Historical experience: burden or bonus in today's wars? The British Army and the Bundeswehr in Afghanistan

摘要

"Everyone has a plan till they get punched on the mouth," said former American boxer Mike Tyson. Resonating the perennial struggle of reconciling hope with reality, this statement aptly highlights both the importance and futility of advance planning and historical learning in a fight. Be it a boxer in a rink or an army waging war in Afghanistan, both may remain rudderless without advance planning and historical lessons, however, historical depth and detailed operational plans do not assure victory on the battlefield. The adversary, for one, always gets a vote in war.