Chance Kelly as Col Lt Ferrando, AKA the Godfather, in Generation Kill is great. His brief but insightful and wise reflections on his role as commander always shine light on even complicated situations. He is both wise sage and ferocious doer. His emphasis on the “Violence of Action” and Maneuver Warfare captivates me. Maneuver warfare is millennia old, as old as the Greeks, and is juxtaposed to another main type of warfare: Warfare of Attrition. Successful armies throughout human history have had to grapple with Maneuver Warfare, which stresses using what the Godfather terms “the violence of action,” of taking swift, calculated, pointed and informed action in such a way that the enemy is totally incapacitated and incapable of even mounting a defense because its very decision-making capabilities are circumvented. This warfare is motivated in part by the idea that swift, decisive action interferes with the very nervous system of the enemy such that it cannot figure out what is happening and mount a defense before it has already lost and must submit. Successful uses of this type of warfare include the Blitzkrieg (tragically) and Russia’s “Deep Battle.” War is tragic, but any civilization that is successful must find a way to fight, and it is always best to be the best. I find warfare fascinating and enjoy films about war, as much about their exploration of bravado and the warrior seem to be perennial themes. This clip below includes a few of sage comments.
Bearer of Pity 