Military History Podcast

This episode is an analysis of the environmental impacts of the current war in Iraq.  There are several major categories, each of which will be discussed.  This episode is meant to be an overview of the rarely-discussed ecological situation in Iraq, rather than a persuasive piece towards one viewpoint or another.  The entire episode will revolve around environmental issues--political and strategic issues and biases will not be included.

• Negative Effects:
• Oil Fires: Saddam lit oil wells on fire, resulting in extreme air pollution.
• Oil Spills: the oil wells spilled into the surrounding ground and sea, ruining vast expanses of animal habitats.
• Depleted Uranium: DU munitions used by Coalition forces have chemically wounded thousands of Iraqis and Americans.
• War Machines: Military vehicles and structures wreak havoc through the fragile deserts of Western and Northern Iraq.
• Munitions: Unexploded ordinances and explosion craters have wrecked acres and acres of potential farmland.
• Water Pollution: Unnatural or unhealthy chemicals, such as oil and human biomass, have entered waterways in large quantities, thereby rendering them unusable.
• Infrastructure Damage: The lack of leadership in Iraq means that significant environmental problems, such as broken sewage systems, never get fixed.
• Fiscal Allocation: Funds allocated to defense could have been used to pursue environmentalist initiatives.
• Positive Effects:
• Iraq War is a major catalyst for the “alternative energies initiative?.
• Saddam’s ecologically harmful policies will no longer devastate the Iraqi ecosystem.
• Iraq’s relationship with the United Nations has improved, meaning that UN environmental agencies can now safely enter the region.

For more information, read: Environmental Science by Richard Wright The Gulf War Aftermath by Mohammed Sadiq Desk Study on the Environment in Iraq by the United Nations Environment Program The Iraq Quagmire by the Institute for Policy Studies The Environment Consequences of the war in Iraq by the UK Green Party Special thanks to: Captain Christopher Green, Corporal Trent Davis, and Master Sergeant Jonny Lung Military History Podcast is sponsored by Armchair General Magazine

This episode is the 101st episode of Military History Podcast. It is a compilation of 100 MHP clips, tidbits, and funfacts. It is split into two parts: this is part two.  Feel free to post any clips that I failed to mention in the episode.Military History Podcast is sponsored by Armchair General Magazine

The Peloponnesian War was fought by Athens and Sparta in the late 5th century BC.  It was an epic war between two superpowers, and the similarities to the Cold War are numerous.  Since most people know about the Cold War, since it was so recent, I will summarize this episode via comparisons between it and the Peloponnesian War. This second episode covers the Amphipolis Campaign/Cuban Missile Crisis to the surrender of Athens. The Participants:

• Athens/United States: wealthy, democratic, powerful navy, supported by numerous smaller states (Delian League/NATO)
• Initially led by Pericles/FDR: rulers during the expansion of their respective nations' geopolitical status
• Sparta/USSR: communist, totalitarian, powerful army, supported by numerous smaller states (Peloponnesian League/Warsaw Pact)
• Initially led by Archidamus II/Stalin: rulers during the expansion of their respective nations' geopolitical status
• Thebes/China: Weaker third power allied with Sparta/USSR

Timeline:

• Persian Wars/WWII: Sparta/USSR and Athens/USA were originally allied in the fight against Persia/Axis
• Pentecontaetia/Berlin Blockade: Sparta/USSR and Athens/USA skirmish briefly over intermediate territory (Corinthian Isthmus/Germany)
• Archidamian War/Korean War: Sparta/USSR engages in a land war with Athens/USA over intermediate territory (Corinthian Isthmus/Germany).  Results in a stalemate.
• Pylos Campaign/Suez Crisis: Athens/USA intervenes in territory close to Sparta/USSR in order to gain an economic and political advantage. 
• Amphipolis Campaign/Cuban Missile Crisis: Sparta/USSR sneaks into the Athens/USA sphere of influence and creates an outpost.
• Aegean Sea Propaganda Campaigns/Third World War: Sparta/USSR provides support to revolutions in Athens/USA's sphere of influence.
• Sicilian Expedition/Vietnam War: Athens/USA attempts to contain Sparta/USSR's sphere of influence and fails miserably (loses lives and money).

Where the analogy fails:

• Sparta launches a successful, massive land invasion against Athens (Problem: USSR never fought USA over Europe).  Decisive victory at the Battle of Mantinea
• Sparta destroys the entire Athenian Navy at the Battle of Aegospotami (Problem: USSR never defeated the American Navy decisively)
• Athens surrendered to Sparta (Problem: The US won the Cold War)

So, the analogy isn't perfect, but it is still accurate in most respects.  After the Peloponnesian War, Thebes (the former third power) swept down and became the new superpower (over both Sparta and Athens), just like China seems to be becoming now (over the US). For more information, read: History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides Military History Podcast is sponsored by Armchair General

The Defense Department's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) was founded in 1958 in order to ensure that the science gap remained in the US's favor.  Many great empires, such as the Mongols, Chinese, Ottomans, Mughals, and later, the Soviets, fell from grace because they missed out on major military revolutions, such as the Gunpowder Revolution, the Two Industrial Revolutions, and the Information Revolution.  America was determined to not let it happen to them.  Since its creation in 1958, DARPA has been at the forefront of technology and innovation.  It's inventions since 1958 include:

• Satellites
• GPS
• M-16 Rifle
• ARPANET (predecessor to the Internet)
• Stealth Fighters (F-117, B-2, F-22)
• Cruise Missiles
• UAVs (Predator, Global Hawk)
• UGVs (SWORDS, TALON, Packbot)

DARPA now focuses on nine major areas:

• Robust, Secure, Self-Forming Networks
• Detection, Precision ID, Tracking, and Destruction of Elusive Targets
• Urban Area Operations
• Advanced Manned and Unmanned Systems
• Detection, Characterization, and Assessment of Underground Structures
• Space
• Increasing the Tooth To Tail Ratio
• Biorevolution
• Core Technologies

Many of its current "Revolution in Military Affairs" projects fall under the Future Combat Systems Program.  This includes the Future Warrior battlesuit that can change color, carry more, become harder than kevlar, heal the user, connect directly back to the command post, sense dangers, change temperatures, and reinforce human muscles. For more information, read: http://www.darpa.mil/ War Made New by Max Boot Foreign Affairs (January 2007): The Real Meaning of Military Transformation Foreign Affairs (July 2006): The Military’s Manpower Crisis Military History Podcast is sponsored by Armchair General Magazine My Odeo Channel (odeo/a5b9222a2c4c44e2)

The Battle for Iwo Jima, "sulfur island" of the Pacific, was a battle between the elite US marines and the stout-hearted Japanese defenders. The Japanese, after years of preparation, had created an extensive tunnel network that prevented them from being hurt by the naval bombardment. Consequently, when the Fifth Amphibious Corps (VAC) landed, they had to fight 22,000 well-entrenched Japanese, complete with banzai charges and other intimidating tactics. In the end, the US death toll was 10% and the Japanese death toll was 99% (with the other 1% being captured). For more information: Military History Magazine (February 2003): Marine Private's Iwo Jima Memories The Pacific War Companion by Daniel Marston