[PenultimateManStanding]

This guy, The War Nerd, writes with more venom than Tom Wolfe. Here he is eviscerating the writer of war thrillers and spy novels, Tom Clancy. Tom Clancy Is Not One Of Us A few quotes so you can get the flavor of the thing is in order. He's talking about how Clancy was a nerd accountant who got lucky and rich and dumped his fat old wife Wanda for a 20 year old gold digger.

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'E')ver since I read that the poor trusting cow was named Wanda, I've had this image of her in my head. I mean I can imagine what Wanda looks like: like Tom in drag, Tom in a Pat Nixon wig and K-mart lipstick. Like the fat lady on that Drew Carey show.

[PenultimateManStanding]

On the war:

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'I') heard a Marine officer complaining that the insurgents in Fallujah use the locals for human shields. Don't they teach you anything about guerrilla war in the service? The whole idea of guerrilla warfare is to hide in the civilian population. You snipe from the mosque or the kindergarten till finally the occupiers get mad enough to start firing blind at the mosque, the kindergarten, whatever. The people blame the occupiers, not the guerrilla. You're doing the guerrillas' recruiting for them.

It's a little weird, if you ask me, how nobody in charge seems to know all that. After all, we just went through a whole century of guerrilla warfare. Take a world map, point at random and you'll find a country that probably had a guerrilla war in the past 100 years.

But we're acting like it's a shock, like the Iraqis are breaking the rules. That's like calling a personal foul in a bar brawl.

[TITAN]

Tom Clancy contributes to the dumbing-down of society...

I would rather read the bible, (which is pretty bad)...

[zoidberg]

I've now read a lot of his stuff. He is usually right, and even more shocking, agrees with just about everything I think. Having said that he really, REALLY, needs to hire a prostitute. I mean he's so corked up, its making him crazy.

Now, on topic, Tom Clancy really sounds like a piece of work. But the war nerd makes a reference to buying a warlordship somewhere in Africa or Central Asia instead of buying sports teams. Clearly, if he had hundreds of millions of dollars, its a good bet he'd buy a rich guy house in LA, get some servants and complain about tax laws.

Quite frankly so would I, as I dont think being a warlord in a failed state is nearly as fun as might be imagined. What with the assasination attempts, rival warlords invading etc...


Point being the analysis is right on, and his self analysis is probably too, but the man has problems. BIG ONES. So try to ignore the self loathing and the manic depressive mood swings and you'll learn a lot.

I can almost see the overweight, non hygenic lunatic waving his arms at co-workers trying to make them see the truth. Funny, funny stuff. Even funnier because he IS right.

My half-assed endorsement.

[PenultimateManStanding]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('zoidberg', ' ')
Now, on topic, Tom Clancy really sounds like a piece of work. But the war nerd makes a reference to buying a warlordship somewhere in Africa or Central Asia instead of buying sports teams. Clearly, if he had hundreds of millions of dollars, its a good bet he'd buy a rich guy house in LA, get some servants and complain about tax laws.

[threadbear]

Brecher- Am alternately screaming with laughter and throwing up. The mark of a good writer.

His article on African cannibalism, is sublime. I had devout evangelical friends in Spain who told me that many Africans were overjoyed to be converted to monotheism, as their lives were a misery of black magic. And not just in wartime. These are very oppressive forces and practices even in the day to day of peace time.

[zoidberg]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('PenultimateManStanding', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('zoidberg', ' ')
Now, on topic, Tom Clancy really sounds like a piece of work. But the war nerd makes a reference to buying a warlordship somewhere in Africa or Central Asia instead of buying sports teams. Clearly, if he had hundreds of millions of dollars, its a good bet he'd buy a rich guy house in LA, get some servants and complain about tax laws.

[PenultimateManStanding]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('zoidberg', '
')Well the reason he's entertaining is because he is so brutally honest. So I believe him when he says stuff like that.

