text:
We can't afford to sack the coach, so let's give him a raise and ask him to think!
The friendlies against Albania and Algeria were indeed useful. They should have helped some clubs figure out if they should sign free players like Pantilimon, Tatarusanu, Nicolita, Rat or Marica and other clubs if it's worth spending money for the signatures of Grigore, Pintilii or Tanase (I'd advise them for free against such a move…).
They also helped Piturca introduce some new faces into the team, like the very young Manea of the better-looking-with-each-season Matei, but they probably failed to convince the stubborn coach that this 4-2-3-1 turning into 4-1-4-1 lacks the right players to provide better results than we've seen in recent years.
I'll just lay down my arguments:
– we've been searching for years for a right back and all we've came up with was Astra's Matel. The 16 years old Manea is just a promise, while putting Chiriches there (like it happened vs Algeria) simply makes no sense.
– on the left side we have the ageing Rat, now 33, and not even a convincing backup solution in Latovlevici.
– we don't have a no 8 type of midfielder, apart from PAOK's Lazar. In front of the defense, Piturca uses Bourceanu and Pintilii; a poor choice, as having there two players with the profile of a no 6 simply keeps your team highly ineffective in keeping possession and building-up he game. Not to mention that their passing skill and vision also affect Romania's ability to counter.
– we don't have wingers who can combine pace, skill on the ball, finishing ability. All of them have either one or two of these vital assets. Chipciu, for instance, is one of them… and plays in the middle.
– our wide midfielders are Popa (who only has pace), Nicolita (who only has the will to run), Tanase (who can't use his left foot and his brain), Maxim (who has skill and some pace, but feels better in the middle).
– we don't have a number 10 (Chipciu is a winger turned into a supporting forward) or, better said, we don't want a number 10, because we only counter.
– we don't have the striker able to play alone upfront. Marica will speculate every once in a while a lucky ball behind the defense or an error from the opposition, but he cannot win aerial duels, hold up the ball, allow the team to come in support. He's not the right type of forward for such a role.
If any of the above makes some sense, it's bad. In fact, it's really bad. Because I am not even a coach. I do, however, judge the players' performances, ability and potential for a living and I can tell you this: in spite of Piturca's efforts to promote different players (remember Grozav, who only convinced Terek and in the end failed to make it even there?), Romania's poor looking 4-2-3-1 gets back at the very players that fail to make it work. And makes them look limited, inconsistent, promising at times, but eventually unconvincing.
Manea's record cannot hide the truth about Romania's national team
While others prepare for the World Cup, Romania defeated Albania 1-0 after yet another mediocre performance, in the build-up for the probably easiest ever qualifying campaign for the European Championship. Still, Victor Piturca, the manager who still has a job only because the new head of the Romanian Federation refused to pay him 300.000 Euro, the price for an early termination of his contract, stated afterwards that Romania has the ability to defeat any team. Probably by boring it to death.
Piturca will also show great proud for his incredible courage of fielding the 16 years old Cristian Manea in a friendly, meaningless match, the Viitorul defender breaking a very old record about the youngest player to feature in Romania's senior team.
The truth is, Piturca, as always, is not really keen on rebuilding this team. He sticks pretty much to the same players and he keeps on using the national team as a stage for players who really need these caps to get new contracts at club level. It's no coincidence that 5 out of 11 starters are currently out of contract. And I also take this opportunity to present Piturca's starting eleven vs Albania in a different key, based on club performances in the season that recently ended.
And a bit of math: average age of this starting 11 is 26.3 years. Without Manea, it's 27.4 years!
Goalkeeper: Tatarusanu (27) – Champion with Steaua. Will probably sign with Fiorentina, as a free agent.
Right back: Manea (16) – Youngest ever player to feature in Romania's senior team. Avoided relegation with Viitorul in the last round of the season.
Central defender: Chiriches (24) – Not so sure about his future with Tottenham, 6th in the Premier League, in spite of some bright performances.
Central defender: Grigore (27) – Won a Europa League spot with Dinamo. Will move to Toulouse, on a free transfer.
Left back: Rat (33) – Avoided relegation with Rayo Vallecano. Currently out of contract.
Defensive midfielder: Bourceanu (29) – Contribution to Steaua's title and Trabzonspor's Europa League spot.
Defensive midfielder: Pintilii (29) – Champion with Steaua. Wants to leave the club.
Right winger: Nicolita (29) – Average season with St. Etienne and Nantes. Currently out of contract.
Supporting striker: Chipciu (25) – Champion with Steaua.
Left winger: Maxim (23) – Avoided relegation with VfB Stuttgart.
Striker: Marica (28) – Avoided relegation with Getafe. Currently out of contract.
No worries, I also am quite sure Piturca will be able to take Romania to Euro 2016. But mostly because this one, with 24 teams at the start, will be almost impossible to miss.
Romanian football played behind bars: 8 heavyweights sentenced to prison
It was called "The transfers file" and, strictly linked to an investigation lead by Gazeta Sporturilor, ended up today, after eight long years, with eight important names sent behind bars, for money laundering and tax evasion. The biggest of all: Gheorghe Popescu, former Romanian international, former Barcelona captain, who was days away from taking over the presidency of the Romanian Football Federation…
"I would have sold players to Bin Laden back then, it was all about getting money", stated Cristian Borcea a while ago in front of judges who have felt everything, from mockery to fear, during this long period, from the persons pleading their innocence. Borcea was a key shareholder with Dinamo and just like George Copos, who took Rapid from glory to agony during his tenure as club owner, had retired from the spotlight, laying low, hoping it will all go away.
Others haven't. Brothers Victor and Ioan "Giovani" Becali went on pulling strings on the transfer market, Mihai Stoica was in charge of Steaua, while Gheorghe Popescu had all but moved his family pictures into the office that Mircea Sandu is preparing to leave. Surprisingly, the race for the presidency of the FRF lost its front-runner at the last minute and for a very long time.
Here's the list of the definitive sentences heard today:
- George Copos (former owner of Rapid Bucharest) – 3 years and 8 months
- Mihai Stoica (current Steaua sporting director) – 3 years and 6 months
- Cristi Borcea (former shareholder at Dinamo Bucharest) – 6 years and 4 months
- Ioan Becali (FIFA agent) – 6 years and 4 months
- Victor Becali (FIFA agent) – 4 years and 8 months
- Jean Padureanu (former president of Gloria Bistrita) – 3 years and 4 months
- Gheorghe Popescu (former international, lobbied Florin Bratu's transfer to Galatasaray) – 3 years and 1 month
- Gigi Netoiu (former shareholder at various clubs) – 3 years and 4 months
All were involved in deals that saw player sold abroad, smaller transfer fees entered in the clubs' books and part of the real fees ran through personal off-shore accounts.
Here's the list of transfers that lead to the above sentences:
- Iulian Arhire – from Otelul Galati to Pohang Steelers (1999)
- Ionel Ganea – from Gloria Bistrita to VfB Stuttgart (1999)
- Cristi Dulca – from Rapid to Pohang Steelers (1999)
- Cosmin Contra – from Dinamo to Deportivo Alaves (1999)
- Bogdan Mara – from Dinamo to Deportivo Alaves (2001)
- Paul Codrea – from Dinamo to Genoa (2001)
- Florin Cernat – from Dinamo to Dynamo Kiew (2001)
- Nicolae Mitea – from Dinamo to Ajax (2003)
- Lucian Sanmartean – from Gloria Bistrita to Panathinaikos (2003)
- Florin Bratu – from Rapid to Galatasaray (2003)
- Adrian Mihalcea – from Dinamo to Chunnam (2004)
- Dan Alexa – from Dinamo to Beijing Guoan (2004)
Today's decisions came as a shock for those involved in Romanian football. Lighter sentences for a couple of those involved and no punishment at all for the likes of Mihai Stoica and Gheorghe Popescu were expected. Well, sometimes, unlike Romanian football, Romanian justice can be unpredictable…
Astra and Petrolul went all-in. Can Steaua defend the title?
Steaua lost their captain, Petrolul signed Mutu, Astra gets Romanian backup from Serie A – all eyes have been on the front three this winter and there's enough excitement as the restart of the league nears. With two games in hand to be played in February, Steaua will probably rearrange order at the top before the former rivals from Ploiesti get to play their first official matches, but it should only make things more exciting. So here's a look at the good and bad moves from this season's title contenders:
Important players in: Claudiu Keseru (Bastia), Lucian Sanmartean (FC Vaslui)
Important players out: Alexandru Bourceanu (Trabzonspor)
With two games in hand, which will be played before the restart of the league, Steaua not only has the chance to get back on top of the standings, but also to be the first to get used to official matches. It will surely come handy, as the Bucharest side had a terrible pre-season, as far as results are concerned.
With just one important loss, the captain Bourceanu, sold for a handsome 1.4 million euro fee, difficult to obtain for a player running out of contract, Steaua only hopes to regain the fitness level and enthusiasm that impressed the most in Reghecampf's regime, as the winning team is still there: a reliable keeper, a solid back four, the intelligent Pintilii, the number of offensive choices to rotate in search of the best output…
Signed from Bastia, Keseru should add competition and quality upfront, in spite of the media's haste of labelling him as a flop based on his pre-season performances, ignorring the fact that very few players actually impressed for Steaua during their two training camps on Spanish soil. The late signing of veteran winger Lucian Sanmartean is though a sign of fear, but, at the same time, Steaua's fear should be a concern for their title rivals, who could have done with a more relaxed reigning champion…
Can go well if… Steaua was just a machinery running out of gas.
Can go bad if… The motivation isn't just the same. Too many regular starters will be thinking about the summer mercato. The defense will be left only with the protection of Pintilii, as Reghecampf has enough reasons to replace the departed pitbull with a more offensive midfielder.
