Here’s some interesting reading material:

1. Top 5 Lies About Israel’s Assault on Gaza

What Israel says it does and what it really does. The article follows the official Israeli viewpoints of the attack on the Gaza Strip. In other words, this is how Israel justifies the war.

2. Israel’s War Crimes

Richard Falk, professor of international law at Princeton University and the UN’s special rapporteur on the Palestinian territories, compares Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip with the Geneva Convention.

3. Israel has history of failure in ground attacks

I guess the title is quite true…

4. Escalation in Gaza

With no diplomatic solution on the horizon, Israel launches a risky ground attack.

5. Pacifying Gaza

See what the Israeli Noble Prize winners for Peace think about the attacks on the Gaza Strip.

And finally, I read everywhere in the news that Iran is smuggling weapons in Gaza, yet I never saw an in-depth article on this, only hollow official statements and information coming from the Israeli government. I never saw an article by an independent media outlet or journalist. Anyway, what weapons are they smuggling? If Hamas has Iran’s weapons, especially missiles or low-budget rocket launchers, why don’t they use them?

“Tour of Duty” is a TV series having as main theme the Vietnam War. The series, successfully launched in 1987 and cancelled in 1990, follows the combat experience of a platoon and the inner struggles of its soldiers – this is probably the ingredient that made it special.

In the military, a ‘tour of duty’ means a specific period of time that a soldier had to spend in service – for Vietnam it was one year. However, this period can be voluntary or involuntary extended.

The series had a relatively short period of screening and it never was immensely popular. ‘Tour of Duty’ ran for three seasons, a total of 58 episodes of approximately one hour each. Anyway, in these 58 episodes the directors managed to show the horrid experience a soldier could have in Vietnam. In the first season, the platoon is introduced to its first action; however the inexperienced soldiers are led by a veteran of Nam – a sergeant with three tours behind him. What is interesting about this series is the way the psychological state of each new recruit was emphasized – the experience of the first kill, the loss of a dear friend and the development of a strong friendship between the soldiers.

The first season also manages to show some sensitive issues like racism, suicide, despair and mistrust. In any case, if the viewer wants to see Vietnam for what it was, the first season will show him exactly that.

Starting with the second season, things got more complicated. It seems that the produces tried to gain more viewers by introducing a female character and adding nuances of romance into the series. This may have been accepted by most viewers but the attempt failed miserably. Actually, many critics say that this was the beginning of the end for ‘Tour of Duty’.

Actually, my point of view, this was a good change – and lets be honest, if the second season would be focusing on the field experience of the soldiers it would be like seeing Rambo II over and over again. The introduction of a female journalist as one of the main characters enabled the creators to show other hidden or less known aspects of the Vietnam War: the inner war that was fought in the American camp. Now, the series also follows this young and ambitious journalist that falls in love with the leader of the platoon, and who manages to unveil smuggling acts, drug abuses, the imperfections of the command system and the greed of some officers.

Anyway, I guess that the romantic part of this season was never really introduced in a world of conflict. In some instances we can simply ask ourselves how could this be possible, but yet again this movie showed that love was possible even in the harshest of environments. However, it seems the attempt to gain more audience, and possible more female viewership, failed.

Finally, the third season turned its attention on the field again. The platoon is now transferred to a Studies and Observation unit, where they will continue with their usual seek and destroy mission. However, the last season shows the bitterness of losing friends, but not killed in action, but those who successfully complete their tour and go home. Yet again the series turn to deal with sensitive issues like racism. But to this, the creators also show the obstacles that returning soldiers may have to successfully pass in order to make a normal living. The creators vividly show the psychological blockage that a soldier might have – the sense of emptiness without the army.

