Throughout history, one of the key ingredients in waging an unjust war is the tight-fisted control of information to those whose support the tyrant was required to retain.  In order to wage an unjust war, and to make one’s actions appear not only acceptable but justifiable, the tyrannical force needs to lay a continuing foundation…

Philip II of Spain’s father was a brilliant soldier and statesman named Charles V, and when he passed on, he left the world’s largest empire in the hands of his son.  Philip had been trained since childhood in the arts of leadership and diplomacy.  At age sixteen he was made Regent of Spain.  His "marriage…

Alvin York is perhaps America's most famous World War One personality.  In the following short biography, his exploits are clearly represented, and the myth is well separated from the man.  Many points along his journey are very illustrative of the life of a leader, and my comments are in blue. Alvin York (from Dr. Birdwell…

Benjamin Franklin was always a master of satire.  During the early stages of the American Revolution he penned what I believe to be one of his funniest and most biting works.  It is my favorite.  I hope you enjoy it (I’m sure King George did)! [Presented privately to a _late Minister_, when he entered upon…

In June of 1777, flamboyant General "gentleman Johnny" Burgoyne initiated his attack on the colonies from Canada.  He commanded over seven thousand infantrymen, a combination of British redcoats and Hessian mercenaries, a small army of artillery specialists and 138 cannon, four hundred Native Americans, and some Canadians and colonial Tories. Burgoyne was not satisfied with…

by Charles Plumb Sometimes in the daily challenges that life gives us, we miss what is really important. We may fail to say hello, please, or thank you, congratulate someone on something wonderful that has happened to them, give a compliment, or just do something nice for no reason. Charles Plumb, a US Naval Academy…

Winston Churchill is nearly a leadership cliche.  His defiance in the face of Nazi aggression during World War II is deservingly legendary.  But the "back story" behind Sir Winston's rise (and fall, and rise again) is quite incredible.  His story is one of determination, deliberate personal growth, perseverence, courage, and vision.  Young Winston Churchill was…

Leaders lead because it is the right thing to do, because it is "in them," and because they were born for it.  Sometimes, it even gets recognized.  For this reason, I particularly like it when historians dig up lost stories of selfless sacrifice by unsung leaders.  This excerpt from Alan Axelrod is interesting, partly because…

Author Alan Axelrod recently wrote an interesting sidebar about founding father John Adams: "'For my part,' John Adams remarked, 'there was not a moment during the Revolution when I would not have given everything I ever possessed for a restoration of the state of things before the contest began.'  This is perhaps the most extraordinary…

The famous quote, "Tyranny, like Hell, is not easily conquered," comes from Thomas Paine’s The Crisis, written during the American Revolutionary War.  The saying was galvanizing to those who sacrificed in the great cause of independence.  Later generations would take comfort in those same words, coming to realize what we have been discussing on this…