Astra Giurgiu
Important players in: Paul Papp (Chievo), Denis Alibec (Inter/Bologna), Laurentiu Iorga (Otelul Galati), Stefan Popescu (Ajaccio)
Important players out: -
Not rated among the contenders at the beginning of the season, Astra managed to gain a lot of points and respect during the first half of season. The wealthy owner and an old fox in charge of the club have made up for the coach's lack of experience with a winning team, which can still come to work against the club as the finish line will get closer and the pressure will reach levels never touched before by Daniel Isaila and most of his players.
Still, Astra's winter mercato has been solid, with two Romanian players with a point to prove brought back from Serie A clubs and all the key players kept on the roster without problems. The squad looks stronger, is hungry for success and looks surprisingly relaxed. With no pressure from the fans or the media, the club recently moved from Ploiesti to Giurgiu, already played Steaua twice, failing to defeat the champions, but their strength has always been to crush smaller opponents
Can go well if… The chance to go all the way will keep on inspiring the team & won't instill fear. The inexperienced Daniel Isaila has that special something to take up such a challenge and see it through. Budescu will create play and score goals at the same rate as in the 1st half of season.
Can go bad if… The owner won't be able to control his level of interference.
Petrolul Ploiesti
Important players in: Adrian Mutu (Ajaccio), Ianis Zicu (Gangwon), Gerson Ferreira (Ferencvaros), Toto Tamuz (Ural)
Important players out: Hamza Younes, Alexandru Benga, Ferebory Dore (all to Botev Plovdiv), Damien Boudjemaa (Slavia Prague)
Mutu's arrival was the winter mercato's big and unexpected hit. Image, mood, perspective – all changed for Petrolul, but things are not as bright after one month, with the financial support of the Local Council currently on hold, some interest from abroad in Cosmin Contra's work and an intense transfer activity that can work both ways… Petrolul might have signed one/two (falling) stars, but was forced to sell a proven goalscorer like Younes and no less than 3 other players who, for bad or worse, did play an important part in the team's excellent 2013.
With fantastic support and a winning aura at home, Petrolul will have to do better on the road and start turning more draws into wins. The extra class in their attacking midfield might help out, but will the defense be able to hold on?
Can go well if… Mutu and Zicu will be in the mood to show their class. The away form will improve. The attack will compensate for the defensive fragility and lack of backup.
Can go bad if… Financial problems will surface right away and the ownership won't be able to hide them well enough until the summer. The lack of a balanced squad (poor backup un the flanks, average quality in central defense, no proven goalscorer available for the lone striker position) will be exposed.
Dreaming to play for Steaua as a kid? Grow up!
The reigning champions, the only Romanian club to win a European trophy, a constant presence on the European stage, the team with the largest fan base in the entire country and the only Bucharest "giant" still performing these days organized a try-out for kids born in 2002, 2003 and 2004. 14 turned up. A shocking number really, not only for Steaua, but for Romania. Still, the red and blue outfit, who is trying to revitalize its youth sector with Italian coach Massimo Pedrazzini in charge, must take a big chunk of the blame.
Having a wealthy and impatient owner – he's taking a course on this, now that he's behind bars – has worked against Steaua in recent years. Used to pick the best talents from all over the country, Gigi Becali's favorite toy made one attempt to build a proper academy some years ago. Of course, it was burning some stages and basically missing the point, as 16-17-18 years old were bought and integrated into the youth teams, so it's no surprise, really, that Becali pulled the plug once he saw that a dozen of youth international actually went on to waste their talents under poor guidance and with no early shot at senior football.
Now, after years of mediocrity, some heavy defeats in the youth leagues and a desperate move made to avoid embarrassment in the UEFA Youth League, there's really no surprise that a message on the club's website and Pedrazzini's personal Facebook page (this is another story…) failed to erase the feeling that Steaua, as shiny as the first team looks, provides a bleak future for your kid. The lack of strategy, know-how and patience within the red and blue structures means drastic measures can rock the "academy" at any time, out of the blue. Add to this the chances close to zero to make it in the senior team and it's obvious why even kids (and dads) who do love Steaua understand that there's a more concrete opportunity to see such a dream fulfilled by learning the game someplace else. From this point of view, this is a club worth loving from a distance. A 5 star hotel – by Romanian standards – to enjoy as an adult, not a home to grow up in…
The King's speech. Starring a certain Gheorghe Hagi…
Going to Turkey once, years ago, I was stopped at the security check on Ataturk airport and asked to go inside a booth for a body search. It never took place, as I've spent a couple of minutes talking about Hagi. And the officer there wasn't even a Galatasaray fan…
They love him. They really do. And those who don't sing their love for him, because they support Fener of Besiktas, respect him. I sometimes wonder if it's the same in Romania. At times, I'm convinced we don't. Experts in mocking those doing better than us, we've found Hagi's weakness: his speech. Aware that a man so good on the ball can't be that good with words, we laugh at his interviews. We've reduced his fantastic personality to some phrases. We've decided to ignore all his ideas and projects and have a good long look (and laugh) at his words. I admit, he can be funny. Hell, I even use one of his funniest expressions every once in a while, for a good laugh…
The question is: if I will ever have the chance to meet him, will I be able to find my words? Will I be able to avoid embarrassment and put together a few words? I hope so. At least three of them are necessary. Because I do love him for the fantastic player he was. And for the honest and humble person he is. And for blessing a nation with his skill and for the way he keeps forgiving us for laughing at his continuous attempts to keep on doing some good to Romanian football…
Today, the great man turns 49. La multi ani, Gica! We do love you, it's just that, for some reason, we either don't know or don't want to show it…
Chiriches – the only quality Romanian immigrant who left Liga 1 last summer
Back in September, I made a Top 10 list of the Liga 1 exports in the summer of 2013. A list topped by Vlad Chiriches, who just had set a new record in terms of transfer fees with his move to Tottenham, a list that now, with half of season gone, deserves a second look. So let me walk you through the first five months spent by 10 ex-Liga 1 "stars" at their new clubs, in stronger leagues, competitive and professional environments, under pressure. Those who love to promote the Romanian league should look away :)
The most valuable, both in terms of quality and price, turned out to be also the one who delivers from the start. Vlad Chiriches, the ex Steaua defender and current national team captain, made a bright start in the toughest league, in an ambitious team packed with quality players, winning over the fans and making commentators like Clive Tyldesley say recently that he's "a fine advert for Romanian immigrant labor". Irony aside, he is indeed. And it's enough to look below him in my Top 10 list…
With the exception of Portugese right back Ivo Pinto, who impressed with Dinamo Zagreb (although I'd place the Croatian Prva HNL below our Liga 1 in terms of competitiveness), there is nobody else who made the switch easy, with good results also on the pitch, not just in their bank accounts.
Ok, signing Denis Alibec was a gamble from Bologna, as the striker revived by Gheorghe Hagi and his club, Viitorul Constanta, disappointed upon his return to Serie A. He featured for just 2 minutes in the first part of the season, against mighty Juventus, but that was just a desperate use of a forward with good feet, but a mind that still looks unable to focus on football. Two other Romanian players moved to Italy last summer and both need (and unlike Alibec who is close to a transfer to Astra Giurgiu) and will have more time to adjust and prove themselves. Alexe struggles with struggling Sassuolo, featuring 6 times in the league, but just once as a starter, while Nica got a red card in his second and last appearance in Serie A for Atalanta.
Life isn't easier in Ligue 1 either, where Dan Nistor and Aurelian Chitu started just once in half of season, each with a handful of appearances as substitutes for Evian and Valenciennes, respectively. The biggest disappointment though came from Raul Rusescu, who joined FC Sevilla as the top scorer of the Romanian league, but already left La Liga, moving on loan to Sporting Braga after a total of 7 appearances and 3 goals, but only 64 mintues of football in the Spanish top flight…
With Fatai unable to feature more for Club Brugge, in spite of a bright start (scored against Anderlecht in his first game), and Herea looking average in a league that, in theory, should have allowed him to impress, we can draw the line: just 2 out of 10 players stepped into their new clubs and claimed a place in the first eleven.
Not at all surprising is the fact that we're talking about two of the most expensive deals. It might look strange that a proven scorer like Rusescu failed at Sevilla, but in fairness it was the Spanish club who got it wrong and rushed to gamble of a player that didn't look ready for them! Saying that the Romanian was going to replace Alvaro Negredo was a (good) joke and the 25 years old's signature was followed by those of Carlos Bacca and Kevin Gameiro. And while these two got playing time, Rusescu was following an intense fitness regime to help him lose weight and gain the pace and agility needed in La Liga…
On the disappointing side I'd put Alexe's struggle, given his intelligence and first team experience, but he did join a newly promoted club and he's the type of forward who can "enjoy" quite long periods of indifferent form, risks both himself and the club should have taken into account. Hopefully, he'll have the time and the opportunities to come good, just like Nica, who has the fortune of being in a youth-friendly club…
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The Romanian version of "the false 9″
Look at the top scorers from Liga 1, with half of season gone, and you won't see a striker up there. Liviu Antal, a winger, and Eric de Oliveira, a number 10, are leading the charts with 11 goals. That's a personal record for the FC Vaslui player and a sign of revival from the Brazilian who just got named for the second time the best foreign player in the league. The top three is completed by Astra's Constantin Budescu, an attacking midfielder who's enjoying his best season – so, obviously, has to take a lot of stick from Astra's owner. :) Strikers do follow, don't worry, but the first one on the list, in its high section, of course, is… Tunisian: Petrolul's Hamza Younes. We finally find a prolific Romanian striker in the top flight: he's Szabolcs Szekely, a 29 years old who's hardly national team material, even though he netted 9 times for the newly promoted club from Timisoara.
