS BY MAJOR AGHA H AMIN (RETIRED)
25 August 2012
COMMENTS BY MAJOR AGHA H AMIN (RETIRED) IN BOLD BLACK WITH
HIGHLIGHTED COLOUR
FACING THE WRITING ON THE WALL IN KABUL
by Eric Margolis
26 May 2012
One of my favorite artists was the superb Victorian painter Lady Jane
2. Butler who captured in oil the triumphs and tragedies of the British Empire.
Her haunting painting, “The Retreat from Kabul, ” shows the sole
survivor of a British army of 16,500, Dr. William Brydon, struggling
out of Afghanistan in January, 1842. All the rest were killed by
Afghan tribesmen after a futile attempt to garrison Kabul.
THIS WHOLE ARGUMENT IS B____LL SH___T AND A ROMANTICISED VERSION OF
HISTORY.WHAT REALLY HAPPENED WAS THAT A BRIGADE SIZE MUCH FAMISHED
COLUMN OF 700 BRITISH TROOPS FROM HM 44 FOOT AND SOME 4500 NATIVE INDIAN
TROOPS RETREATING FROM KABUL TO JALALABAD IN HEAVY SNOWFALL WAS
HARASSED AND DESTROYED BY MORE THAN 30,000 AFGHANS.THE STORY DID NOT
END HERE.BRITISH COMMANDERS NOTT AND POLLOCK ON THEIR OWN JUDGEMENT
RECAPTURED KABUL AFTER THIS INCIDENT , BURNT IT AND WITHDREW IN GOOD
MILITARY ORDER BACK TO INDIA.A DOCILE AND BRITISH VASSAL KING DOST
MOHAMMAD KHAN WAS PLACED ON THE THRONE IN KABUL.THIS KING COOPERATED
WITH BRITISH IN 1857 INDIAN REBELLION AT A LOW COST OF 13 LAKHS PER YEAR
.AFGHANISTAN BECAME A BRITISH VASSAL IN FOREIGN POLICY TILL 1919 AND
AGREED TO ONLY HAVE A BRITISH EMBASSY IN KABUL.ALL AT A LOW COST OF 13
LAKHS PER YEAR
.MY DETAILED ARGUMENTS TO TRASH THIS B____LL SH___T THEORY OF
GRAVEYARD OF EMPIRES IS APPENDED AT THE END OF THIS REJOINDER
This gripping painting should have hung over the NATO summit meeting
last week in Chicago to remind the US and its allies that Afghanistan
remains “the graveyard of empires.”
THIS IS NOT ABOUT GRAVEYARD OF EMPIRES.AFGHANISTAN WAS NEVER A
GRAVEYARD OF EMPIRES.IN MID SIXTEENTH CENTURY IT HAD A MUGHAL HINDU
GOVERNOR WHOSE ONLY WEAPON WAS A WALKING STEP.TILL 1747 AFGHANISTAN
WAS RULED BY VARIOUS TURKIC TRIBES OR PARTLY BY MUGHAL INDIA AND
SAFFAVID IRAN.
The latest empire to try to conquer Afghanistan has failed, and is now
sounding the retreat.
THE LATEST INVASION IS A GEOPOLITICAL STRATEGIC MANOEUVRE THAT THE NATO
LED BY US HAS LAUNCHED TO DOMINATE THE STRATEGIC HEARTLAND OF WEST
ASIA.NATURALLY THE ANTI US INSURGENTS ARE GETTING AID FROM PAKISTAN ,
CHINA , RUSSIA AND MANY NON STATE MUSLIM PHILANTHROPIST
BILLIONAIRES.NORTH AFGHANISTAN BY AND LARGE SEES NATO AS A SAVIOUR
FROM TALIBAN WHO REGARD TAJIKS , UZBEKS,BALOCH , SHIAS,ISMAILIS,EDUCATED
PASHTUNS AS INFIDELS AND WOULD MASSACRE THEM
All the hot air in Chicago about “transition,” Afghan self-reliance,
and growing security could not conceal the truth that the mighty US
and its dragooned western allies have been beaten in Afghanistan by a
bunch of mountain warriors from the 12th Century.
