US Foreign Wars (1950-2019) – Fighting the Last War

Use this link to get a free trial with the Great Courses Plus:

It has been said that the generals fight the last war. The US foreign wars provide a good example of this concept. This video looks at how the experience of the previous US foreign war influenced the decisions made in the next one.

1:27 - Korean War
2:28 - Vietnam War
6:07 - Gulf War
7:36 - Iraq War
9:29 - War in Iraq and Syria

*01:05 - "Flag of the United States"; Wikipedia, user "MSGJ".
*01:06 - "$10,000 Gold Certificate, Series 1934"; Wikipedia, user "Godot13".
*01:06 - "$100,000 Gold Certificate, Series 1934"; Wikipedia, user "Godot13".
*02:25 - "Flag of South Vietnam"; Wikipedia, user "FDRMRZUSA".
*02:25 - "Flag of Vietnam"; Wikipedia, user "DragonflySixtyseven".
*04:30 - YouTube logo and interface symbols - YouTube.
*06:58 - "USAF aircraft fly over burning Kuwaiti oil wells (1991)", US Airforce (via Wikipedia).
*07:17 - "Demolished vehicles line Highway 80 on 18 Apr 1991" US Airforce (vie Wikipedia).
*07:39 - "Flag of the United States"; Wikipedia, user "MSGJ".
*09:52 - "U.S. President Barack Obama delivers the 2011 State of the Union Address"; Executive Office of the President of the United States (via Wikipedia).
*10:11 - "Brit Hume and Chuck Norris pose in the George Bush Presidential Library Classroom in College Station, Texas, at President Bush's 80th birthday celebration"; George Bush Presidential Library Foundation.

Thanks to the Patrons for supporting my content!
唐健, אביתר הכהן, Yury Kuchanov, Yuri B, yellowLia, Yang Wei Feng, WillN2Go1 ., William Nettles, William Bowe, VonKickass, Vladislav, Travis Fudge, Torfinn Tyvold, Tibor Helienek, Thomas Dobrenel, swagmasterx420, STRONTJESBERG, Stefan Moluf, Soveit Cartographer, Sitraka Forler, Simon Stock, Sam Tyson, Ryan Harbottle, RocketWrench, Robert Wahl, Robert Vroman, Robert McMillan, Rob H, rJ, Reindeer, Rahs, Rafael Aguila, PKras, Philip F Myers, Pavel Kuriscak, Pavel Kletnoy, Ori Taichman, Omer Glickman, omega21, NvllivsInVerba, Nicholas Cubbon, Nezquik, Ned Weinert, ned hulton, Nate, Naseem Hanna, name name, mo
Mirco K, Mingjian Wang, Michał Zdunek, Michal Weyer, Michael, Mi Liu, Mark Fisher, Mario Babić, Marco Agnoletti, malcolm, Louis Burke, Kyle Askine, Kristofers Borovskis, Kristaps,
KingHarkinian, Kelly-Stephen Soo, KB, Just A Random Contributor, Juan Escobar, jovianArchiver, Josh riggin, Jordon Long-Lay, Johan West, Jiacheng Wu, JAY ALAN EDELMAN, Ivan Avdeev, Isaiah Snell-Feikema, Herr Burns, Håvard Damsberg, Harambe, Gurnik, Greengsg9, Georges Chouinard, gartonschwärt, Frank Scheer, Federico Peyrani, Eric Strachan, Eli Krumholz, Eksium Deus, Eiko Streitz, Ehood Garmiza, Dongbin Zhang, Dmitry Zaitcev, Dennis Anthony Zaluski, Deniz Özger, David Weidman, David Salm, David Russell,
Daniel J Pierce, Daniel Benhardt, D G, Christopher Plummer, Christian Richard, CatInSpace, Bryan Linsley, Brian Hynes, Bogdan Sacarea, Bogdan Putintsev, Bluebeaner, Bishops, aserehuehue, Arthur Revan, Arta Yusa, Anton Kovalev, Amine Hajji, Alexander G Morgan, ALEX ARCHARO, Aleksei Safronov, alans4488, Adam Wallace, Adam H, Adam Coni, Aaron Clarkson, 1st Guards Cavalry Corps

[Eastory]

It seems that YouTube algorithm has deployed a particularly strong blockade around this video. If you want to support the channel, then help Eastory breaking out of encirclement by sharing this video on other platforms!

[HistoryHustle]

Eastory is BACK! Great you found some time to focuss on content of your own.

[garmenlin]

You should've added a joke like "Also, Iraq did not border China in any ways, so that was a relief."

[LogicalReasons]

Pleasant surprise. I was expecting the 1944/45 Western front completed with your narration; but I'm thrilled to hear your own voice narrating nevertheless!

[duckente]

4:36 Ah the infamous 1969 Youtube rewind, I still remember disliking the video because of the utter cringe that it gave me

[RedMeteor]

I love how in your "Brilliant plan to do youtube" video you talked about how you couldn't draw, but your "bad" drawing style in itself has actually become a really underrated aspect of your videos that i personally really like. I'd honestly say I prefer these types of videos to the mapping ones, although I still like the mapping ones nonetheless.

[SNOUPS]

This is the best ad for "the great courses plus" that I have seen on youtube so far.
And in general a very solid video as always too! Still strong on the funny yet superuseful illustrations!

[curlyfries]

Finally a nuanced explanation as to why the US lost in Vietnam. Most people just boil it down to “the US was very stupid and other than that we have no idea how they lost so it’s honestly absurd and the US sucked at war”. Thank you for actually taking ur time to explain it

[zjifzmifzukjtrzjghuk]

America during gulf war: we can't control the whole country, let's go home boys

America during Iraq war: we can control this Country and make it a democracy, let's go boys!

[ryankramer]

Glad that you’re back. Also nice work on the Maps used by The Time Ghost History gang

[ivarkich]

Eastory is more than a professional. He is a highly professional amateur.

[zachfakename]

Eastory, this was S+ tier content. I always enjoy your personal work, and your maps on the WW2 channel are professional-scholar-grade reference. The appreciation you get is well-deserved.

-Zach

[manghariz]

Iam a simple man
When Eastory made video
I click

[bassammulla]

I love your videos and your research, but you said the Iraqi people divided themselves, actually no, Paul preimer disbanded the Iraqi army, which led to a lot of unemployed fighters with guns in the street, so anyone could assume why Iraq has descended to war in all fronts.

[A_Nobbit]

Care to do a continuation with Afghanistan?

[royalrice]

always happy to see brotherman eastory put out some content

[MartinT]

While it is tempting to only use tried and true methods in war it can potentially leave you unprepared for new developments, forcing you to scramble to catch up. Or, even worse, you could lose the war because you were ill-suited to fight it. While it can be very difficult, it is often advantageous to try and predict and adapt for each new conflict before entering it.
Sometimes in war doing things the old-fashioned way can be useful, but, generally, it pays to be innovative.
Remember the lessons of the past, but don't let them blind you to the lessons of the present and the future.

[jovanpopovic]

Hey eastory, are maybe planning to do Napoleonic wars? I know this is kinda low chance but just asking

[TheLocalLt]

Wow this is why your channel is the best on YouTube, I know you have little time with your other mapping stuff but literally everything you produce is the most measured, unbiased, realpolitk-based content on YouTube, there with two or three other geopolitics/history channels (such as TimeGhost, most of Kings and Generals stuff, Wayback History, maybe a couple others but really not)

[TiffanyOG]

*Taliban and now we’d like to thank our sponsors, American Taxpayers.*