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It's a classic from the classical period! A very famous military disaster from the Peloponnesian War, it's easy to see where everything went wrong, maybe a bit more difficult to see how close the Athenians could have come to success.

A bit of a pain to script, but it all came to together at the last moment. I'm just about fully recovered now, so I need to get on with this month's tardy Bonus Video, as well as really start focusing down this year's turn-by-turn and generally getting on with all the things I've had to let slide over the last couple of weeks.

Frankly I can't believe we're halfway through November...

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Ben Kerry

I remember someone made a very poorly made comparison of it and a hypothetical US invasion of Iran. Is it some sort of culturally significant “sea power failure” that got quoted out of context all the time?

UsuallyHaplessVideos

You could interpet any overseas adventure in the same light. A US ground invasion of Iran would certainly be a solid setup for disaster.

GLG

Pretty interesting stuff. A more general subject to this is the efficacy of strategic goals when matched with the anticipated political/economic impact. Even looking at WWI and WWII, one can agree that both wars had very unanticipated side affects. WWI arguably set the stage for WWII through the Versailles Treaty and its harsh terms against Germany. WWII took out one dictator yet brought another in as a 'lesser evil.' Wars can be won and lost, but attaining strategic goals often doesn't equate to entirely meeting political expectations. Wars are messy affairs, from beginning to end and then some. Beware what you wish for.

Ray L

Well done, Hap! I’ve shared this with a military-minded family member who majored in Classics. To no one’s surprise whatsoever, the ensuing 2400 years have not improved the ability of civilian political assemblies to conduct war strategy. 🤦🏼‍♂️

UsuallyHaplessVideos

Well, at least we're not quite a crazy as the Athenian Assembly though! This is by far not the looniest thing they did.