THE US FAILURE HAS BEEN TO PLAN A PHASE THREE AND THIS NEEDS A DYNAMIC
PLAN. COMPLETE WITHDRAWAL FROM AFGHANISTAN IS NOT THE RIGHT SOLUTION
SEE THE ANALYSIS BELOW FOR OPTIONS
http://low-intensity-conflict-review.blogspot.com/2009/07/new-us-strategy-
in-afghanistan-and-camp.html
3. The objective of war is to achieve political goals, not kill people.
The US goal was to turn Afghanistan into a protectorate providing
bases close to Caspian Basin oil, and to block China. After an
eleven-year war costing $1 trillion, this effort failed – meaning a
military and political defeat.
THERE NEVER WAS ANY MORALITY IN STRATEGY AND GEOPOLITICS.SO THE US
OBJECTIVE OF WAR IS LOGICAL . MORAL OR IMMORAL . THAT IS SENTIMENTAL B__L
SH____T.MORALITY NEVER EXISTED IN WORLD HISTORY.BE IT ANY RACE OR
RELIGION
The US dragged NATO into a war in which it had no business and lacked
any popular support. The result: a serious weakening of the NATO
alliance, raising questions about whose interests it really serves.
The defeat in Afghanistan will undermine US domination of Western
Europe.
Claims made in Chicago that the US-installed Afghan regime will stand
on its own with $4 billion of aid from the west were pie in the sky.
Once US support ends, the Karzai regime is unlikely to survive much
longer than did Najibullah’s Afghan Communist regime in Kabul after
its Soviet sponsor withdrew in 1989. Or the US-run South Vietnamese
regime that fell in 1975.
THE THREE STATE SOLUTION IN AFGHANISTAN WITH NATO IN AERIAL SUPPORT CAN
CHECK THE TALIBAN.THE ENGLISH EAST INDIA COMPANY DID IT WITH ONLY 13 LAKH
RUPEES IN 1857 ! THE AFGHAN KING DOST MOHAMMAD KHAN WAS SUCH A DISGRACE
THAT HE GOT HIS SON WAZEER AKBAR KHAN THE AFGHAN HERO OF FIRST AFGHAN
WAR POISONED BECAUSE WAZEER AKBAR KHAN WAS ANTI BRITISH AND THUS A
THREAT TO DOST MOHAMMADS 13 LAKHS PER YEAR ALLOWANCE TO ACT AS THE
ENGLISH EAST INDIA COMPANYS STRATEGIC P____MP IN AFGHANISTAN
FOR POISONING OF WAZEER AKBAR KHAN SEE QASIM RESHTIAS BOOK
4. The current 350,000-man Afghan government army and police are
mercenaries fighting for money supplied by the US and NATO. Many are
ethnic Uzbeks and Tajiks, blood foes of the majority Pashtun. Taliban
and its allies are fighting for nationalism and faith. History tells
us who will prevail.
THE AFGHAN NATIONAL ARMY AND POLICE WHOSE NUCLEUS ARE THE LEFTISTS CAN
GAIN MILITARY VIRTUE AS DEFINED BY CARL VON CLAUSEWITZ BUT THAT NEEDS
SOME YEARS.NOTHING WAS INEVITABLE IN HISTORY AND THIS INCLUDES THE
IMAGINED TRIUMPH OF TALIBAN !
All Afghans know the western powers have been defeated. Those with
sense are already making deals with Taliban. Vengeance being a
cherished Afghan custom, those who collaborated closely with the
foreign forces can expect little mercy.
Air power is the key to US control of Afghanistan. Warplanes and
helicopter gunships circle constantly overhead to defend western bases
and supply routes. Reduce this air power, as will likely happen after
2014, and remaining US troops will be in peril. Pakistan’s temporary
closure of NATO land supply routes to Kabul and Kandahar provides a
foretoken of what may occur. Currently, the US must rely on Russia for
much of its heavy supplies.
Already there are worries about getting US and NATO troops out of Afghanistan.
France’s new president, Francoise Hollande, wisely reaffirmed his
pledge to withdraw all French troops this year. Other NATO members are
wishing they could do the same. No one wants to have their soldiers be
the last to die in a futile war that everyone knows is lost.