Ok, so Romania lacks a good number 9 in the league, but let's not forget we had a striker with over 20 goals last season, so let's have a look abroad… Gone to Sevilla for a decent amount of money, Raul Rusescu played just over 300 minutes and scored 3 goals, ending up on loan to Sporting Braga. But Rusescu was never a real option for Victor Piturca, who relied on two names: Ciprian Marica and Bogdan Stancu. The former Schalke striker signed late with Getafe, but with no real competition within the team collected already 10 appearances in La Liga, scoring just once in the process. Stancu's doing better, enjoying a decent season in the Turkish league, with 7 goals for Genclerbirligi, but he'll always be the first to blame after a bad result, Marica's charisma and clever online presence proving quite useful…
So, with the "established strikers" misfiring both at home and abroad, the obvious solution would be to gamble, something Piturca used to be good at (until caught cheating in casinos…). But can you ask the national team coach to do that with a player like Sergiu Bus, a 21 years old who scored 7 times this season for a newly promoted club, when his own team refused to give him a proper chance to prove himself? Yes, CFR Cluj has a young striker on its books, but would rather loan him no matter where, although there would be a market for a player of this profile. In the past, it used to make sense, with strikers like Kone or Lacina Traore on the books and the team fighting for the title. But now, when CFR's top scorer is Ogbu, a 24 years old Nigerian, with 4 goals in half of season, and a 7th place in the standings, you might think that something's not right. I'd say it's the strategy and it applies to almost the entire first division, but the owners and the fans would rather stick to the usual suspects… CFR just changed their coach and Piturca is not too comfortable either, so we might just need a few more years (or decades?) to realize we could also do with some proper football players…
Cheap in January, free in June. Have a look at the first eleven of bargain signings from Romania!
Using a list of players who've entered the last year of their current contracts published by GSP, I have decided to put together a best eleven that might prove useful even for some clubs who had no time or interest to scout properly Liga 1. We have national team players, players who won the title or who are fighting for it, who impressed in the Champions League, and it will be interesting to see the type of clubs willing to take a risk. Somehow, I get the feeling that most of good foreign clubs look at players from Romania as a big gamble – lack of proper scouting, as I said :) – so in this case we're talking about either small stakes in January or almost free bets in June. It can't get better than that, can it?
Goalkeeper: Ciprian Tatarusanu
Club: Steaua
Age: 27
Definitely one of the most interesting "cases", don't see Steaua able to go down the sentimental road with this guy and get him to sign another deal. Looking at times laid back, lacking intensity and passion, Tatarusanu will surely take this opportunity to leave and having a national team regular up for grabs (his best years are yet to come) should be tempting enough for some decent clubs from abroad, even though we all agree that we're not talking about a really good national team, in this case… :) Good keeper, experienced, tested at all levels, Tatarusanu will probably stay with Steaua until June, unless there will be some decent money on the table in January.
Right Back: Alexandru Matel
Club: Astra
Age: 24
It was a difficult choice for this position, considering that Petrolul's Jean Sony Alcenat is in a similar situation and the Haiti international is, by far, the best attacking right back in the league. Matel is younger, though, a regular in Romania's senior team and has put behind an injury that halted his development for a while. He's just as good at the back as he is when going forward and, although he'll probably never reach a top level, has a tempting package to sell at a discounted price. He'll need a good offer though, considering that Astra's owner is reacher than Steaua's and (still) a free man, pushing his club towards the first trophy…
Central defender: Felice Piccolo
Club: CFR Cluj
Age: 30
Not a fan of the Italian centre-back, but you know what you get with this guy: sound tactical knowledge, a good professional approach, no nonsense style of defending. If you want a bit of pace, some quality on the ball and more hunger to impress, you'd have to look elswhere.
Central defender: Dragos Grigore
Club: Dinamo
Age: 27
A solution for Romania's national team. Always Dinamo's alternative for wearing the arm band. Never a central defender to put together a string of eye catching performances, but, in truth, he'll rarely disappoint either. Reliable might be the right word to describe this quiet, honest defender, and I would have seen him too shy to move away for the Bucharest side. Luckily for him, Dinamo is refusing to pay tempting salaries under the new management, so anything at all that might come from abroad through his agent will look too good to turn down…
Left Back: Guilherme Sitya Haubert
Club: Petrolul
Age: 23
We might be talking for the best left back in Liga 1 and – even though there's an obvious lack of quality on this position – this guy should have no problems finding another club and a bigger salary. Can't see Petrolul holding on to the small Brazilian who pushes forward at ease and brings quality upfront for 90 minutes, considering that they'll be wasting their money on a player with no future, like Adrian Mutu, so the club that already got Guilherme's CV (his agent has been busy, trust me) and has been impressed might find it easy to get a deal done.
Defensive midfielder: Alexandru Bourceanu
Club: Steaua
Age: 28
It's hard to believe that Steaua allowed this to happen, but there's a big chance that the captain will admit, just like Tatarusanu, that it's a rare occasion (probably the last) to move abroad to a decent club and on a better wage. Bourceanu looks passionate, dedicated, playing with his heart even against a third division club in the Romanian club, but I often had the impression that his leadership was a bit faked. His instructions and gestures looked good on camera, but watching his colleagues, I have to say I've rarely seen them impressed or inspired. Nevertheless, we are talking about an aggressive, hard working, no nonsense pitbull, who did improve at Steaua, but not that much to get the attention of a good, ambitious clubs from an important European league. He should have quite a number of offers, but is he really as confident as he tries to look? I'd put a dollar on him taking up Steaua's generous offer to extend… :)
Defensive midfielder: Gabriel Giurgiu
Club: Otelul Galati
Age: 31
He had his chance to get more money and see what's out there, beyond Liga 1's borders, but for some reason Giurgiu returned quickly from Rubin Kazan. A regular for Otelul Galati, helping the club write history and win the league under Dorinel Munteanu's command, Giurgiu is a decent option for a club looking for an experienced hard working midfielder, who can play box to box if asked, who can still play at his best for a couple of years.
Right winger: Laurentiu Iorga
Club: Otelul Galati
Age: 25
One of the players I enjoyed watching a few years ago, Iorga was quite often linked with Steaua, but Otelul kept asking for the moon. In truth, his development stalled and in my opinion he's playing below his potential. Definitely needs to move away from the club he served since 2007. He's quick, suited for a counter-attacking team and, with some guidance, should be able to chip in more than 5 goals a season in the right team and the right league…
Central attacking midfielder: Rui Pedro
Club: CFR Cluj
Age: 25
When the Portuguese attacking midfielder scored a hattrick against Braga in the Champions League, CFR's owner probably congratulated the management for this shrewd signing. Now, in theory, there should be a more tense atmosphere in Cluj, with the player able to move on a free transfer next summer. In theory… In truth, the player has some consistency problems and never managed to influence games that didn't seem exciting enough and, when the few top games from Liga 1 came, he was just as bad as the team that seems unable to get back to winning ways…
Left winger: Lucian Sanmartean
Club: FC Vaslui
Age: 33
Oldest guy in the team, lacking hunger, but surely desperate to move away from Vaslui. He's probably the only skipper in the world resented and criticized by the club's owner almost on a weekly basis. Apart from all that, Sanmartean IS the best dribbler in Liga 1, a gifted winger who can break the lines and decide games, a player I would like to see playing against his current club. Unfortunately, Vaslui is no longer among the "elite", so the former Panathinaikos player can only hope and look for an exotic, well-paid last stop in a career that could have been great, but ends up just average. Such a shame, really…
Striker: Thaer Bawab
Club: Gaz Metan Medias
Age: 28
Have to say that Liga 1 lacks quality strikers, so it's hard to find a good one, especially on a free, but Bawab has something hard to find around here: the ability to take out his direct opponent using both pace and skill. He scored 10 goals in the previous season and rarely played in this one, scoring just once. Can play upfront alone or supporting the main striker and, could be a decent rotation player, but I can't see a Romanian club – better than Gaz Metan – interested in his services…
Steaua needs to identify its real problems in order to find the right solutions
Undefeated in the league after 14 matches, Steaua's situation might not look that bad from a distance, in spite of the club's failure to impress in a Champions League group they've entered with high hopes. Still, the club is in a bad period and both the team's performancea and results confirm it: Steaua struggles to win matches. In Liga 1, it happened last on October 27 (4 consecutive draws followed). In the Champions League, it never happened. Of course, an optimistic approach would be to note the fact that Reghecampf's men are also hard to beat, with the last defeat dated on the first day on October, a 0-4 at home against Chelsea, but the Bucharest side is starting to look worried. The arrogance is gone and the horrible performance of the referee that helped Steaua earn a point away at Otelul last Sunday means the club is taking measures. Not the right ones, in my opinion, and this was the last thing we needed in a league that's going from bad to worse each year…
Steaua's recent decline, one than can be stopped quickly, with some good calls and some money spent during a winter break, but only if the club identifies its' real issues and finds the right solutions:
- The team is weaker than last season: the departures of Chiriches and Rusescu, the long term injury of Chipciu and the fitness problems of Pintilii meant an obvious lack of quality, which wasn't addressed through a clever transfer activity.
- Poor summer mercato. Steaua cashed in big on the above mentioned players, nailed a huge income from the Champions League, yet refused to spend enough and, in consequence, failed to invest properly to strengthen the team. Signing Pantelis Kapetanos, a striker the club had released on a free, without a second thought, a few years ago, was a stunning decision, just as spending around 1 million euro for Vaslui's Fernando Varela, a defender signed to replace Chiriches, but who fails to even bother Florin Gardos, who stepped in admirably to partner Lukasz Szukala.
