A US Senator appeared on television this morning to discuss last night’s State Of The Union address. I was a bit surprised to see his forehead marked with black ash. Today is the religious day of Ash Wednesday. I was struck that seeing a man who had been to church for the application of ash was a rarity in this day and age. Papa attended a Catholic school and every kid received the mark made by ash as a symbol of sacrifice and repentence. None of us would have still had the ash on our forehead by mid-morning much less for a TV interview. We were too active. Ash flew everywhere. (Except for Jackie Bergens who looked covered with dirt or ash all the time.)

Papa never had much to repent through grade school but the sacrifice part of the ritual caught my attention. Ash Wednesday is the start of Lent. Yesterday was Mardi Gras. Big celebration and then it is into the wilderness to sacrifice. Lent is forty long days of sacrifice. We kids were supposed to “give up” something for Lent. Candy quickly popped to mind of course but Papa only allowed that to happen one time. Toughest forty days ever. Not smacking a brother was also hard but naming only one of three for the exclusion made the sacrifice doable. Favorite TV shows, movies, (Friday night and Saturday matinees were staples.) cake, cookies and pies made the grade in different years. Funny, but sacrifice actually seemed good for the soul. Adds a touch of restraint to an indulgent life. Humility of sorts I guess.

At any rate, today was strange when I thought about it. I saw no other ashes when driving or at the gym or grocery store.

News reports indicate that a 40 mile Russian convoy is approaching Kyiv. That force is believed to be one that will impose a siege around the capitol. And, then bombard the city into submission. A true evil meets good scenario.

It is difficult to know real time facts but one press release indicates a belief that the convoy may be stalled due to logistical issues. Even if only a tempoary pause in Russia’s advance, it brings to mind another World War Two story from my youth. After D-Day enormous amounts of supplies were needed for the troops that “broke out” from Normandy. As the story goes, at meetings over 36 hours, a plan under the direction of Eisenhower was devised to send trucks eastward as a supply chain. (I already mentioned the US interstate highway system enacted under Eisenhower in a previous post. Guess where parts of that concept came from.) “Red Ball” was an old term, probably from US railroads, that gave right of ways on transport lines. Soon 5000 to 6000 trucks were speeding across France with supplies. Even then a lot of fuel had to be used and it was hard for supplies to keep up with rapid combat advances towards Germany.

Supplies are important in a war. If the Russians are currently only delayed due to food, fuel or water issues it is still not a good sign for them. It’s a weakness that would need correction. It is hard to believe that an invasion was planned without adequate plans for supply routes. Once delayed at this point might mean future supply problems. That has been true throughout history; Napoleon in Russia, Hitler in Russia; Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam. (One of the war crimes allegations I reviewed included an incident along the Ho Chi Minh trail.)

It is hard to think of a 40 mile long convoy without imagining sitting ducks. I have no idea what is possible but being a young Russian soldier sitting in one of those stalled vehicles might be cause for anxiety. Which brings Papa to a sad but half humorous memory. I remember meeting a young Air Force jet pilot on his way to Vietnam and he said his dream in combat would be seeing an enemy supply train or convoy. Shortly thereafter he was shot down; spent years in the Hanoi Hilton and when I next saw him it was on television as he was one of the American POWs released. And, those are some of my memories that the term “convoy” conjures up.

In my past life involving investigation reviews, America’s adherence to doing what is right was a source of pride. In Vietnam our military conducted investigations into alleged war crimes. I can attest that I never saw any evidence that the enemy was one bit concerned about following the law of land warfare. Our side was not immune from violating international law but I recall that in training and in the field, doing what was right in a combat context was stressed. And, when violations occurred or possibly happened by US forces, an investigation was required. I always came away with the impression that the investigations I reviewed were thorough and above board. In wartime it may not alays be easy to take the time and put in the effort to investigate but America’s military did so in solid fashion.

Complete truth may not always be possible in the short term but accountability was the ultimate goal. After action investigations were pursued even if facts didn’t come out until much later. I feel very comfortable saying that I never had cause to doubt that sincere attempts were made by America for finding the facts and accountability. Wherever the chips might fall. War is horrible but nations and citizens owe an obligation to abide by international law.

There is little doubt that war crimes are being committed with the current Russian invasion. It may take time but it is to be hoped that at some point a forum will exist at which violators are subject to accountability.

The invasion of Ukraine by Russia emphasizes why air support is so important in modern warfare. Russia pretty much dominates the air and that gives it a great advanatge over the Ukrainian forces on the ground. Ukraine sure could have used more defensive weapons against air assaults before the invasion. Which reminded me of historical events that I’d recommend you knowing. Not the least of which is that a soldier raised in Papa’s hometown is often credited with advocating that the US develop air power in future wars. Of great consequnce in World War Two.

