Barbarians at the Gates: The sad fate of two armies.

Once upon a time the Romans had a great and powerful Army. Just as with our own (US) history, they were formed from volunteers from a wide slice of society; men with real skills and dedication. Unlike our own military, the Romans had plenty of fighters from the elite class (naturally they had better armor!), but there were many similarities too. For instance, the average Roman foot soldier had to carry 66 pounds worth of equipment on his back...almost the exact weight average of the U.S. G.I. today.

Over the centuries the Roman Army, just as ours, became more sophisticated, developed better weapons and learned superior tactics with which to engage the enemy (meaning, whoever challenged Romes’ authority).

Eventually, just as with our military, the Romans had to conscript warriors, and terms of service were expanded from the previous 6 years to 20 or more! The wealthy became more interested in other forms of income, and Romans had to look elsewhere for recruits.
So they took in many citizens (and later non citizens) from a variety of conquered countries; Spain, Persia, Germany,etc.

Just as a reminder, the military fighting currently in Iraq is composed of approx.20% NON U.S.citizens! And that’s not all. We are now accepting those with sub normal IQs, with past gang related activities and even some felons fresh out of prison!

The "bloodlines" were broken in ancient Rome, and are in our OUR military as well.

By the fifth century A.D.Germans were in command of most of the Roman legions, and eventually this led, through weakness and apathy...to the very defeat of Rome itself. The Romans had at one time the capacity to stave off the "Barbarian Hoards"...Berserkers, Vandals,Russians,etc. but eventually were overrun by the then equivelant of "insurgents", using raw energy and inventive tactics to overwhelm the softer Roman legions.

It would seem to me that we, the United States Military, face the same kind of energized and imaginative enemy today...and that WE are the "New Romans", who fail to realize or understand the anger and the furor of those who confront us daily.

The famous mystery writer, Raymond Chandler, said in an essay: "The little guy, if he believes he’s in the right...and keeps on coming..will defeat the big guy every time"

Let’s hope he was mistaken.