[TommyJefferson]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('PenultimateManStanding', 'W')hatever, he sure writes well,

[PenultimateManStanding]

There are a number of Iraq War commentaries embedded in this collection. They bring a clarity to the situation that I haven't found anywhere else. The thing is, when you've read them it's like, "well sure, obviously!" plus you learn things you may not have known about because Brecher reads everything and has a background to pick up on the telling stuff:

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'T')here was a good BBC story about the rumors running around Iraq about the GIs. Like that their sunglasses are X-ray vision to see underneath the women's clothes. It may sound stupid to us, but they don't know any better. Then there's the rumor that GI's kevlar vests are air-conditioned. If you've ever worn one of these things, you know how ridiculous that is. They're one of the hottest things you'll ever wear. But the locals believe it. The foreigners have these AC vests and meanwhile they cut our power so we have to sweat all day!

The guerrillas spread these rumors as fast as they can. When everybody hates the liberating troops enough, the killings start picking up speed. Every day another GI gets picked off. And the way they do it makes our guys even madder.

[PenultimateManStanding]

meanwhile, here's some more choice stuff if you aren't sold already:

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'B')omb-making is one of those jobs where you don't really learn from your mistakes. Your mistakes usually go off in your face, and they have to scrape you off the walls with a spatula and slide you into a Hefty bag at the funeral. I've read in soldiers' stories from Ulster how when some dumb IRA mick got the red and green wires mixed up and blew himself into guacamole, the Brits used to call it an "own goal" -- scoring against yourself in soccer.

[Battle_Scarred_Galactico]

If you don't like your information sugar coated (and you shouldn't), hes' a must read in my opinion.

Sure he seems a bit crazy, but he refuses to bullshit anyone and knows his stuff inside out.

[Dreamtwister]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'W')e invaded their country and occupied their cities and put their old enemies in power, just because we were pissed off after 9/ll and it seemed like a good way to let off steam and corner the market on some cheap oil while we were at it.

[PenultimateManStanding]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Dreamtwister', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'W')e invaded their country and occupied their cities and put their old enemies in power, just because we were pissed off after 9/ll and it seemed like a good way to let off steam and corner the market on some cheap oil while we were at it.

[Chuckmak]

LOL

Clancy is one of the top novelists of our time. I just finished reading "The Bear and the Dragon" and that along w/ "The Teeth of the Tiger" were spectacular reads. Too bad we don't have Jack Ryan as the Prez for real. That's my opinion.

[Dreamtwister]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Chuckmak', 'C')lancy is one of the top novelists of our time.

[Chuckmak]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Dreamtwister', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Chuckmak', 'C')lancy is one of the top novelists of our time.

[threadbear]

I've only heard Clancy's name. I'm assuming he's an author of pulp fiction? As an author, that's where the money is, unfortunately. People will pay someone to write entertaining, suspenceful novels for them that are pretty much devoid of meaningful content. And that's okay, if they balance that off with learning online or reading a high quality newspaper (almost an oxymoron, nowadays).

The problem with modern genre righting is there are few people who write great fiction, incorporating social or geo-political commentary. Tom Wolfe--Bonfire of the Vanities, did this and in his time, Charles Dickens managed to do the same. Suspence, a sense of mystery and a well developed and clear plot line are absolutely essential to hold an individual's interest. They are also elements of style that many modern writers disdain. Modern authors prefer dreary self obsessed neurotic protagonists, steeped in mundanities that overwhelm weak and often absurd plotlines. Absurd plot lines are "quirky and charming" but appeals to honest emotion and compassion delivered through a believable plot line are "sentimental" and to be avoided at all cost.

Confessions of an Economic Hitman is a great book, written to educate, but in an entertaining, almost pulpy style. If it had been written as a series of essays and given a toned down title, it would be languishing on book shelves, but became a best seller instead. Not a great work of literature, but people loved it, and they were educated at the same time.

Chuckmac, If you read mainly for entertainment, you would probably really enjoy this book. You should take a look at the writer, Tom Wolfe too.

[Dreamtwister]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Chuckmak', 'S')o Clancy novels aren't good in your eyes.