- Poor quality upfront – no wonder Steaua's hard to beat, but struggles to win games, at the same time. There's been some recent praise for Federico Piovaccari, but the striker loaned from Sampdoria has only 6 goals in Liga 1 and 1 in the Champions League. Behind him, usually operate Tanase, Stanciu and Popa, who netted… 7 times in Liga 1. Steaua desperately need Chipciu to regain his match fitness, but will also need to replace the likes of Kapetanos and Tatu with some real football players…
- Lack of hunger in most of the key players, who only think about their next move. Tatarusanu, the goalkeeper, Bourceanu, the captain, Georgevski, the regular right back, are entering the last six months of their current deals and they're not going to stay. In turn, Steaua convinced Tanase to extend his deal, instead of finding a buyer for him and the inconsistent Latovlevici, as both players have reached a limit they obviously cannot break.
- There's no more bad cop / good cop work within the club, with the owner still behind bars and the manager, Mihai Stoica, unable to be the good guy who can solve the players' problems and ask from them to give back more, in return.


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subset: commoncrawl


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Boston Red Sox pitcher John Lackey has filed to divorce his wife, Krista ... who is in the middle of battling breast cancer.
Lackey filed on August 30, according to court docs in Texas, claiming "the marriage has become insupportable because of discord or conflict of personalities." Krista and John got married in November, 2008.
Sources close to the family tell TMZ ... Krista underwent a double mastectomy back in March and underwent chemo as recently as June.
The divorce petition says John and Krista had a prenup. It also says Lackey has "separate property" he wants to keep for himself.
Lackey filed the divorce papers using only his and Krista's initials -- a tactic Tony Parker and Eva Longoria ... and Sandra Bullock and Jesse James also used in their Texas divorces.
It's unclear why Lackey -- who's struggled on the field all season long -- didn't wait til the off-season, about a month from now, to start divorce proceedings.
4:33 PM: The Red Sox just released a statement on Lackey's behalf -- telling us, "John Lackey is dealing with a deeply personal family issue, and it is one the Red Sox do not feel is appropriate for public debate. The Red Sox request that John and Krista's privacy be respected."
What a total and complete low life. Krista, his wife, was way too pretty and sweet to be with him to begin with. She obviously wasn't with him for his money (they have a pre-nump_ and she certainly wasn't with him for his looks, so she actually loved that monster. I hope she gets well and meets a REAL man and that this little boy continues to suck wind and get shamed out of baseball for good. Sorry, but this is ridiculous, he must have met another woman. He should concentrate on baseball.
Sounds to me like he is a piece of ****! Can not believe he is dumping his wife who is battling cancer.
The following are my Tweets for today Feb 27 2012
I tweeted these to the LA Times, NY Times, & Yes the FBI on Twitter
Also check out my youtube videos: Don42269JACK No, you don't have to subscribe but I believe it is a pretty funny video. And yes, I am acting in these videos.
This is Donaldli ! The FBI told me to contact the authorities in Austin. GOOGLE Sandra Bullock FBI and/or Donaldli Ingalls FBI
Someone get me Sandy! The FBI told me to contact Austin TX Someone get me Sandy ASAP! -Donaldli Ingalls
Yes, Sandra Annette Bullock! This is your Donaldli Mark Ingalls I need you in Gig Harbor WA ASAP!
Megan Lampinski of the FBI told me to contact the authorities in Austin TX regarding Sandra Bullock!
To: Sandra Annette Bullock From:Donaldli Mark Ingalls Subject: I need you now in Gig Harbor WA
No stalker would send a tweet like this! I am No Stalker!
....He was happy to use her till the hooters were gone..Red Sox (and im a lifelong fan) seem to have an above average quota of s***bags from John Henry on down.!
what a cowerd ,He should support his wife and not dump her. What else can be said: ...... low, very low auto mieten bern


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"I enjoy everything about this series, lining up the programs, meeting new people who have an interest in history and who want to make presentations and I especially love the research involved in the programs that I compile and present. The greatest satisfaction ... comes from our program attendees who talk to me after any program and say, 'Thanks, I learned something new tonight.' Inspiring people to take an interest in their past and teaching someone, no matter what age they are, is extremely gratifying.
"One of the things I am looking forward to most this year is talking with all of those that attend our programs and learning something new myself. Our history series serves as a reciprocal program – it teaches people, who in turn always teach me something new and/or donate items to our local history collection, which in turn can be shared with others in the future. It is a wonderful continuous cycle of sharing and learning," Schlesseman announces.
"I encourage people to attend because ... (the programs) are fun and informal lessons in local history. They are interesting as well as thought provoking and by no means simply the typical scenario of 'stuffy, boring old facts about dead people' that most adults and students think history is all about."
Persons are invited to "come and take some extra time before a program to visit our local history and genealogy room to see what secrets await them."
Diane Raver can be contacted at firstname.lastname@example.com or 812-934-4343, Ext. 114.
Hooked on History • April 16, "A Cincinnati Private Eye Protecting Princess Di" by Rich McDonough • May 21, "A Moment in Time: Franklin County as Seen Through the Eye of the Camera: Part 4" by Julie Schlesselman • June 18, "The Tombstone Trail: Part 2" by Julie Schlesselman • July 16, "Killed in the Line of Duty" by Julie Schlesselman • Aug. 20, "Notable Dearborn County Structures ... Gone but not Forgotten" by Joyce Baer • Sept. 17, "The Unknown Legend of the Cincinnati Strangler" by J.T. Townsend • Oct. 15, "Franklin County's Whitewater River: A Canal, a Railroad, a Trail" by Jim Lierl The free programs are at the Brookville Library at 6:30 p.m. Info: 765-647-4031 or www.fclibraries.org.


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Press News
THE SPICE OF POPERY named CHOICE "Outstanding Academic Title"
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Choice Magazine has selected Laura M. Chmielewski's book The Spice of Popery: Converging Christianities on an Early American Frontier as an Outstanding Academic Title for 2012. This year's Outstanding Academic Title list includes 644 books and electronic resources chosen by the Choice editorial staff from among the 7,230 titles reviewed by Choice during the past year. These outstanding works have been selected for their excellence in scholarship and presentation, the significance of their contribution to the field, and their value as important—often the first—treatment of their subject.
Read more about The Spice of Popery
Past News
- KIRKUS calls WHAT I FOUND OUT ABOUT HER "brilliantly written." - Thursday, August 14, 2014
- Guerrero wins International Latino Book Award - Tuesday, July 15, 2014
- Catholic Press Association Book Awards go to Five UNDP Titles - Wednesday, July 02, 2014
- Sean Field "provides a handbook for the writing of history" - Monday, June 30, 2014
- John Marenbon returns to the philosophy of Peter Abelard - Tuesday, June 10, 2014
- Jill DeTemple receives Godbey Authors' Award - Wednesday, May 14, 2014
- Philosophy Titles Featured in New Catalog - Wednesday, April 30, 2014
- San Antonio Appoints Laurie Ann Guerrero as Poet Laureate - Friday, April 04, 2014
- TLS reviews "Transforming Work" - Wednesday, March 19, 2014
- Mark Brazaitis to appear on "The Diane Rehm Show" - Thursday, March 13, 2014


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1st Prize:
No. 15249 Dr E Allworth of Sydney
2nd Prize:
No. 5156 Mr D Rebel of East Kurrajong
3rd Prize:
No. 11302 Mr J Martin of Tamworth
Bonus Draw:
Mrs Olive Wilson of Bligh Park
AFFORD at Marrickville receives over $10,400 from the Community Building Partnerships Program
Packaging, re-labelling and assembly, pallet and wood product manufacturing, document scanning and more.
A great success with over 1000 clients with disability participating in outdoor activities


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Pernicus Update: Post-vacation
It's the first day back from vacation and I was pleased to hear that you missed my Pernicus updates! Nelson told me he had a few people asking him for updates on my pup. Too funny! It was an eventful week for my little guy, so I thought I'd bring you up to speed.


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At Rollandia Golf Center, players hone their game on a verdant 18-hole course with 2,800 yards of fairways?coached along the way, if they wish, by PGA-certified instructors. Visitors also can focus on their swings at a driving range with heated and covered stalls that is open year-round.
A part of the National Trail Parks and Recreation District, Reid Park Golf Course serves as a public testing ground for golfers of all ages and abilities. The course comprises 36 holes in total—18 for the North Course, 18 for the South—all surrounded by thick cuts of rough and trees mature enough not to swat at the ball as it passes by. Golfers hoping to trim the double bogeys, triple bogeys, and frowny faces from their scorecard can consult with PGA pro Tim Grieser for game-improvement lessons.
PB Dye designed the 18 executive-style, rye-grass fairways at ClearCreek to focus on golfers' short games, letting players hit through a faster round while still challenging them with one lake and 11 sand bunkers. Golfers tee off at a choice of four different boxes, driving balls the farthest at the 14th hole—one of two par 4 holes on the course—and maneuvering delicately at the 7th to avoid a bunker and the water that ripples on the backside of the putting green. The practice range's 22 heated and lighted stalls keep 9-irons warm and cozy, and two Full Swing Golf simulators invite golfers to pretend to tackle the best courses in the world no matter the weather outside. ClearCreek's pro shop features a Callaway custom fitting center for players seeking a new club and stocks Callaway and Titleist golfing paraphernalia. On Sundays, ClearCreek sells adult beverages at the 15th hole's twin bunkers, providing adults the liquid courage necessary to face down the course's fire-breathing prairie dogs.
Course at a Glance:
18-hole, par-56 course
Length of 3,028 yards from the farthest set of tees
Course rating of 57.0 from the farthest set of tees
Slope rating of 87 from the farthest set of tees
Four sets of tee boxes
Golf balls soar above the driving range and roll over tricky putt-putt greens at Southwest Golf Ranch, a practice facility designed to help golfers improve the full spectrum of their skills. With 2.5 acres of bent-grass hitting areas and 20 heated, covered hitting stalls outfitted with synthetic-turf mats, the range lets players choose their hitting surface or conceal their swing adjustments from spy drones sent by rival golfers. The mini-golf course features colorful flags, Lilliputian ponds, and wooden bridges that arch throughout the 18-hole layout, which is lighted for after-hours play.
