tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post6183857924844352738..comments2024-03-04T17:54:32.559+00:00Comments on Iain Dale's Diary: A Definition of LeadershipIain Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03270146219458384372noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-64799087137183185122009-01-26T15:02:00.000+00:002009-01-26T15:02:00.000+00:00People should realise that the attrition rate 'fro...<I>People should realise that the attrition rate 'from D-Day to Berlin' was not far short of that for the Western front in WW1.</I><BR/><BR/>I didn't know that.<BR/>My father was active from D-Day to Berlin (at least damn close). He also survived Dunkirk.Yak40https://www.blogger.com/profile/10391635243252561168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-54542796656502369412009-01-26T15:00:00.000+00:002009-01-26T15:00:00.000+00:00BoB, one of the best series ever made bar none.I n...BoB, one of the best series ever made bar none.<BR/><BR/>I never saw it on TV but watched the boxed set of DVDs. Some of the interviews with the survivors after many of the episodes were very moving.Yak40https://www.blogger.com/profile/10391635243252561168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-48151107953100082632009-01-26T12:34:00.000+00:002009-01-26T12:34:00.000+00:00Jess the Dog - "think Field Marshal Slim rather th...Jess the Dog - "think Field Marshal Slim rather than Field Marshal Montgomery" or AlanbrookeLolahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04586735342675041312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-58498176034410771242009-01-26T12:18:00.000+00:002009-01-26T12:18:00.000+00:00Alas, wide of the mark. The outstanding leadershi...Alas, wide of the mark. The outstanding leadership of Lt Winters (later Lt Col I think, certainly Maj) throughout his service is well known – in training, in combat and as a regimental staff officer – thanks to the Band of Brothers drama. The assault on the guns at Normandy was later taught at West Point as the textbook example of an effective assault against a fixed position.<BR/><BR/>However, Blair was certainly no leader in the Winters mould. He did not lead by example, he was not selfless, he did not share the dangers and deprivations of those he directed. The most effective leaders tend to be modest men, if direct men – think Field Marshal Slim rather than Field Marshal Montgomery – and this is true of Winters. Also, the fundamental principle of leadership is trust – underpinned by truth - and Blair threw this away at the earliest opportunity. Men will always follow a trusted leader, even if the truth is unpalatable. They will not follow a liar who they do not trust.<BR/><BR/>Blair falls into the second worse category of leadership – the vain self-believer. He has squandered opportunities and lives and his failure to accept the truth of intelligence briefings – the increased terrorist threat following the Iraq War – demonstrate his unfitness to lead. Of course, Brown is the worst possible leader – the man who cannot decide and who will hide away from a problem. Neither of these men can be compared to the likes of Winters and that generation of war leaders.Jess The Doghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01694805454982688213noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-34020669531332710632009-01-26T11:34:00.000+00:002009-01-26T11:34:00.000+00:00Just to continue that theme, what about dramatisin...Just to continue that theme, what about dramatising Kohima? A pivotal action if ever there was one.Lolahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04586735342675041312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-83324260729389982372009-01-26T11:32:00.000+00:002009-01-26T11:32:00.000+00:00Band of Brothers is a great series. It should be ...Band of Brothers is a great series. It should be compulsory viewing for all children, in fact everyone. It moves me to tears.<BR/><BR/>The problem with it is again the Americanisation of history. I bow to no-one in my admiration of the contribution played by the US in the defeat of global Fascism in WW2, but it does rather get up my nose that film and TV persistently portray the victory through US eyes.<BR/><BR/>Here in the UK we raised a giant citzen army, expanding the pre-war cadre of (I think) about 250,000 men to several million at its peak at the beginning of 1944. Our TV and film dramas have not done nearly enough to show the valour and contribution of our squaddies in battles like Normandy (where someone else has pointed out, the infantry casualty rates reached WW1 proportions). It is about time that someone did a 'Band of Brothers' equivalent to show the sacrifices of UK, Commonwealth and Dominion troops and the contribution they made. A good place to start would be with Slim's 14th Army, as another poster has indicated.Lolahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04586735342675041312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-28950303159032619722009-01-26T11:08:00.000+00:002009-01-26T11:08:00.000+00:00n Brown is a leader of the world - he tells us oft...n Brown is a leader of the world - he tells us often!<BR/><BR/>In fact a few years ago, in a <A HREF="http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/better_regulation_action_plan.htm" REL="nofollow">Treasury<BR/>Press Release</A> he told us how the Finacial Services Authority, which he established, was a world leader in how to regulate the Financial Services sector.