5. To wage and sustain the Afghan War, the US has been forced to
virtually occupy Pakistan, bribe its high officials, and force
Islamabad to follow policies hated by 95% of its people, generating
virulent anti-Americanism. The Afghan War must be ended before it
tears apart Pakistan and plunges South Asia into crisis into which
nuclear-armed India is likely to become involved.
Washington intends to leave garrisons in Afghanistan after the 2014
announced pullout date, rebranding them “trainers” instead of combat
troops. Their mission will be to keep the pro-US Afghan regime in
power. But neither the US nor NATO will come up with the $4 billion
promised in Chicago.
Washington is encouraging India to get ever more deeply involved in
Afghanistan – even to become its new colonial power. India would be
wise to keep its hands off.
In a second “Retreat from Kabul,” remaining US garrisons in
Afghanistan may face the fate of the 1842 British invaders, cut off,
ambushed, and hacked to pieces by the ferocious Pashtun tribesmen. 30
Copyright Eric S. Margolis 2012
Myth of English East India Companys Failure in First Afghan War
BY
MAJOR AGHA H AMIN (RETIR
Ranjeet Singh was the real architect of English East India Companys
failures and reverses in Afghanistan once he forced them to
follow the much longer and logistically impossible route of attack via
Sindh and Balochistan.
English East India Companys failures in Afghanistan were highly
exaggerated although the force which was destroyed by Afghans at
Gandamak was a
heavily outnumbered force of 700 British malnourished soldiers and
some 4500 malnourished Indians.
Agha H Amin
10. The Bengal Army was the brain child of Lord Clive's military genius. The
Bengal sepoys related to each other by blood relationship and caste bonds had
served the EEIC for some 100 years when they rebelled in 1857. These men
had a very close contact with the British and had observed them from very
close quarters. Any neutral and unbiased account of the events of 1857 clearly
proves that the Britisher as an officer was never disliked by the sepoys. As an
officer who served in Pakistan Army I can state with conviction that the British
provided excellent leadership to the Indians. They definitely knew how to lead
and inspire the Indian, leading them from the forefront which I am afraid few
of at least our native post 1947. Generals did either in Burma or in 1965 or in
1971. The sepoy admired and revered the British officer. In 1857 he was
rebelling against the system instituted by the EEIC. Against policies formulated
by men constituting a board of directors in far off England. The greasing of
cartridges with pig or cow fat similarly was also an administrative decision.
The sepoy perceived the British officer as a fair and brave leader and many
British officers reciprocated these feelings. One of the British commanding
officer committed suicide when his native infantry regiment was disbanded.
Many others resisted disbandment of their units. One troop of 3rd Light
11. Cavalry the most crucial unit of Bengal Army Sepoys as a matter of fact loyally
fought for the British in 1857.
It appears, however, that sepoy perceptions about EEIC military
effectiveness changed from absolute faith in the invincibility of the EEIC as a
military machine to skepticism from 1804 to 1857. Before we proceed further
we must state that the first major reverse or defeat which the EEIC suffered in
India was in 1780 at the hands of Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan who were heading
forces whose fighting Hector Munro and Baillie in 1780 were defeated in a
manner which was described by Fortes Cue the official historian of the British
army in the following words, "The blunders had been flagrant and from a
military point of view, Munro must be held solely responsible for one of the
greatest calamities that has ever befallen the British arms"469. But this
happened with the Madras Army. The Bengal Army sepoy realized for the first
time in 1804 that the that EEIC was not invincible. This happened while
dealing with the Mahrattas and not the Afghans who came much later. In 1804
five battalions of sepoys and about 3000 irregular horse left by the C in C
Bengal Army Lord Lake to keep the Mahratta Holkar in check under the
command of Colonel Monsoon were forced to make a disastrous retreat from
Central India to Agra470. The results of this reverse were short term since Lord
12. Lake immediately assumed personal command and defeated the Mahrattas.
However, the harm had been done and the myth of invincibility of the EEIC as
far as the Bengal Army was concerned was challenged for the first time.
