Best Defense

Thomas E. Ricks' daily take on national security.

Things I didn’t know, vol. infinity

A list of little known war facts from Tom Ricks.

Battle_of_Menin_Road_-_wounded_at_side_of_the_road
Battle_of_Menin_Road_-_wounded_at_side_of_the_road

--During World War I, “26.4 per cent of the 557,000 Scots who served lost their lives, against a rate of 11.8 per cent for the rest of the British army.” I don’t think this was just because of geographically based units, because those were from England and Wales as well.

–During World War I, “26.4 per cent of the 557,000 Scots who served lost their lives, against a rate of 11.8 per cent for the rest of the British army.” I don’t think this was just because of geographically based units, because those were from England and Wales as well.

–The British planned, for the war against Japan, to have two bomb squadrons on Okinawa by October 1945 and ten by early 1946.

–That even as the Allies called for the unconditional surrender of Japan in July 1945, they were planning for Japanese re-entry into world trade.

–The last active duty veteran of the Vietnam War may have just retired.

–More Kentuckians fought for the right side in the Civil War than fought for the Confederacy.

–David Hackett Fischer, my favorite historian, just won the Pritzker Prize for military history. If you haven’t read him, I’d start with Washington’s Crossing and Paul Revere’s Ride, and then, if you are feeling ambitious, Albion’s Seed.

Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Thomas E. Ricks covered the U.S. military from 1991 to 2008 for the Wall Street Journal and then the Washington Post. He can be reached at ricksblogcomment@gmail.com. Twitter: @tomricks1

More from Foreign Policy

Newspapers in Tehran feature on their front page news about the China-brokered deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia to restore ties, signed in Beijing the previous day, on March, 11 2023.
Newspapers in Tehran feature on their front page news about the China-brokered deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia to restore ties, signed in Beijing the previous day, on March, 11 2023.

Saudi-Iranian Détente Is a Wake-Up Call for America

The peace plan is a big deal—and it’s no accident that China brokered it.

Austin and Gallant stand at podiums side by side next to each others' national flags.
Austin and Gallant stand at podiums side by side next to each others' national flags.

The U.S.-Israel Relationship No Longer Makes Sense

If Israel and its supporters want the country to continue receiving U.S. largesse, they will need to come up with a new narrative.

Russian President Vladimir Putin lays flowers at the Moscow Kremlin Wall in the Alexander Garden during an event marking Defender of the Fatherland Day in Moscow.
Russian President Vladimir Putin lays flowers at the Moscow Kremlin Wall in the Alexander Garden during an event marking Defender of the Fatherland Day in Moscow.

Putin Is Trapped in the Sunk-Cost Fallacy of War

Moscow is grasping for meaning in a meaningless invasion.

An Iranian man holds a newspaper reporting the China-brokered deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia to restore ties, in Tehran on March 11.
An Iranian man holds a newspaper reporting the China-brokered deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia to restore ties, in Tehran on March 11.

How China’s Saudi-Iran Deal Can Serve U.S. Interests

And why there’s less to Beijing’s diplomatic breakthrough than meets the eye.