Spanish Civil War

The Battle for Spain: The Spanish Civil War 1936-1939 (1982, 2006) by Antony Beevor

Update and revised version of the 1982 edition.

The Spanish Civil War was right vs. left, state centralism vs. regional independence, and authoritarianism vs. freedom of the individual.

The legally elected leftist Republican government was opposed by a right-wing coup d'etat led by General Franco. It is interesting to note that before the election, leftists stated that they would engage in civil war if they lost.

The Republicans were backed by the Soviet Union. The Republicans shipped Spain's gold reserve to Stalin, and in return they got obsolete and often defective weapons and incompetent advisers. Many of the Soviet advisers were shot when they returned to Russia.

Franco's Nationalists were backed by Germany and Italy. The Condor Legion contained some of Germany's best aircraft and pilots. The war served as a testing and training ground. The development of Stuka dive-bomber tactics was particularly interesting. The effectiveness of 88mm anti-aircraft guns against tanks was also demonstrated. Italy provided lesser quality troops and arms.

Britain and France stayed on the sidelines.

Catholics in the United States blocked aid to the Republicans, but American trucks provided to Franco proved decisive in certain situations where the Nationalists needed to rapidly shift troops.

Several International Brigades fought with the Republicans. Volunteers included Americans.

There were many reasons that the Nationalists won and the Republicans lost. One of the main reasons was that the communists spent a lot of their energy trying to eliminate their own allies. The communists also suffered from believing their own propaganda. Political considerations often trumped military ones. One example was the reluctance to concentrate armored fighting vehicles because the Russian proponent of such tactics had been politically discredited..

There was an appalling loss of life, including civilians, and numerous atrocities committed by both sides.

Many Republicans were executed or imprisoned after the war's conclusion. Some escaped abroad. And some of those who escaped to France were arrested by the Gestapo when Germany invaded France in 1940.

With hindsight, it is difficult to understand how a civilized society could descend into the madness of a disastrous civil war.

Gays for Giuliani

Rudy Giuliani emerged as a favorite among many members of the GOP's largest gay organization, who cited his record on social issues, taxes and defense.

"Mainstream Republican voters and moderate voters are going to vote for you. Don't tilt to the right," said Frank Ricchiazzi, who helped found the Log Cabin group 30 years ago.

- AP/Forbes (read full story here)

I would prefer that Giuliani move to the right.

Today's plantings

(8) Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea 'Excelsior')

(1) Columbine (Aquilegia alpina)

(1) Columbine (Aquilegia 'Crimson Star')

(4) Sedum ('Dragon's Blood')

(2) Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)

(2) Irish Moss (Sagina subulata)

Intelligence, or lack thereof

The House next week will consider the Democrat-crafted Intelligence Authorization bill, which includes a provision directing an assessment of the effects that climate change has on national security.

"It's hard to imagine how anyone could believe that climate change represents a more clear and present danger to the United States than radical Islamic terrorists armed with bombs, but that's essentially what Democrats have concluded in this bill," said Brian Kennedy, a spokesman for Minority Leader John A. Boehner, Ohio Republican.

- The Washington Times (read full story here)

Another facet of the liberal plan to weaken national security.

Leftist Thought Control

The political left, which holds itself as progressive, rational and fact-based, is becoming an enemy of academic inquiry, and a practitioner of thought control on a wide variety of issues. Increasingly, from the left's perspective, there is just one acceptable viewpoint.

- David Limbaugh (read his full comments here)

This is the same Stalinism that has been with us for decades.

Ubuntu

Dell has finally broke down and stated that they will begin to offer select PCs pre-loaded with Ubuntu Linux, which resulted in a cheer from linux enthusiasts this week. The cost of a Windows license will be stripped from the price of these computers, but in the same light, you will lose all support from Dell for the Operating System. So if you have a problem, with the software, you'll be on your own to hunt down your issue online.

- PC Mechanic Newsletter #188

Today's plantings

(1) Butterfly Bush (Buddleia davidii 'Black Knight')

(7) Butterfly Bush (generic mix)

(2) Columbine (Aquilegia hinckleyi 'Texas Gold')

(1) Irish Moss (Sagina subulata)

(1) English Ivy