Helmed by PGA pro and Director of Instruction Dave Stanton, Southwest Golf Ranch's staff of instructors puts the facility's resources to use in lessons and golf camps. The resident aces groom golfers' swings with the help of video analysis and FlightScope swing tracking, the same technology used in the Ranch's club fitting studio, which pairs golfers with their ideal clubs without forcing them to meet random sand wedges on the Internet.
Forest Hills Country Club invites golfers of all skill levels to drive, chip, and putt their way around its private nine-hole course, buttressed by the Great Miami River and native forestation. The course measures 2,267 yards from the back tees and boasts five par 3s and four par 4s. Though it may not have any par 5s, Forest Hills makes up for distance in scoring difficulty, with just one par 3 measuring fewer than 150 yards and cups that sneeze every time a ball comes near them. After a round, players can visit the concession stand to replenish calories lost from swinging clubs or cartwheeling from hole to hole.
Cincinnati Golf Center immerses visitors in practice for golf both miniature and normal-sized with 36 holes of mini golf as well as a grass tee area and a two-tier mat tee area. The two 18-hole mini-golf courses slink past obstacles such as water fountains, rocky areas, sloth-like groups ahead, and tricky upslopes and downslopes. A two-tier driving range features open air and covered mats and a natural grass area for players to hone their iron approaches and booming drives, while a pair of putting greens give them space to perfect long lags and tap-ins alike. With a heated bottom floor, customers can practice their golf game all year long.


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Retiree teaches students about math, money and life
Of all the words you might use to describe John Shacter, "devious" is probably not the first that would come to mind. With his gentle smile and grandfatherly mannerisms, the 87-year-old Kingston resident seems almost incapable of anything underhanded. Yet, that is a word Shacter frequently uses to describe himself.
"I have a devious mind," explains Shacter with a grin. "People tell they hate math but they love money. I take full advantage of that by weaving money all through math."
Shacter, a retired engineer, consultant and educator, is small in stature (barely 5'2"), but he has hefty ideas about whether American school systems are making the grade in educating our children. He also has a big heart and a passion for equipping students to excel in school and in life.
"I think we are on the wrong track on how to educate kids. We seem to have lost grasp of why we teach certain subjects. I look at math as a set of tools. I don't teach math as a science, because most students won't go into a math career," says Shacter. "I teach according to the KISS philosophy: 'Keep It Simple, Stupid.'"
This summer Shacter put his KISS theory into practice by offering free group math lessons for students at the Kingston Community Center every Thursday afternoon. Classes helped participants learn how to apply basic math skills in everyday life situations, including money management.
"If you don't know anything about math and numbers, you don't know how to deal with money. In my classes I teach kids about money management and making budgets," Shacter continues. "I want them to know how to plan ahead, how they can take their allowances and make decisions on how they're going to spend that money. They can only spend it once."
At a time in life when many retired people work on improving their golf game, why does Shacter spend his time helping young people improve basic skills? To understand Shacter's motive, you have to know a little more of his history. Schacter was born and raised in Austria. At age 17, he came to the U.S.
"When I came here, I was in high school. The only subjects I needed were American History and English. I had already studied three languages - French, Italian and my mother tongue, German. I decided that either all American girls would have to learn German or I would have to learn English. So I learned English by crash course, largely self-taught."
Shacter went on to become a citizen and earn a degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania. His engineering career included working on the Manhattan Project during World War II and working with the U.S. Defense Department and Department of Energy in Oak Ridge.
"I feel very fortunate arriving in this country and doing well here. So after I retired, I felt I owed it to our society to give back," says Shacter.
After a brief pause, he adds, "Besides that, I enjoy teaching and interacting with people."
For information about future classes, contact John Shacter at 865-376-7600 or by email at email@example.com.
Nancy Twigg is a freelance contributor to the News Sentinel.


text: From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Invasion Invasion Warfare Ranks Command and control Staff Intelligence Education and training Logistics Technology and equipment Materiel Supply chain management Lists Battles Commanders Operations Sieges Writers Wars War crimes Weapons Portal An invasion is a military offensive consisting of all, or large parts of the armed forces of one geopolitical entity aggressively entering territory controlled by another such entity, generally with the objective of either conquering, liberating or re-establishing control or authority over a territory, forcing the partition of a country, altering the established government or gaining concessions from said government, or a combination thereof. An invasion can be the cause of a war, be used as a part of a larger strategy to end a war, or it can constitute an entire war in itself. Due to the large scale of the operations associated with invasions, they are usually strategic in planning and execution. Military history Eras Prehistoric Ancient Medieval Gunpowder Industrial Modern Battlespace Air Information Land Sea Space Weapons Armor Artillery Biological Cavalry Chemical Electronic Infantry Nuclear Psychological Tactics Attrition warfare Guerrilla warfare Maneuver warfare Siege Total war Trench warfare Conventional warfare Unconventional warfare Asymmetric warfare Counter-insurgency Network-centric warfare Strategy Economic Grand Operational Organization Overview The term usually denotes a strategic endeavor of substantial magnitude; because the goals of an invasion are usually large-scale and long-term, a sizeable force is needed to hold territory, and protect the interests of the invading entity. Smaller-scale, tactical cross-border actions, such as skirmishes, sorties, raids, infiltrations or guerrilla warfare, are not generally considered invasions. A military endeavor to take back territory 1 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia that is tenuously held by an initial invader during the course of war is generally called a counter-offensive rather than an invasion. Military operations that occur within the territory of a single geopolitical entity can sometimes be termed an invasion if armed forces enter into a well defined part of that territory that, at the time of the operation, was completely under the control of armed forces of the other faction in a civil war or insurrection situation. For example, during both the American Revolutionary War and the American Civil War many of the military operations conducted during these wars are called invasions for this reason even though they did not involve "foreign" armies entering from "foreign" nations strictly speaking. It should be noted that the term invasion does not, in and of itself, imply either a justified or unjustified course of action. For example, during World War II, German military operations conducted against Poland in 1939 are often called the Invasion of Poland while military operations conducted against Nazi controlled France in 1944 is called the Invasion of Normandy. Both military operations are properly called invasions because they involved an outside force entering territory not under its authority or control at the time. The morality or immorality of the military operation itself is not a factor in determining whether it is termed as an invasion. Invasion A defensive wall, the Great Wall of China. invading forces from entering the country by means of an extended and well-defended barrier; the Great Wall of China, Hadrian's Wall, and the Danewerk are famous examples. Such barriers have also included trench lines and, in more modern times, minefields, cameras, and motion-sensitive sensors.[2] However, these barriers can require a large military force to provide the defense, as well as maintain the equipment and positions, which can impose a great economic burden on the country. Some of those same techniques can also be turned against defenders, used to keep them from escape or resupply. During Operation Starvation, Allied forces used airdropped mines to severely disrupt Japanese logistical operations within their own borders.[3] History Archaeological evidence indicates that invasions have been frequent occurrences since prehistory. In antiquity, before radio communications and fast transportation, the only way to ensure adequate reinforcements was to move armies as one massive force. This, by its very nature, led to the strategy of invasion. With invasion came cultural exchanges in government, religion, philosophy, and technology that shaped the development of much of the ancient world.[1] View from Dover Castle. Alternately, the fortifications can be built up at a series of sites, such as castles or forts placed near a border. These structures are designed to delay an invasion long enough for the defending nation to mobilize an army of size sufficient for defense or, in some cases, counter-invasion—such as, for example, the Maginot Line. Forts can be Defenses States with potentially hostile neighbors typically adopt defensive measures to delay or forestall an invasion. In addition to utilizing geographical barriers such as rivers, marshes, or rugged terrain, these measures have historically included fortifications. Such a defense can be intended to actively prevent 2 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia positioned so that the garrisons can interdict the supply lines of the invaders. The theory behind these spaced forts is that the invader cannot afford to bypass these defenses, and so must lay siege to the structures.[4] Invasion Island nations, such as the United Kingdom or Japan, and continental states with extensive coasts, such as the United States, have utilized a significant naval presence to forestall an invasion of their country, rather than fortifying their border areas. A successful naval defense, however, usually requires a preponderance of naval power and the ability to sustain and service that defense force. In particularly large nations, the defending force may also retreat in order to facilitate a counterattack by drawing the invaders deeper into hostile territory. One effect of this tactic is that the invading force becomes too spread out, making supply difficult and making the lines more susceptible to attack. This tactic, although costly, helped the Soviets stop the German advance at Stalingrad.[5] It can also cause the invading force to extend too far, allowing a pincer movement to cut them off from reinforcements. This was the cause of the British defeat at the Battle of Cowpens during the American Revolutionary War.