Scapegoats

September 30, 2013
Scott, a former commander of the British Army in Scotland, does an excellent job of conveying the details of a variety of military campaigns, spanning several centuries and continents, in an accessible way, in his accounts of men unjustly blamed, and punished, by their country’s military. With the exception of Alfred Dreyfus, the victims selected will mostly be unfamiliar to a general audience, making it all the more important that the salient facts of, for example, the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879 (where CPT Jahleel Brenton Carey was charged with “misbehavior before the enemy”), are concisely recounted. Scott selects examples from the American Civil War (Confederate general James Longstreet), WWII (Charles B. McVay III, commander of the doomed U.S.S. Indianapolis), and the Yom Kippur War (Israeli Defense Forces chief of staff David Elazar), among others, spanning the sad history of military injustice from 1754 to 1994, ending with the genocide in Rwanda. Each chapter makes the case that the punishments imposed, which included death sentences, were excessive, and the product of a desire by those in power to cast blame on an individual, rather than on system failures.

December 1, 2013

A former commander of the British army in Scotland, Scott tells the stories of 13 men blamed for military losses, such as Lt. Gen. Romeo Dallaire, a Rwandan who was denied by the United Nations the troops he needed to prevent a massacre, and asks the reader to reconsider and assess their blameworthiness. History is peppered with those accused, rightly or wrongly, for lost battles, soured relationships, and bad calls, but closer examination usually reveals, if not new information, at least a differing perspective. Looking as far back as 1754 and as recently as 1994, Scott clearly explains the history, politics, and personalities involved. He largely leaves it to the reader to decide if the chapter's subjects were justifiably blamed, though the title of the book lets the reader know that the author believes that those profiled have been unfairly burdened. Each chapter can be read as a stand-alone and provides a fascinating snapshot of a moment in history. Readers may learn new things about well-trod historical ground, or they may be surprised to learn about conflicts they never studied in school. VERDICT This title is best for avid readers of military history, but general history buffs will likely find at least a chapter or two to interest them.--Kate Sheehan, Waterbury, CT

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