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My soon to be lawyer daughter would say that the seemingly arcane language is simply to ensure unambiguity.

Dont get me started on the myths of WW1.

Not just WWI, alas; and I'm not thinking so much of the
command, but the idiot politicians that so often put them in
a no-win situation,

We won the first world war, and the second. Korea was a score draw, Malaysia didn't fall to the communists. NI was contained until a political solution was found. Apart from Afghanistan, which no-win siuations have you in mind? I'm not being sarcastic, but I cant think of any.

andy at handiwork wrote:
> We won the first world war, and the second.
And damn' nearly knackered ourselves in the process. Pyrrhic
victories at best, with hindsight.

> Korea was a score draw
A 'police-action', technically. We were only minor partners; worse
for the US than us, that one.

> Malaysia didn't fall to the communists.
But Burma did.
We 'withdrew' from Aden and Palestine, and were heartily stitched-
up by the Americans over Nasser in '56.

Africa: Nigeria, Ghana, Bechuanaland, South Africa, and another
20 or so.... not wars but certainly 'no-win' situations where
British servicemen's lives were put on the line.

And I'm sure George III's ghost would want to mention the erstwhile
'colonies', and the events leading up to '76 : -)

Interesting comments there. I saw the Defence minister on TV yesterday saying tht people should prepare themselves for more deaths of our servicemen as the days and weeks go on. Imagine what it must be like to be the family of one of our guys who is over there hearing that. You are being told that it is quite likely your son is about to die. How awful to be living day to day just waiting for the call from the MOD. Did you know that the Iraq War and the Afghanistan War have been going on longer than either WW1 or WW2 did? (fact).

An argument can be made for the start of WW2 being as far back as the early 1930s with Japan's invasion of Manchuria. Our euro and anglo, centric view of the war leads us to forget the huge suffering and loss of life that preceeded our entry to the fight against nazi and Japanese aggression. We even play down the titanic Russian struggle. For ever British-American death on our fronts there were 85 Russian fatalities. Imperial Japan's invasion of China marked the start of a chain of conflict lasting until the formal surrender of the Japanese in 1945

Are you honestly saying that we have not been involved in a single conflict over the past 100 years that was anything other than a 'no-win'?

In a war there are no real winners : -((

The last 100 years? That's tough....... the Falklands, obviously,
against a much weaker opponent but with enormously long supply-
lines.
WWs I and II were essentially coalition-victories.
We finally won in Burma but lost the Peace, a bit like I and II : -)

I'd have to go back a good few years further to find any categorical
wins- partly because we usually fought in alliances in the 1900s.

Yes, but our dismal politicos escape ultimate responsibility by
not calling then wars.

Bring them home, and find a better way.....