<BR/><BR/>"We will look to apply on a wider basis the principle of risk based regulation to financial services legislation and the work of the FSA. The FSA, which we set up in 1997 as <B>a world leading example of how to regulate financial services,</B> was itself a merger of nine regulators into one.<BR/><BR/>It has already done valuable work on adopting a risk based approach and I welcome the thinking it is doing about how it can further reduce the burden of financial regulation."<BR/><BR/>Of course, he now claims that the lax regulation (in other countries) was to blame for the current crises, and he is leading the world to solve it!Eddie 180https://www.blogger.com/profile/13431191567949672191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-71453327699355417162009-01-26T10:47:00.000+00:002009-01-26T10:47:00.000+00:00How very true: in politics, as on the battlefield,...How very true: in politics, as on the battlefield, what makes a leader great is his physical courage and his spirit of self-sacrifice.<BR/><BR/>Timid backstage manoeuvres and inelegant little ploys don't inspire people.<BR/><BR/>As to Gordon Brown, pulling his chestnuts out of the fire with the cat's paw appears to be his favourite leadership tactic. <BR/><BR/>His political epitaph will be: "He did not dare".gadflyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12852087594641044352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-92137144707897892222009-01-26T10:42:00.000+00:002009-01-26T10:42:00.000+00:00There was an old bigot called BoothroydVindictive,...There was an old bigot called Boothroyd<BR/>Vindictive, malicious and android<BR/>Like an unfunny clown<BR/>He'd kiss-a** Brown<BR/>Somewhat akin to a haemorrhoid.<BR/><BR/><BR/>EyethangQ!I didn't get enough cuddles from motherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01791542180473657918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-64639442703972457292009-01-26T10:40:00.001+00:002009-01-26T10:40:00.001+00:00David Boothroyd said... "A man of action does not ...David Boothroyd said... <BR/><I>"A man of action does not adopt a "do nothing" strategy in the face of crisis."</I><BR/><BR/>Cameron has done plenty for the Conservative party, taking it to a 15% lead in the polls. If you are talking about running the country, that is not his job at present. If you want to find out his strategies Brown should call an election and Cameron will let us know what they are.Alexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13775753218753337766noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-55667053174120165602009-01-26T10:40:00.000+00:002009-01-26T10:40:00.000+00:00This comment has been removed by the author.Alexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13775753218753337766noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-77264044139035472652009-01-26T10:39:00.000+00:002009-01-26T10:39:00.000+00:00Boothroyd, don't be such a plonker. One, do nothi...Boothroyd, don't be such a plonker. One, do nothing is always a perfatcetly valid option and must be included when takling any situation otheriwse the analysis is not complete. Two, Dave has not said 'do nothing'. It's a soundbite created by the incompetent shits that currently lounge about in the places where government was once exercised. Either that or they are running about like headless chickens.Lolahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04586735342675041312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-72924585387312285732009-01-26T10:38:00.000+00:002009-01-26T10:38:00.000+00:00Guthrum your comment and that of your grandfather ...Guthrum your comment and that of your grandfather is shite (though not as full of it as Boothroyds).<BR/><BR/>You know nothing of for instance WW1, where many able and potentially able officers were killed through no fault of their own. Just the terrible circumstances.<BR/><BR/>Band of Brothers was a great series. People should realise that the attrition rate 'from D-Day to Berlin' was not far short of that for the Western front in WW1. Except in the case of Generals - there were many more generals killed in WW1 than WW2.<BR/><BR/><BR/>Word verification 'tramsest' TD's definition - 'two carriages having sex on the Docklands Light Railway.'Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-76809628933192086512009-01-26T10:34:00.000+00:002009-01-26T10:34:00.000+00:00Tony Blair was NOT a leader of men. Tony Blair us...Tony Blair was NOT a leader of men. Tony Blair used his shallow gift of charisma to charm people. He did not use it to inspire them. He achieved power by finding a sales pitch that caught the zeitgeist of his time and he maximised the opportunity - for himself. You only have to look at the point at which he exited to understand this. He left just as the going was going to get tough, and at the peak of personal advantage. He is like the super salesman that joins a company, closes a large number of great sales deals, collects the commission and the accolades and then moves on. The deals that he leaves behind then are found to be very poor and a lot cancel.<BR/><BR/>To reinforce the military analogy I would never ever at any time have taken Blair on patrol with me.