Overall, ‘Tour of Duty’ is a masterpiece. The series captured every aspect of Vietnam and is a must-see for everybody. It seems that most of the filming was done in Hawaii, yet in order to spare some cash, the directors turned to studios in LA, they even filmed on an old set of MASH. The music is undoubtedly a bridge that enables you to fade in the time of Vietnam War. The bad thing is that it was never released as a soundtrack compilation and it was only available on the series. Anyway, the series is just great and it is incredible how much I’ve learned about the Vietnam conflict. It really made me want to know more. 

King of Sweden, Charles XI, during the battle of Lund in 1676. Painting by Johan Philip Lemke

On December the 4th 1676 two armies had faced each other near the city of Lund in Sweden. The invading Danish force numbering some 12,300 strong was led by 31 year old King Christian V of Denmark and carefully advised by General Carl von Arensdorff. Standing to face them was the outnumbered Swedish army of 8,000 commanded by King Charles XI of Sweden and Field Marshal Simon Grundel-Helmfelt. Although Swedish forces were lacking numerical equality they had a strong determination to defend their country.

The Battle of Lund was fought over an entire day and when darkness fell the victor was determined.

In order to have any chance against the much larger Danish army, Field Marshal Simon Grundel-Helmfelt had to forge a daring plan which had the precious element of surprise on his side. He already received intelligence that the Danish army believes his forces are comfortably entered a winter camp. The element of surprise became obvious, he had to attack when the Danes were still asleep and even more he had now the chance.

A December’s morning cold winds accompanied the Swedish forces in their attempt to cross the river Kaevlinge that separated the two camps and meat the Danes. By 6 AM the entire Swedish army has successfully been moved to the south bank of the river. Now he had to meditate on another problem. Even if the Danish army was sleeping comfortably in their campaign tents, an infantry attack would end in disaster, sentries would surely spot the oncoming threat and alarm the army. Haste was needed and the only ones capable of a quick attack were his cavalry.

Field Marshal Simon Grundel-Helmfelt ordered the cavalry to attack the Danish camp from the south-east. He had to cancel the order because scouts reported an unsuitable terrain for mounted units. Charles XI of Sweden had now to rethink the new situation and elaborate with his generals a new plan.

To gain a tactical advantage he ordered his men to take control of the hills near the north wall of Lund. This maneuver has not passed with stealth and the Danish army got aware of what was happening. A real king of the hill fight started between the Danish left wing and the Swedes’ right, in the end Swedish success became reality and the Danes were pushed to the east.

Christian V of Demark managed to organize his army in battle formations by the time the Sun was clearly visible in the morning sky. Now the decisive battle would begin with his Danish forces and their 56 guns ready. The battlefield presented a line over a mile long with the Swedes to the west and the Danes to the east. King Charles XI of Sweden has had far less artillery available, only a total of ten guns, thus conferring him the uncomfortable position of numerical inferiority in every aspect.

Charles XI entered the opening of the battle with a successful flanking maneuver to crush the Danish left flank. His action brought the Danish commander Carl von Arensdorff in the care of military physicians after being badly wounded. Heavy damage was inflicted in the Danish line and Field Marshal Helmfelt took the cavalry and accompanied by the Swedish king pursued the fleeing Danish infantry.

Gaining control of the right flank was an advantage soon dismissed by the events on the left wing where the Danes fought vigorously and pushed the Swedes back. Even now they had still less troops to confront the enemy, soldiers began wondering where their leader is, their eyes searched their king who was not in sight. But by sunset when the Swedish live was close to admit defeat, King Charles XI returned with his cavalry rejuvenating his tired soldiers. After a hard struggle and Charles XI managed to break through the Danish line and join is fellow countrymen. Swedish troops found new energy to carry on the fight and not even an hour passed from their king’s return and the Danish army broke.

The Danes commenced to a desperate retreat with the Swedish cavalry in the back annihilating any troops who dared to stand in their way. Many Danes have been killed in the retreat until Field Marshal Simon Grundel-Helmfelt ordered that any surrendering troops will be given courtesy.

The night had fallen and the victorious was incontestably Charles XI of Sweden, but the Scanian War was far from over.