In World War One, long before the US joined that effort, young American pilots volunteered to help the French. Some were quite well to do but risked going into combat anyways. (Made sense because I suspect the wealthy had more opportunity to fly airplanes in those days.) The French government accepted American volunteers and that segment of air support in those days became known as “Lafayette Escadrille”.

A similar thing happened before World War Two when Ameicans formed the AVG to assist China in fighting Japan. The pilots were quite skilled and successful against the enemy. Some of their origins stemmed from daredevil pilots that once were popular in entertaining crowds. (i.e. it’s said that the founder once tied his plane to two other bi-planes and off the three of them flew to do tricks in the air!) The American Voluteer Group became known as the “Flying Tigers.” I remember having a model plane with their famous shark tooth painting.

Has anyone noticed that most of Papa’s memories involve history? For this current message I go back to my college days. Not the down on State Street days. I’m talking about actual classes of education. I was not immune. World War Two was the seminal memory of my youth. Much of my world outlook stems from my knowledge of the first fifty years of the 20th century. The 1950’s was an era of the Red Scare. Commies might be everywhere. I recall a few “duck and cover” drills at school. (There actually was chewing gum under those desks.) Chants of “Joe Must Go” were directed at my home state’s senator. I was a 9 year old passenger in a car on 76th street when the radio news informed of the Rosenberg executions. I was very much aware of my geopolitical surroundings. Isn’t everyone?

So, by the time I got to college I knew everything about everything; as will you at some point after you reach puberty. To ward off the commies of the Soviet Union, President Eisenhower developed a policy of “mutually assured destruction.” (MAD) The Soviets and communisim were very much on the march after the war. To stop their advance at the “Iron Curtain” NATO was created. One advantage of MAD was it allowed for smaller military forces since an A-Bomb could be the price to pay for misbehavior. Nuclear weapons probably did have a positive impact on Soviet or US temper tandrums. Kept the Soviets in the box. Ending the world has a sobering effect.

But, some folks can’t let well enough alone. Usually it is someone with do-gooder sentiments. Blow up the whole world just because a cause of war exits? There must be some other way to blow off a little steam. Like they used to do in the rational days of Napoleon. What was needed was good old fashioned, limited wars. Let’s call them “brush fire wars”.

The country can’t change overnight. Popular support for something new was needed. How about a book? Called “Red Alert”. (1958) Assume no actual cause for war. Assume no actual order to start a nuclear attack is given. Maybe a mistake that sends a bomber on a mission and the bomber can’t be recalled when the mistake is revealed. The world blows up by mistake. We can’t have that kind of insanity.

Papa, even in those days, wasn’t the brightest but it was never clear to me why brush fire wars would stop a mistaken use of nukes. But, what did I know? In short order brush fire wars erupted. For my generation, that small war that needed a “flexible response” was Vietnam. Thus, at college, I remember the professor drolling over the concept of JFK’s flexible response policy. It was much more civilized to continue the centuries old tradition of killing in conventional wars than risk a huge meltdown. (Even if it doesn’t happen?)

On this subject and particularly the 1958 book I recommend a1964 movie: “Dr. Stranglove”. (How to learn to stop worrying and love the bomb.) It is in black and white photography. In a similar vein, But on the serious side there was a 1962 book followed by a 1964 movie, “Fail Safe”. Dr. Stranglove is more fun.

Well, he did it. War in Europe. Takes a special kind of dictator. The news outlets describe old Vlad as a Pariah. Papa and his ilk are more likely to use the word Doofus. Monsters deserve the more serious names of comdenation by talking heads. But, sometimes humor or satire are also appropriate. Sitting stoic on a stark stage while lying about Ukraine is a humorous vision. Vald pledges to rush into Ukraine and de-Nazify Ukraine by removing its Jewish President. Probably kill him if the Russians troops can get their hands on him. That would really make the anti-Nazi point.

For poking fun at the worst of the worst I recommend the 1940 movie “The Great Dictator”. It was filmed in black and white. I apologize to my grandkids with an aversion to such cinematography. But, it makes its point with sledge hammer clarity. The movie was made even before Papa’s time. However, with any sense of twentieth century history, you will understand its humor. Skewers old Adolph good.

Have faith in liberty. No matter how many Nuts Jobs (Hitler, Mussolini, Tojo, Mao, Castro and a sprinkling of other Poohbahs) spring up, civilization seems to advance towards peace and prosperity. It’ll always be a struggle. Thugs/bullies usually only respond to strength. Too often that solution runs smack into a desire of too many to go along to get along. Some folks are way too fearful of setting red lights and even get skittish about yellow lights. Dictators love green lights and may look to exploit yellow ones. The major problem with weakness in the face of bullies is that delay in standing up makes everything more costly once the bully is confronted. We shall see but for now the people of Ukraine are bearing the brunt.