[6] Finally, sending too many reinforcements can leave too few defenders in the attackers' territory, allowing a counter-invasion from other areas, as happened in the Second Punic War. The view from a battery at Ouvrage Schoenenbourg in Alsace; notice the retractable turret in the left foreground. In modern times, the notion of constructing large-scale static defenses to combat land-based threats has largely become obsolete. The use of precision air campaigns and large-scale mechanization have made lighter, more mobile defenses desirable to military planners. The obsolescence of large fortifications was displayed by the failure of the Maginot Line in the beginning of World War Two. Nations defending against modern invasions normally use large population centers such as cities or towns as defensive points. The invader must capture these points to destroy the defender's ability to wage war. The defender uses mobile armored and infantry divisions to protect these points, but the defenders are still very mobile and can normally retreat. A prominent example of the use of cities as fortifications can be seen in the Iraqi Army's stands in the 2003 invasion of Iraq at Baghdad, Tikrit and Basra in the major combat in the Second Gulf War. A defender can also use these mobile assets to precipitate a counteroffensive like the Soviet Red Army at the Battle of Kursk or the Northern Alliance in Afghanistan. However, static emplacements remain useful in both defense against naval attacks and defense against air attacks. Naval mines are still an inexpensive but effective way to defend ports and choke off supply lines. Large static air defense systems that combine antiaircraft guns with missile launchers are still the best way to defend against air attacks. Such systems were used effectively by the North Vietnamese around Hanoi. Also, the United States has invested considerable time and money into the construction of a National Missile Defense system, a static defense grid intended to intercept nuclear intercontinental ballistic missiles. Methods There are many different methods by which an invasion can take place, each method having arguments both in their favor and against. These include invasion by land, sea, or air, or any combination of these methods. Invasion by land Invasion over land is the straightforward entry of armed forces into an area using existing land connections, usually crossing borders or otherwise defined zones, such as a demilitarized zone, overwhelming defensive emplacements and structures. Although this tactic often results in a quick victory, troop movements are relatively slow and subject to disruption by terrain and weather. Furthermore, it is hard to conceal plans for this method of invasion, as most geopolitical entities take defensive positions in areas that are most vulnerable to the methods mentioned above. In modern warfare, invasion by land often takes place after, or sometimes during, attacks on the target by other means. Air 3 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia strikes and cruise missiles launched from ships at sea are a common method of "softening" the target. Other, more subtle, preparations may involve secretly garnering popular support, assassinating potentially threatening political or military figures, and closing off supply lines where they cross into neighboring countries. In some cases, those other means of attack eliminate the need for ground assault; the 1945 atomic-bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki ultimately made it unnecessary for the Allies to invade the Japanese home islands with infantry troops. In cases such as this, while some ground troops are still needed to occupy the conquered territory, they are allowed to enter under the terms of a treaty and as such are no longer invaders. As unmanned, longrange combat evolves, the instances of basic overland invasion become fewer; often the conventional fighting is effectively over before the infantry arrives in the role of peacekeepers (see "Applications in fourth generation warfare" in this article). Invasion specialized equipment, such as amphibious vehicles and the difficulty of establishing defenses—usually with a resulting high casualty count—in exchange for a relatively small gain, are often used as arguments against such an invasion method. Underwater hazards and a lack of good cover are very common problems during invasions from the sea. At the Battle of Tarawa, Marine landing craft became hung up on a coral reef and were shelled from the beach. Other landers were sunk before they could reach the shore, and the tanks they were carrying were stranded in the water. Most of the few survivors of the first wave ended up pinned down on the beach.[7] The island was conquered but at a heavy cost, and the loss of life sparked mass protests from civilians in the United States. Invasion by air Invasion by sea Thousands of paratroopers descend during Operation Market Garden Invasion by air is an invention of the 20th century and modern warfare. The idea involves sending military units into a territory by aircraft. The aircraft either land, allowing the military units to debark and attempt their objective, or the troops exit the aircraft while still in the air, using parachutes or similar devices to land in the territory being invaded. Many times air assaults have been used to pave the way for a ground- or sea-based invasion, by taking key positions deep behind enemy lines such as bridges and crossroads, but an entirely air-based invasion has never succeeded. Two immediate problems are resupply and reinforcement. A large airborne force cannot be adequately supplied without meeting up with ground forces; an airborne force too small simply places themselves into An LCAC carrying LAVs ashore during the 2003 invasion of Iraq Invasion by sea is the use of a body of water to facilitate the entry of armed forces into an area, often a landmass adjoining the body of water or an island. This is generally used either in conjunction with another method of invasion, and especially before the invention of flight, for cases in which there is no other method to enter the territory in question. Arguments in favor of this method usually consist of the ability to perform a surprise attack from sea, or that naval defenses of the area in question are inadequate to repel such an attack. However, the large amount of 4 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia an immediate envelopment situation. Arguments in favor of this method generally relate to the ability to target specific areas that may not necessarily be easily accessible by land or sea, a greater chance of surprising the enemy and overwhelming defensive structures, and, in many cases, the need for a reduced number of forces due to the element of surprise. Arguments against this method typically involve capacity to perform such an invasion—such as the sheer number of planes that would be needed to carry a sufficient number of troops—and the need for a high level of intelligence in order for the invasion to be successful. The closest examples to a true air invasion are the Battle of Crete, Operation Thursday (the Chindits second operation during the Burma Campaign) and Operation Market Garden. The latter was an assault on the German-occupied Netherlands conducted in September 1944. Nearly 35,000 men were dropped by parachute and glider into enemy territory in an attempt to capture bridges from the Germans and make way for the Allies' advance. However, even with such a massive force taking the Germans completely by surprise, the assault was a tactical failure and after 9 days of fighting the Allies managed only to escape back to their own lines, having sustained over 18,000 casualties.[8] In the 21st century, as vast improvements are made in anti-aircraft defenses, it seems that the air invasion is a strategy whose time may never come. Invasion region is the final, and arguably the most important, goal of the invading force. After the defeat of the regular military, or when one is lacking, continued opposition to an invasion often comes from civilian or paramilitary resistance movements. Complete pacification of an occupied country can be difficult, and usually impossible, but popular support is vital to the success of any invasion. Media propaganda such as leaflets, books, and radio broadcasts can be used to encourage resistance fighters to surrender and to dissuade others from joining their cause. Pacification, often referred to as "the winning of hearts and minds", reduces the desire for civilians to take up resistance. This may be accomplished through reeducation, allowing conquered citizens to participate in their government, or, especially in impoverished or besieged areas, simply by providing food, water, and shelter. Sometimes displays of military might are used; invading forces may assemble and parade through the streets of conquered towns, attempting to demonstrate the futility of any further fighting. These displays may also include public executions of enemy soldiers, resistance fighters, and other conspirators. Particularly in antiquity, the death or imprisonment of a popular leader was sometimes enough to bring about a quick surrender. However, this has often had the unintended effect of creating martyrs around which popular resistance can rally. An example of which was Sir William Wallace, who, centuries after his execution by the English, is still a symbol of Scottish nationalism. Many factors need to be taken into account when deciding which tactics to use during occupation; when the wrong decisions are made, it can lead to years (or even centuries) of continued resistance. The problems caused by continued resistance may be minimal if the conquered territory is only needed for a short-term tactical purpose, but can become extremely difficult if the intent is to colonize the area or hold the land indefinitely. Pacification Support U.S. forces distribute information on the streets of Kut, Iraq Once political boundaries and military lines have been breached, pacification of the Logistics Without a steady flow of supplies, an invading force will soon find itself retreating. Before his invasion of Greece, Xerxes I spent three years amassing supplies from all over 5 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Asia; Herodotus wrote that the Persian army was so large it "drank the rivers dry".[9] In most invasions, even in modern times, many fresh supplies are gathered from the invaded territories themselves. Before the laws of war, invaders often relied heavily on the supplies they would win by conquering towns along the way. During the Second Punic War, for example, Hannibal diverted his army to conquer cities simply to gather supplies; his strategy in crossing the Alps necessitated traveling with as few provisions as possible, expecting the Roman stores to sustain them when they had breached the border.[10] The scorched earth tactics used in Russia forced Napoleon to withdraw his forces due to lack of food and shelter. Today, the Law of land warfare forbids looting and the confiscation of private property, but local supplies, particularly perishables, are still purchased when possible for use by occupying forces, and airplanes often use parachutes to drop supplies to besieged forces. Even as rules become stricter, the necessities of war become more numerous; in addition to food, shelter, and ammunition, today's militaries require fuel, batteries, spare mechanical parts, electronic equipment, and many other things. In the United States, the Defense Logistics Agency employs over 22,000 civilians with the sole task of logistics support, and 30,000 soldiers graduate from the U.S. Army Logistics Management College each year.[11] Invasion armies in person to be certain his commands were followed, as in the case of Alexander the Great. At that time, the skills needed to lead troops in battle were as important as the skills needed to run a country during peacetime. When it was necessary for the king to be elsewhere, messengers would relay updates back to the rear, often on horseback or, in cases such as the Battle of Marathon, with swift runners. When possible, sloops and cutters were used to relay information by sea. The HMS Pickle brought Britain the first news that Nelson had defeated the French forces at the Battle of Trafalgar. The development of Morse Code, and later voice communications by radio and satellite, have allowed even small units of skirmishers to remain in contact with the larger invasion force, to verify orders or call for artillery support and air strikes. These communications were critical to the German blitzkrieg strategy, as infantry commanders relayed defensive positions to tanks and bombers. Applications regarding non-state combatants In the 20th and 21st centuries, questions arose regarding the effectiveness of the invasion strategy in neutralizing non-state combatants, a type of warfare sometimes referred to as "fourth generation warfare". In this case, one or more combatant groups are controlled not by a centralized state government but by independent leadership, and these groups may be made up of civilians, foreign agents, mercenaries, politicians, religious leaders, and members of the regular military. These groups act in smaller numbers, are not confined by borders, and do not necessarily depend on the direct support of the state. Groups such as these are not easily defeated by straightforward invasion, or even constant occupation; the country's regular army may be defeated, the government may be replaced, but asymmetric warfare on the part of these groups can be continued indefinitely.