Monsoon's retreat was followed by a much more serious reverse which for
many years shattered the EEIC myth of invincibility. This happened at
Bhurtpore, the Hindu Jat fortress which is the only fort in British Indian history
which a British army in India failed in a siege to capture. Leading the EEIC
army in this case was a man of no less a stature than Lord Lake who had
previously captured Delhi and destroyed Mahratta power in North India in
battle of Laswari. (It must be remembered that Panipat - 1761 checked the
Mahrattas, but this was temporary since within few years they recaptured
Delhi. It was at Laswari on 01 Nov. 1803 that one European infantry regiment
and a couple of Bengal Army Regiments composed of roughly 3/4 Hindu
soldiers and 1/4 Hindustani Muslims destroyed the Mahratta Army) 471. In
1805 Lake failed to capture Bhurtpore. He made a first assault in January 1805
but failed to capture the fort. The British troops became so demoralised that the
three European regiments i.e. HM 75 Foot, HM 76 Foot and the 1st Bengal
Europeans refused orders to attack and withdrew 472! Almost a thousand
casualties were suffered but repeated British assaults were repulsed. At last on
13. 24 February Lord Lake withdrew his army from Bhurtpore. Subsequently, the
Hindu Jat Raja sued for peace in 1805 due to reasons of political expediency;
but the fact remained that militarily this Hindu Jat Raja had not been defeated!
The EEIC never forgot this defeat and later on they did capture Bhurtpore but
this was much later i.e. on 18 January 1826. The force used at Bhurtpore this
time was larger than the one the EEIC used to recapture Kabul in September
1842473 in the first Afghan War. Another reverse which the EEIC suffered was
in the Nepal war of 1814-16. Here their initial advance into Nepal was
repulsed. Nepal was subsequently defeated using the Bengal Sepoys but again
the harm had been done. The sepoy's confidence in the British officer was a
little shaken. The EEIC retreat from Kabul to Jalalabad in the first Afghan war
was not a big disaster keeping in view the numbers involved. There were only
700 Europeans in some 5000 troops in the weak and Stan brigade which
withdrew from Kabul in January 1842 and which was destroyed by an
overwhelming force of some 30,000 Afghans taking advantage of harsh
weather and shortage of food in this EEIC force. The EEIC troops largely
composed of Bengal sepoys did subsequently recapture Kabul in September
1842. But the human mind is not a computer and the net significant impression
produced on the sepoy was that the EEIC had been forced to retreat. The
14. extremely tough resistance of the valiant Sikhs in the First and Second Sikh
wars again produced a strong impression on the mind of the Bengal Army
Sepoy. At Mudki the main British army survived just because the Sikh general
Taj Singh did not attack them,474a otherwise their destruction was certain.
This was a battle fought on absolutely plain land, unlike Afghanistan where the
Afghans bravery had a deep connection with adverse mountainous terrain. The
impressions of the Sikh wars were the deepest in convincing the sepoys that the
British were not invincible. In Afghanistan the mountains, the adverse weather
and the small numbers were an excuse; but at Chillianwala everything favoured
the British and yet they failed!
All these disasters from 1804 till 1849 certainly had an influence on the
mind of the Bengal sepoy and reinforced his decision to rebel in 1857. The
sepoys felt in 1857 that they could meet the Europeans on the battlefield as an
equal. Their perceptions were however erroneous in one area. This was about
realising that the principals force multiplier of sepoy efficiency was superior
leadership of the British officer. Without British leadership the military
effectiveness of the sepoy reduced by some 75%. Since the British suppressed
the initial rebellions in Punjab they were able to use Punjab and Frontier's
manpower to create new regiments or in using comparatively new regiments
15. raised in 1846-49 which were used with as much effect at Delhi as the Bengal
sepoy units at Kabul or Ghazni or at Gujrat. The British officer of 1857 was the
greatest force multiplier of military effectiveness by virtue of leadership which
was far superior to be "Rebel" leadership in terms of "Resolution" "Tactical
Efficiency" reinforced by an iron frame administrative organisation created by
the EEIC during its 100 year rule in India and its eight year old rule in the
Punjab.
