[CrazedZooChimp]

I've been reading a great book about Hannibal, the Carthaginian general of the 3rd century B.C. ("The Ghosts of Cannae" by Robert O'Connell.)  Hannibal's whole art of war was built on deception and surprise -- and using his disparate forces (Gauls, Iberians, Libyans, Numidians, Carthaginians) to take advantage of their strengths and minimize their weaknesses.  I may send a copy to Coach Shaw, who is starting to look like the predictable Roman generals whose heads ended up in Hannibal's trophy case.

I couldn't help but laugh to myself when reading this.  The thing that saved Rome during the second Punic War was when, after suffering multiple major defeats, Quintus Fabius was appointed dictator.  He realized the weaknesses of the Roman forces, and unlike his hot-headed predecessors avoided pitched battles with the Carthaginians.  Instead, he avoided direct battle, played conservatively, played not to lose.  It essentially gave Rome a full year without a major defeat and saved the city when another crushing blow would likely have allowed Hannibal to finish off the Romans.  Of course, most of the senators in Rome, we'll call them fans, derided the conservative approach despite the fact that it was working in weakening the foreign army, and eventually replaced Fabius (after forgetting how much losing sucked).  They then went on to suffer the worst defeat of the war (Cannae).

Sometimes, when you don't match up well with your opponent, maybe a conservative approach is best... :P

[CrazedZooChimp]

I've been reading a great book about Hannibal, the Carthaginian general of the 3rd century B.C. ("The Ghosts of Cannae" by Robert O'Connell.)  Hannibal's whole art of war was built on deception and surprise -- and using his disparate forces (Gauls, Iberians, Libyans, Numidians, Carthaginians) to take advantage of their strengths and minimize their weaknesses.  I may send a copy to Coach Shaw, who is starting to look like the predictable Roman generals whose heads ended up in Hannibal's trophy case.

I couldn't help but laugh to myself when reading this.  The thing that saved Rome during the second Punic War was when, after suffering multiple major defeats, Quintus Fabius was appointed dictator.  He realized the weaknesses of the Roman forces, and unlike his hot-headed predecessors avoided pitched battles with the Carthaginians.  Instead, he avoided direct battle, played conservatively, played not to lose.  It essentially gave Rome a full year without a major defeat and saved the city when another crushing blow would likely have allowed Hannibal to finish off the Romans.  Of course, most of the senators in Rome, we'll call them fans, derided the conservative approach despite the fact that it was working in weakening the foreign army, and eventually replaced Fabius (after forgetting how much losing sucked).  They then went on to suffer the worst defeat of the war (Cannae).

Sometimes, when you don't match up well with your opponent, maybe a conservative approach is best... :P