Understanding the Victory Disease From the Little Bighorn to Mogadishu to the Future

<p>As a result of the national strength of the United States (US) and the demonstrated prowess of her military US forces are quite susceptible to falling prey to the effects of the Victory Disease. The Victory Disease brings defeat to a previously victorious nation or military through a compounding of three basic symptoms. The symptoms of the Victory Disease are arrogance complacency and the habit of using established patterns to solve military problems. These symptoms are evident in many military failures. The growth of the Victory Disease can best be analyzed through the study of historical examples. In these examples the symptoms of the Victory Disease become quite clear. This monograph uses the 1876 Battle of the Little Bighorn and the 1993 actions of Task Force Ranger in Mogadishu Somalia to highlight the symptoms and effect of the Victory Disease. The overall goal of studying the Victory Disease is to learn how to avoid succumbing to its effects thus seeking a vaccination to this debilitating disease. The only real vaccine for the Victory Disease is found in increased study of military history in the Officer Education System particularly focusing on campaigns and battles where defeat may be attributed to the Victory Disease. Thus simple awareness of the problem provides one with the ability to avoid falling prey to the Victory Disease.</p><p>This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore you will see the original copyright references library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world) and other notations in the work.</p><p>This work is in the public domain in the United States of America and possibly other nations. Within the United States you may freely copy and distribute this work as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.</p><p>As a reproduction of a historical artifact this work may contain missing or blurred pages poor pictures errant marks etc. Scholars believe and we concur that this work is important enough to be preserved reproduced and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.</p>