Confederate Infantry [1861-1865] penned by the British experts Ian Drury & Gerry Embleton (1993)

CSA: Book Review – “Confederate Infantryman [1861-1865]” By Ian Drury & Gerry Embleton! (16.11.2025)

Osprey Publishing is a British Publishing Company specializing in military history originally based in Oxford. Being English myself – and having been born in Oxford – I appreciate a clear-thinking and non-bias account of historical matters. The book above – Confederate Infantry [1861-1865] penned by the British experts Ian Drury & Gerry Embleton (1993) – is an extraordinary introduction to the subject of the Confederate Army in general – and the Confederate infantryman in-particular. An estimation of the Confederate causalities sustained during four-years of fighting (1861-1865) is as follows:

Confederate Casualties = 483,026

Killed in Action (KIA) = 94,000

Wounded in Action (WIA) = 194,026

Died of Diseases = 164,000

Died as Prisoners of War (POWs) = 31,000

CSA Flyer Calling for Naval Volunteers!

CSA: Confederate Navy – Black & Foreign Workers! (15.10.2025)

The CSA Navy was primarily tasked with defending the waterways leading from the coastal areas (and the open sea) into the Southern hinterland from attack by the Union. The secondary mission was to venture out into the coastal areas and the open sea to attack any approaching Union ship. The problem with this latter requirement is that once CSA ships were drawn away from the protection of CSA estuary and coastal batteries – the Confederate ships were often sitting ducks. This being the case, and given that stocks of new iron were low, the secondary objective was only rarely exercised. Of course, Confederate submarines did do some surprising damage to Union shipping – but this technology was still new, quite often unreliable, and usually deadly to its own crew. Despite being side-lined in favour of the CSA Army – the CSA Navy (and those who administered it) did an extraordinarily good job against incredible odds. African-Americans, both free and still in slavery, assisted the CSA in its naval requirements.

The ceremony to proclaim the recognition of the Annamite Range–Ho Chi Minh Trail (on the Lao side) as a national historical heritage

Lao People’s Democratic Republic – Ho Chi Minh Trail Recongised as “National Treasure”! (22.8.2025)

The survey identified 18 locations along the trail as historic heritage sites that bear testimony to the shared struggle, solidarity, and friendship between Laos and Vietnam during their respective national liberation movements.

Maj. Gen. Vongsone highlighted that the Ho Chi Minh Trail through Laos was not only a vital transport and supply route of strategic military importance, but also served as a strategic stronghold and base that significantly contributed to Laos’ struggle, the national liberation movement of the Vietnamese people in the South, and the revolutionary struggle of the Cambodian people, ultimately leading to victory over foreign aggressors and the liberation of Southern Vietnam.

He further emphasized that the section of the Ho Chi Minh Trail running through Laos also served as a vital supply route for the front lines in Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia. Today, it stands as a symbol of shared struggle and the enduring solidarity between the peoples of Laos and Vietnam.

Ukrainian Neo-Nazis Emply Disabled!

China: US Secondary Sanctions Supporting Neo-Nazi Ukraine – Will Not End Crisis! (19.7.2025)

Trump had promised during his presidential campaign to end the conflict in 24 hours after assuming office. In reality, it has turned out to be a far more complicated issue than he expected because of the totally diverse conditions laid out by the parties involved.

The Biden administration had repeatedly rejected ceasefire and peace talks because its goal was to weaken, and ultimately defeat, Russia. The European Union had been parroting the same rhetoric in the recent past. But once Trump took office, EU politicians, too, started talking about a ceasefire and putting an end to the conflict, in order to please Trump.

The ceasefire conditions that are acceptable to Trump and the EU leaders are also quite different. Many Europeans believe that the conditions laid out by Trump mean Russia will emerge the winner. That’s why when Trump, Vice-President JD Vance and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth all ruled out NATO membership for Ukraine, no EU leaders were willing to accept that scenario, at least publicly.

Workers of the World Unite!

UK: The Early 1980s Were Great Days – I Worked at the Interpet (Dorking Town) & the RNIB Tape-Recorder (Wallington) Factories! (15.7.2025)

Nowadays, of course, everybody and their cat listens to audiobooks – but this was certainly not the case then – or for many years afterwards (apps have replace all this industry and mechanisation). This all came about due to the system of free universal education the UK had then (Thatcher abolished it in 1988 if you remember). I spent a year or so at a College in the Reigate and Redhill area between 1983-1984 – before relocating to Hereford (all free at the point of us and paid for via collective taxation). In the Wallington factory I was put to work on the assembly line with the man sat to my left explaining my job. He had managed to come through the UK education system and remain totally illiterate (which is a remarkable feat considering the high calibre of State and Private (Public) education in the area – although neuro-diversity was not recognised at the time) – but to his credit he liked Bob Marley (this was interesting as he was White).

Nick Griffin (Left) & Mark Collett (Right) On a Date in Happier Days!

UK: Mark Collett – Subtle Blend of Racism & Stupidity! (3.6.2025)

Mark Collett is the spawn of the political loins of Nick Griffin – the latter being a prime populariser of the far-right in the UK via the “British National Party” (BNP). Nick Griffin groomed Mark Collett and intended to produce a rhetorical clone to take his place as the next leader of the BNP (there are all kinds of rumours going about that Griffin and Collett were involved in a “prison-style” male relationship). Collett was even featured in the Sunday colour-supplements of many mainstream newspapers – laughably presented as the “human-face” of the far-right! Collett is a bit thick though, because when interviewed by Louis Theroux, Collett thought “no one was watching” when he admitted on camera that the Holocaust was “a good idea”. This love affair with Griffin (and the media) all came crashing-down when Nick telephoned the Police begging for help – after he had to lock himself in a cupboard after Collett had threatened to “kill” him! Collett was subsequently expelled from the BNP around 2016 – and was was set lose to roam in the political wilderness – until he suddenly decided to found the grifting (money-making) organisation he terms “Patriotic Alternative”.

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