[12] Because regular armed forces units do not have the flexibility and independence of small covert cells, many believe that the concept of a powerful occupying force actually creates a disadvantage.[13] An opposing theory holds that, in response to extremist ideology and unjust Communication A mobile satellite communications center Another consideration is the importance of leadership being able to communicate with the invasion force. In ancient times, this often meant that a king needed to lead his 6 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia governments, an invasion can change the government and reeducate the people, making prolonged resistance unlikely and averting future violence. This theory acknowledges that these changes may take time—generations, in some cases—but holds that immediate benefits may still be won by reducing membership in, and choking the supply lines of, these covert cells. Proponents of the invasion strategy in such conflicts maintain the belief that a strong occupying force can still succeed in its goals on a tactical level, building upon numerous small victories, similar to a war of attrition.[14] Contemporary debate on this issue is still fresh; neither side can claim to know for certain which strategies will ultimately be effective in defeating non-state combatants. Opponents of the invasion strategy point to a lack of examples in which occupying or peacekeeping forces have met with conclusive success.[15] They also cite continuing conflicts such as Northern Ireland, Israel, Chechnya, and Iraq, as well as examples which they claim ultimately proved to be failures, such as Lebanon, and Afghanistan. Supporters of the invasion strategy hold that it is too soon to call those situations failures, and that patience is needed to see the plan through. Some say that the invasions themselves have, in fact, been successful, but that political opponents[16] and the international media[17] skew the facts for sensationalism or political gain. Invasion currently occupied by an aggressive third party is restored to control of its own affairs (i.e. Western Europe following the Normandy landings in 1944, or Kuwait following the defeat of Iraq in 1991). In some cases, the invasion may be strategically limited to a geographical area, which is carved into a separate state as with the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971. Record-setting invasions Many records for invasions were set during World War II, at the peak of second and third generation warfare. The vast numbers of the armies involved combined with innovative tactics and technology lent themselves to invasions on a scale that had not been seen before. The largest land invasion in history was 1941's Operation Barbarossa, in which 4,000,000 German troops blitzkrieged into the Soviet Union. Initially the Germans advanced with great ease and nearly captured Moscow, also laying siege to Leningrad, but soon found themselves fighting the harsh Russian winter as well as stiffer Soviet resistance, and their advance ground to a halt at Stalingrad in early 1943. In the largest amphibious invasion in history, 156,215 Allied troops landed at Normandy to retake France from the occupying German forces. Though it was costly in terms of men and materials, the invasion advanced the Western Front and forced Germany to redirect its forces from the Russian and Italian fronts. In hindsight, the operation is also credited with defining the Western boundary of Soviet communism; had the Allies not advanced, it is conceivable that the Soviet Union would have controlled more of Europe than it eventually did. Outcomes The outcomes of an invasion may vary according to the objectives of both invaders and defenders, the success of the invasion and the defense, and the presence or absence of an agreed settlement between the warring parties. The most common outcome is the loss of territory, generally accompanied by a change in government and often the loss of direct control of that government by the losing faction. This sometimes results in the transformation of that country into a client state, often accompanied by requirements to pay reparations or tribute to the victor. In other cases the results of a successful invasion may simply be a return to the status quo; this can be seen in wars of attrition, when the destruction of personnel and supplies is the main strategic objective,[18] or where a nation previously subdued and Other examples of historically significant invasions Assyrian invasion of the Kingdom of Israel Sargon II, during the course of conquering much of what is now known as the Middle East, defeated the Kingdom of Israel in 722 BC and sent its inhabitants into exile. This 7 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia presaged future Greek and Roman conquest and, later, the Crusades. To this day, the region remains contested.[19] Invasion The Arab conquests Following the Islamic prophet Muhammad's unification of the Arabian peninsula in 632, his successors, the Caliphs began a series of invasions of the Middle East, North Africa, Southern Europe, and South Asia. Lasting slightly more than a century, these conquests brought much of the ancient world under Arab rule. Persian invasion of Greece In 480 BC, Xerxes I of Persia moved his armies against the loose confederation of city-states in what is modern-day Greece. One of the most famous battles of the war, fought at Thermopylae, is an early example of using a chokepoint to tactical advantage. Although Xerxes' army was vast—modern estimates put it at 250,000—the defending Greeks were able to hold their ground for days by using a narrow mountain pass to slow the Persian advance. The invasion also demonstrates the importance of communication and supply routes; although Xerxes' land battles were almost all Persian victories, the Greeks managed to cut off his naval support and the Persians were forced to withdraw. The invasion served to unify the various citystates, bringing about the formation of the Greek nation.[20] Viking invasions In 793 a Viking raid on Christian monastery at Lindisfarne in north-east England caused much consternation throughout the Christian west, and is now often taken as the beginning of the age of Viking raids. Vikings were Scandinavian warriors, pirates and traders who raided the coasts of Britain, Ireland and mainland Europe as far as Al-Andalus and Italy from the late 8th–11th century. They also plundered all the coasts of the Baltic Sea, ascending the rivers of Eastern Europe as far as the Black Sea and Persia. Macedonian conquest of the Persian Empire In 323 BC, Alexander the Great led his army into Persia, defeating Darius III, conquering Babylon, and taking control of the Persian Empire. Alexander's influence in mixing cultures led to the Hellenistic Age of Mesopotamia and North Africa.[21] Magyar (Hungarian) invasions of Europe Magyars were Finno-Ugric (disputed) nomads of western Siberia. Around 896, probably under the leadership of Árpád, some Magyars crossed the Carpathians and entered the Carpathian Basin. After 900, almost every year Magyars led a raid against the Catholic West and Byzantine East. In 907, the Magyars defeated Bavarians near Bratislava, destroying their army and laying Great Moravia, Germany, France and Italy open to Magyar raids. These raids were fast and devastating. The Magyars defeated Louis the Child's united Frankish Imperial Army near Augsburg in 910. From 917-925, Magyars raided through Basle, Alsace, Burgundy, Saxony, and Provence. In 937, they raided France as far west as Reims and Italy as far as Otranto in the south. Magyar expansion was checked at the Battle of Lechfeld in 955. Although battle at Lechfeld stopped the Magyar raids against western Europe, the raids on the Byzantine Empire continued until 970. Roman invasion of Britain The main invasion force under Aulus Plautius sailed in three divisions, and is generally believed to have landed at Richborough in Kent, although parts may have landed elsewhere (see Site of the Claudian invasion of Britain). The army was composed of four legions. The Britons, led by Togodumnus and Caratacus of the Catuvellauni, were reluctant to fight a pitched battle, relying instead on guerrilla tactics. However, Plautius defeated first Caratacus, then Togodumnus, on the rivers Medway and Thames. Vespasian took a force westwards subduing tribes and capturing oppida as he went, going at least as far as Exeter and probably reaching Bodmin. Roman province was established in the conquered territory and Plautius became governor of the new province. The Norman invasion of England The 1066 invasion of England by William the Conqueror, and the decisive battle which won the war, the Battle of Hastings, were to 8 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia have profound effects on the historical and societal development of Britain, and the English language. Invasion Timur invasion of India During the late 14th century, Islamic warlord of Turco-Mongol descent Timur the Lame conquered much of western and central Asia. In 1398, Timur invaded India on the pretext that the Muslim sultans of Delhi were too much tolerant to their Hindu subjects. He subjugated Multan and Dipalpur in modern day Pakistan and in modern day India left Delhi in such ruin that it is said for two months "not a bird moved wing in the city". The Crusades In a series of nine different major invasions from 1095 to 1291, the Catholic Church and various European states attempted to liberate the Holy Land for Christendom from its Muslim conquerors, with varied success until the fall of Acre in 1291. As Jerusalem changed hands and European forces moved back and forth, in-roads to the Levant were reestablished and the cultures mixed on a large scale for the first time in centuries.[22] Spanish Conquest of the Aztec Empire The last of the Aztec empire was destroyed at Tenochtitlan in 1521, by a combination of Spanish and native forces. Aided by at least 20,000 local Tlaxcalan warriors, Hernán Cortés marched into the city. Although he and his men were expelled, they returned with ships and laid siege to the capital. Though an epidemic of smallpox took its toll on the Aztecs, Cortes' conquest was the culmination of Spanish strategy in the Americas: He used promises to gain native allies, and he combined superior technology with patience while he struck at Tenochtitlan from the sea. This opened the door to Spanish colonization of mainland Mesoamerican cultures. Genghis Khan's invasions of China From 1206 until his death in 1227, Genghis Khan orchestrated a series of invasions that united much of Asia. Relying heavily on cavalry, the Mongol hordes were able to travel quickly yet were well-supplied. The Mongol Empire reached its largest extent by 1279, considered the largest contiguous empire in history, composed of 35 million km² (13.8 million miles²) of territory stretched across the continent, though the empire was already fragmented by this time. His eastward invasion of China created the Yuan Dynasty, and his westward invasion of Kievan Rus' further linked Europe and Asia by reestablishing the Silk Road. Before the Mongol invasion, Chinese dynasties reportedly had approximately 120 million inhabitants; after the conquest was completed in 1279, the 1300 census reported roughly 60 million people.