Lack of Foreign Intervention
It has been said that "French" intervention in support of the American rebels
during the American war of Independence played an important role in the
success of the Americans against the British. The French navy played a
decisive role in blocking British reinforcements and in movement of British
ships from one part of America to the other. Similarly, in 1971 the Indian
intervention played an important role in the otherwise just and righteous
struggle of the Bengalis against West Pakistan oppression. The Vietnamese
may not have succeeded the way they did against USA, had the Chinese and
USSR not helped them the way they did. Similarly the Afghans against USSR
may not have been so successful had the USA not aided them. The foreign
intervention factor plays an important role in the success of a rebellion. In 1857
16. no such thing happened. Afghanistan was the only country which could have
made the rebellion a success by invading India. But we must remember that
contrary to the prevalent myth about Afghan invincibility, these gentlemen had
been so severely mauled by the EEIC in September 1842 that they did not dare
to attack the EEIC in 1857, which as a matter of fact was a golden opportunity
for them to attack India. The EEIC was at its lowest ebb and the Governor
General of India and the Chief Commissioner of Punjab were seriously
contemplating about surrendering all area upto river Indus to Afghanistan. In
June - July 1857 John Lawrence the EEIC Chief Commissioner of Punjab
(including present N.W.F.P.) had become so demoralised due to the siege of
Delhi that he had informed Edward's the Commissioner of Peshawar that due to
fear about security and survival of the British army at Delhi he was thinking
about sending all British troops in Peshawar valley to Delhi and to invite the
ruler of Afghanistan Dost Muhammad Khan to occupy the Peshawar valley
upto the Indus on the understanding that if he proved faithful (which he
certainly was!), the Peshawar valley would be ceded to him in perpetuity474.
But Dost Muhammad was happier with the money EEIC was giving him every
year. Secondly, Edward's the EEIC man at Peshawar was a man of immense
resolution. Edwardes declared that rather than obeying such a defeatist order to
17. abandon Peshawar "he would feel bound by conscience to resign and explain
his reason to the government"475. Lord Canning the Governor General to
whom Lawrence had requested for clearance regarding the proposal to cede
Peshawar also realised that psychologically and politically such an action
would be fatal since it would be perceived in NWFP and in Afghanistan as a
withdrawal and defeat on the EEIC part. Canning therefore, decided in favour
of Edwardes. Edwardes was right in understanding the true worth of Dost
Muhammad Khan the so called "Amir of Afghanistan"! Dost Muhammad
Khan's price was an annual subsidy of 12 lakh or 1.2 million Indian rupees per
year 476! Just look at the difference in perceptions. The thoroughbred Britisher,
the man who saved the Punjab in 1857 is thinking big. He thinks that "Dost
Muhammad" the King of Afghanistan, the ruler of a proud race which became
independent only in 1722 will accept nothing less than Peshawar valley from
Khyber till Indus! Edward is a better judge, he beautifully appreciates that 12
lakh an year will do. Was there any difference between Bahadur Shah Zafar
who was drawing a similar allowance as Dost Muhammad of Afghanistan? It
was Afghan loyalty which saved India for the British more than Punjab or
NWFP loyalty! I give full marks to he EEIC General Pollock who in 1842 on
his own initiative decided to capture and burn Kabul, despite contrary orders
18. from Ellenborough the Viceroy of India477. Thus on his orders Kabul was
captured and burnt on September 1842. This was a good job since it was this
severe mauling received in 1842 which most probably restrained Dost
Muhammad from attacking India. Afghanistan thus lost probably the last
chance to regain Peshawar! Thus we find our brave Muslim Afghan neighbours
concluding an offensive defensive treaty with the EEIC while the Hindu Raja
of Ballabghar and the Mahratta Tantia Topi were fighting alongside their
Muslim Bengal Army Sepoys! Just Rs. 12 lakh per year, cheap isn't it! Thus
Canning telegraphed Lawrence478:-
"Hold on to Peshawar. give upon nothing"
Money makes the mare go! The Khilafat Leaders of 1918-23 had not read
the history of Afghans and thus naively hoped that the Afghans would invade
India! The Afghans lost a golden opportunity of attacking British India during
the First World War once the pure white troops holding India were as
following479:
a. Eight Infantry Battalions
b. Thirteen Batteries of Artillery
c. Two Cavalry Regiments
19. A total of some just 15,000 troops! Foolishly the Afghans did attack India in
1919 when a new king came into power and were quickly pushed back by the
British Indian forces who were back to the pre war strength.