"I asked Tom if countries always apologized when they had done wrong, and he says: 'Yes; the littles ones does.'"
- Mark Twain, Tom Sawyer Abroad , 1894

In the episode, we take a look at a classic, “The Melian Dialogue” from Thucydides’ History of the Peloponnesian War.  It is a famous exchange between powerful Athens, which is engaged in an epic struggle for dominance with its great rival Sparta, and weak Melos, which has declared its neutrality.  Even though this event took place over 2500 years ago, history has shown the reasoning behind the actions have been a constant in human history and essential for understanding how and why great powers conduct wars.

“The offensive is the only way of insuring victory.”
- General August von Keim, 1912

In the episode, we take a look at the prevailing belief that the military offensive was far more effective than the defensive on the eve of the First World War.   As World War I is infamous for the horrific slaughter of trench warfare in which troops  had to "go over the top" and attack headlong against powerful fortification, this is a classic case to examine if the generals were blind or if their critics are using hindsight. 

“The generation to which I belong has a bad conscience.”
- Marc Bloch, 1940

In the episode, we take a look at the fall of France to Nazi Germany during WWII.  Although the German Blitzkrieg has a reputation for being a military powerhouse, the reality is that the Allied forces were stronger on paper.  Not only did the Allies lose, but they also did so in spectacular fashion as France surrendered after just six weeks of fighting in what the famous historian Mark Bloch called a "Strange Defeat."

“I cannot forecast to you the action of Russia. It is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma; but perhaps there is a key. That key is Russian national interest.”
- Winston Churchill

An examination in the rise of Russia from Mongol tributary vassal to global superpower reveals underlying weaknesses that gives insight into its decision to invade Ukraine and why its military has performed far below the expectations most experts predicted.

“With 2000 years of examples behind us we have no excuse when fighting, for not fighting well.”
- T.E Lawrence

Focusing mostly on the United States, the episode explores issues such as the high rate of suicides among veterans, and why US policy makers and the general public have a poor understanding of military affairs.