[23] Japanese invasions of Korea During the Japanese invasions of Korea (1592-1598), the Japanese warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi, with the ambition of conquering Ming China, invaded Korea with his daimyō and their troops in 1592 and again in 1597. Japanese prevailed on land, but following several defeats by Korean and Ming China forces and Hideyoshi's death, Japanese troops were withdrawn in 1598. Mongol invasion of Europe The 13th century, when the Mongol Empire came to power, is often called the "Age of the Mongols". Mongol armies expanded westward under the command of Batu Khan. Their western conquests included almost all of Russia (save Novgorod, which became a vassal), half of Hungary, and Poland. Mongolian records indicate that Batu Khan was planning a complete conquest of the remaining European powers, beginning with a winter attack on Austria, Italy and Germany, when he was recalled to Mongolia upon the death of Great Khan Ögedei. Manchu invasion of China The fall of the Ming Dynasty was a protracted affair, its roots beginning as early as 1600 with the emergence of the Manchu under Nurhaci. Under the brilliant commander, Yuan Chonghuan, the Ming was able to repeatedly fight off the Manchus, notably in 1626 at Ning-yuan and in 1628. On May 26, 1644, Beijing fell to a rebel army led by Li Zicheng. Seizing their chance, the Manchus crossed the Great Wall after Ming border general Wu Sangui opened the gates at 9 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Shanhai Pass, and quickly overthrew Li's short-lived Shun Dynasty. Despite the loss of Beijing and the death of the emperor, Ming power was by no means destroyed. Nanjing, Fujian, Guangdong, Shanxi, and Yunnan were all strongholds of Ming resistance. Each bastion of resistance was individually defeated by the Qing until 1662, when the last real hopes of a Ming revival died with the Yongli emperor, Zhu Youlang. Complete pacification of China would not be complete until 1683. Overall, an estimated 25 million people died during the Manchu conquest of Ming Dynasty.[24] Invasion Americas and Portuguese Empire in the Americas and along the coasts of Africa, the Middle East, India, and East Asia. The Roman Catholic Church played a role in their overseas activities, and the enormous trade profits and riches from gold and silver mines allowed them to finance costly religious wars in Europe. During the 16th and 17th centuries, Britain, France and Holland established their own overseas empires in direct competition with each other as well as the earlier Iberian ones, while the land-based Russian Empire expanded across northern and Central Asia. These activities resulted in the invasions of the Indian subcontinent to set up the extensive European colonies in India, as well as the invasion of Africa called the Scramble for Africa and the colonization of the East Indies. In the late 19th century, the Germans, Italians and the Belgians also joined in, beginning the third wave of invasions that would subdue native peoples and economies, and expand European-controlled territory over the majority of the globe. Decolonization began in the 19th century and picked up pace only after World War II left the European empires weakened and struggling to subdue the native resistance across the vast expanses of their empires. Debates upon the negative vs. positive impact and evaluation of colonialism and colonization—such as those of colonial Christianization, genocide, third world debt, slavery, abolition of slavery, infrastructures and medical advances —upon the colonizer and the colonized continue to shape global and national politics to this day. Ottoman invasions of Europe The Ottoman wars in Europe, also sometimes referred as the Turkish wars, marked an essential part of the history of southeastern Europe. The Ottoman Empire, leading Islamic state at that time, started its westward expansion into the European continent in the middle of the 14th century, until its expansion stopped once it reached and fought Croatia. However the Empire was still at the centre of interactions between the Eastern and Western worlds for next six centuries. French invasion of Russia In 1812, Napoleon led his Grande Armée into Russia. At that point, his invasion force of 691,500 men was the largest ever assembled, and for several weeks the Russian Army could do nothing but retreat and try to buy time. The first major battle between the two armies, at the Russian defenses of Borodino, was one of the bloodiest single days in human history, with estimates of at least 65,000 dead. But although the Russian retreat allowed the French to capture Moscow, they were left depleted and without shelter or supplies. Napoleon was forced to withdraw. Although this invasion was not the end of Napoleon, it is credited with fostering a powerful patriotism in Russia that would lead to the strengthening of the nation in the 19th and 20th centuries. Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union The Eastern Front of the European Theatre of World War II encompassed the conflict in central and eastern Europe from June 22, 1941 to May 9, 1945. It was the largest theatre of war in history in terms of numbers of soldiers, equipment and casualties and was notorious for its unprecedented ferocity, destruction, and immense loss of life. The fighting involved millions of German and Soviet troops along a broad front hundreds of kilometres long. It was by far the deadliest single theatre of World War II. Scholars now believe that as many as 27 million Soviet citizens died during the war, including some 8.7 million soldiers who fell in battle against European colonialism and imperialism In the late 15th century, the Christian nations of Western Europe began the modern age of colonialism with the "Age of Discovery", led by the Spanish colonization of the 10 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Hitler's armies or died in POW camps. Millions of civilians died from starvation, exposure, atrocities, and massacres. Invasion See also • • • • • • • • • Aggression Combat Conflict Invasion literature List of invasions Military occupation Military rule Power projection Sovereignty Soviet Empire The USSR, which had grafted onto the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic several countries that had had short-lived independence (Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and the lands of Central Asia), never reconciled itself to having lost West Ukraine, West Belarus, Bessarabia, and the three Baltic states (territories which formerly belonged to the Russian Empire) in the course of 1919-21. Thus they aimed to annex these territories as well as to obtain a buffer zone from Finland in 1939-40 (see Soviet-Finnish War). After the Soviet invasion of Poland following the corresponding German invasion that marked the start of World War II in 1939, the Soviet Union annexed eastern parts (so-called "Kresy") of the Second Polish Republic (see Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact). In 1940 the Soviet Union annexed Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Bessarabia and Bukovina (see Occupation of Baltic states).[25][26] During the Cold War, the term Eastern Bloc (or Soviet Bloc) was used to refer to the Soviet Union and countries it controlled in Central and Eastern Europe (Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, Poland, Romania). Hungary was invaded by the Soviet Army in 1956 after it had overthrown its pro-Soviet government and replaced it with one that sought a more democratic communist path independent of Moscow;[27] when Polish communist leaders tried to elect Władysław Gomułka as First Secretary they were issued an ultimatum by Soviet military that occupied Poland ordering them to withdraw election of Gomulka for the First Secretary or be "crushed by Soviet tanks".[28] Czechoslovakia was invaded in 1968 after a period of liberalization known as the Prague Spring.[29] The latter invasion was codified in formal Soviet policy as the Brezhnev Doctrine.[30] In 1979 the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan to ensure that a pro-Soviet regime would be in power in the country (see Soviet war in Afghanistan).[31] Poland was afraid of getting invaded by the USSR during the early 1980s due to the strikes associated with solidarity which called for an end to the communist government there. References [1] Bagnall, Nigel (1990). The Punic Wars: Rome, Carthage, and the Struggle for the Mediterranean. Thomas Dunne Books. ISBN 0-312-34214-4. [2] Defense Update (2006). "Accelerating the Kill Chain: Closing the Sensor-toshooter Cycle". http://www.defenseupdate.com/features/du-1-06/urbanc4i-7.htm. Retrieved on February 11 2006. [3] Mason, Gerald A. (2002). "Operation Starvation". http://www.stormingmedia.us/05/0560/ A056024.html. Retrieved on February 11 2006. [4] Kaufmann, J.E. and Kaufmann, H.W. (2005). Fortress France: The Maginot Line and French Defenses in World War II. Prager Security International. ISBN 0-275-98345-5. [5] Matters, James T. (2003). "Stalingrad—The Nazis Reach Beyond Their Grasp". http://home.carolina.rr.com/ burntofferings/CHAPT11.htm. Retrieved on February 16 2006. [6] Withrow, Scott (2005). "The Battle of Cowpens". http://www.nps.gov/cowp/ batlcowp.htm. Retrieved on February 16 2006. [7] Ashton, Douglas F. (1989). "Tarawa: Testing Ground For The Amphibious Assault". http://www.globalsecurity.org/ military/library/report/1989/ADF.htm. Retrieved on February 11 2006. [8] Koskimaki, George E. (1989). Hell's Highway: Chronicle of the 101st Airborne Division in the Holland Campaign, September–November 1944. 101st Airborne Division Association. ISBN 1-877702-03-X. 11 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [9] Rowland, Stephen (2005). "Persian society in the time of Darius and Xerxes". http://hsc.csu.edu.au/ancient_history/ societies/near_east/2498/ persian_army.html. Retrieved on February 24 2006. [10] Polybius (1922). "The Histories, Book III". http://penelope.uchicago.edu/ Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Polybius/ 3*.html#100. Retrieved on February 24 2006. [11] U.S. Army (2005). "Background of ALMC". http://www.almc.army.mil/. Retrieved on February 24 2006. [12] Hackworth, David H. (2004). "Fallujah: Saved for Democracy?". http://www.military.com/Opinions/ 0,,Hackworth_111804,00.html. Retrieved on February 19 2006. [13] Lind, William S. (2003). "Understanding Fourth Generation War". http://www.military.com/NewContent/ 0,13190,Lind_121903,00.html. Retrieved on February 19 2006. [14] North, Oliver L. (2005). "Winning in Iraq, One Step at a Time". http://www.military.com/Opinions/ 0,,FreedomAlliance_051905,00.html. Retrieved on February 19 2006. [15] Lind, William S., op. cit. [16] North, Oliver L. (2004). "Operation Pessimism and Perplexity". http://www.military.com/Opinions/ 0,,FreedomAlliance_100704,00.html. Retrieved on February 19 2006. Invasion [17] Moore, Steven (2004). "The Truth About Iraq: Media Bias". http://www.thetruthaboutiraq.org/ media.htm. Retrieved on February 19 2006. [18] Brush, Peter (1994). "Civic Action: The Marine Corps Experience in Vietnam". http://www.library.vanderbilt.edu/ central/brush/CivicAction.htm. Retrieved on February 11 2006. [19] Van De Mieroop, Marc (2005). A History of the Ancient Near East. Blackwell Publishing. ISBN 0-631-22552-8. [20] Van De Mieroop, op. cit. [21] Van De Mieroop, op. cit. [22] Riley-Smith, John (1995). The Oxford History of the Crusades. Oxford. ISBN 0-19-285428-3. [23] Ping-ti Ho, "An Estimate of the Total Population of Sung-Chin China", in Études Song, Series 1, No 1, (1970) pp. 33-53. [24] Twentieth Century Atlas - Historical Body Count [25] Memories of Soviet Repression Still Vivid in Baltics, Washington Post, 7 May 2005 [26] Soviet imperialism [27] The 1956 Hungarian Revolution [28] The Historical Setting: The Polish People's Republic [29] Prague Spring [30] The Soviet Invasion of Czechoslovakia and the crushing of the Prague Spring [31] Afghanistan War, Columbia Encyclopedia Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasion" Categories: Invasions, Military terminology This page was last modified on 8 May 2009, at 20:27 (UTC). All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License. (See Copyrights for details.) Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a U.S. registered 501(c)(3) taxdeductible nonprofit charity. Privacy policy About Wikipedia Disclaimers 12


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