<BR/><BR/>Brown is just functionally useless, as a leader, as a technician and as a trooper. One of the other rules for being a good commnader is to be able to take orders. Brown, as evidenced by his action in trying to back stab Blair and to undermine Blairs orders shows tha he cannot take orders either. And lastly he is a deceitful man. The quality of deceitfulness automatically condemns you as not capable of leadership. Honesty is everything.Lolahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04586735342675041312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-12237191598209877792009-01-26T10:33:00.000+00:002009-01-26T10:33:00.000+00:00I'm too partisan to have any interest in A Blair. ...I'm too partisan to have any interest in A Blair.<BR/> I did however find this fascinating. I thought I'd just do a quick note about political leadership from the perspective of a (Conservative) political activist.<BR/> Ages ago I started thinking of Cameron as the Chief Conservative activist. Not some remote, puffed up Supreme Leader or party grandee.<BR/> So unlike Guthrum@9:14 I will indeed follow him over that hill.Conandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18028671462205997161noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-43863339206357269872009-01-26T10:24:00.000+00:002009-01-26T10:24:00.000+00:00How was Blair a great leader. He did not have thos...How was Blair a great leader. He did not have those qualities. He was for himself he stll is and always will be.Johnny Norfolkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16900659617233793880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-80521104072975932242009-01-26T10:06:00.000+00:002009-01-26T10:06:00.000+00:00Boothroyd brings a gutter view of Leadership I am ...Boothroyd brings a gutter view of Leadership I am afraid. Quite awful.<BR/><BR/>However, Iain, does Cameron have the qualities of a leader?<BR/><BR/>Last week, with the three line whip on MP's expenses, designed to counter those conservatives who had made that shocking 'deal' showed leadership.. BUT is it enough to convince people that he is a leader.<BR/><BR/>Clarke is a natural leader. A Churchillian character.strapworldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18228784526399929300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-52635712573872758152009-01-26T09:49:00.000+00:002009-01-26T09:49:00.000+00:00David Boothroyd said... ... A man of action does n...<I>David Boothroyd said... <BR/>... A man of action does not adopt a "do nothing" strategy in the face of crisis.</I><BR/><BR/>The oracle speaks! <BR/><BR/>And out comes a load of nulabor guff. More very poor stuff from BoothroydWindsor Tripehoundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16923036087016324862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-43715840539011502872009-01-26T09:41:00.000+00:002009-01-26T09:41:00.000+00:00I can recommend Winter's own book - a fascinating ...I can recommend Winter's own book - a fascinating story and inspirational also.<BR/><BR/>It makes you wonder if you could ever measure up to the achievements and attitude of Easy Company. they set a very high bar indeed.Trend Shedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04817609330878848716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-15451352069572821232009-01-26T09:30:00.000+00:002009-01-26T09:30:00.000+00:00If you accept as true the analysis written by Jend...If you accept as true the analysis written by Jendresen, then you also have an explanation of why David Cameron will amount to nothing. A man of action does not adopt a "do nothing" strategy in the face of crisis.David Boothroydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01161970886471901426noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-67758655465487016042009-01-26T09:25:00.000+00:002009-01-26T09:25:00.000+00:00I would strongly suggest that you, Iain, read Bill...I would strongly suggest that you, Iain, read Bill Slim's magisterial book (Defeat into Victory) on how he took a defeated, demoralised army and turned it into one of the finest armies that Britain has ever put into the field. <BR/><BR/>As a book on leadership it is beyond parallel.Bonetiredhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03758749688525988504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-14768059547048880942009-01-26T09:20:00.000+00:002009-01-26T09:20:00.000+00:00Hooey! Blair was a man of ambition blessed with ch...Hooey! Blair was a man of ambition blessed with charm, intelligence and acting ability. Leadership doesn't come into it.rob's unclehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03001074396029714388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-27861130887849887042009-01-26T09:16:00.000+00:002009-01-26T09:16:00.000+00:00Brillaint blogging at the moment Iain , Great bala...Brillaint blogging at the moment Iain , Great balance . I wonder sometimes if you have not outgrown the form. Good stuff thoughNewmaniahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11922161971821380803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-37397583593923015012009-01-26T09:14:00.000+00:002009-01-26T09:14:00.000+00:00Great Post- Winters is a man of utmost integrity, ...Great Post- Winters is a man of utmost integrity, I am sure you will treasure that note.<BR/><BR/>Unfortunately I would not follow Cameron into the trenches any more than I would Brown.<BR/><BR/>My Grandfather said to me , the good thing about war is that all the useless, chinless wonders who think they should be in charge are rapidly culled through being killed and/or incompetence in the first months of being tested. Then the real leaders come forward.Guthrumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17499979740864497256noreply@blogger.com