Eight major military blunders in world history

New Delhi: A military disaster often changes the course of history, thus the effective prosecution of any war requires a load of decisions at all junctures. Many times commanders have made blunder through misinformation, faulty intelligence, or a misreading of the tactical or strategic situation. Blunders result in tremendously unnecessary loss of men and material or in the ultimate loss or needless prolonging of the war.Here are eight major military blunders in world history: 1. US Invasion of Iraq 2003The 2003 invasion of Iraq lasted from 19 March 2003 to 1 May 2003 and signaled the start of the conflict that later came to be known as the Iraq War,Iraq War was a terrible mistake and violation of U.N. charter. The war aimed to make Iraq a model of democracy based on law, but it replaced tyranny with anarchy and led America to practices that violated the laws of war.The war aimed to transform Iraq to a friendly base for U.S. troops capable to act, if needed, against Iran—but instead it gave Iran a new ally in Baghdad. The US army had to finally withdraw leaving the country in the throes of a civil war.2. Napoleon's Invasion of Russia, 1812French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte is generally regarded as one of history's top military tacticians. But 200 years ago, he committed a grave error by leading his Grande Armée—likely the largest European armed force ever assembled to that point—across the Niemen River into Russia. Although it never lost a pitched battle there, the Grande Armée was almost completely wiped out within six months by freezing temperatures, food shortages, disease and Russian assaults. This proved to be the beginning of the end for Napoleon, who was forced into exile in April 1814.3. Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan 1979The Soviet Union in 1979 sent in a massive number of troops to prop up the unpopular communist government in Kabul. What followed was a ten year blood bath of death among the rocks.In Christmas 1979, Russian paratroopers landed in Kabul. The country was already in the grip of a civil war. The prime minister, Hazifullah Amin, tried to sweep aside Muslim traditions within the nation and he wanted a more western slant to Afghanistan. This outraged the majority of those in Afghanistan as a strong tradition of Muslim belief was common in the country.By the end of the 1980's, the Mujahdeen was at war with itself in Afghanistan with hard line Taliban fighters taking a stronger grip over the whole nation and imposing very strict Muslim law on the Afghan population. The country was ruled by warlords, but their rule ended when the Taliban took over. The Americans alongwith Western forces occupied Afghanistan and dislodged the Taliban, but now after a futile long-drawn war, the US is on the verge of withdrawing its army leaving Afghanistan to its Talibanist fate.4. Hitler Invades Russia 1941Hitler's decision to attack the Soviet Union is often considered to be one of the wost decisions ever made by anybody.The attack on the Soviet Union was sneaky and rather dastardly. Hitler had signed a non-aggression pact with the Soviets only two years previously. As a result the Russians had not armed themselves for war and posed no threat to Nazi Germany.At the end of the war, the Soviets forced the Nazis out of their territory. The Battle of Stalingrad turned the tides of war.The Soviet Union was a major player in the downfall of Nazi Germany. Had Hitler never angered the Russian bear there was a good chance that he might never have been defeated by the Allies at all.5. Vietnam War, 1959-1975 In its zeal to root out Communism in Southeast Asia, the US invaded Vietnam, and propped a stooge government to take on the Viet Cong, aided by Soviet Union and China. The US military involvement in Vietnam has been said to be one of the worst mistakes of in U.S history. After a long drawn war, the Americans had to withdraw handing over Vietnam to the Communists led by Ho Chi Minh and his associates. The US and its allies lost approximately 60,000 army personnel in the process.6. Charge of the Light Brigade, 1854It is one of the most famous military blunders of all time. The conflict erupted in 1854 with the Russian Empire on one side and Britain, France, the Kingdom of Sardinia and the Ottoman Empire on the other. Their dispute centered on which side would have dominant influence in the declining Ottoman Empire. The result of war was disastrous. An estimated 278 men of the Light Brigade were killed or wounded.Although the war itself is only a dim recollection, what is vividly remembered is one valorously tragic incident of the campaign: the headlong cavalry charge of the British Light Brigade into murderous Russian fire; an action immortalized by Lord Alfred Tennyson's poem.7. Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbour, 1941 On the morning of December 7, 1941, the Japanese launched a surprise air attack on the U.S. Naval Base at Pearl Harbour in Hawaii. After just two hours of bombing, more than 2,400 Americans were dead, 21 ships had either been sunk or damaged, and more than 188 U.S. aircraft destroyed.The attack on Pearl Harbor so outraged Americans that the U.S. abandoned its policy of isolationism and declared war on Japan the following day—officially bringing the United States into World War II. The world war ended with the US dropping two atomic bombs on Japanese cities, Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.8. The Dieppe Raid, 1942The war was fought between a joint force of Canada and Britain against Nazi Germany.It was an attempt to capture an area of coastline and port in Nazi occupied France, for little other reason than to prove that it was possible. The operation used the combined allied Naval and Air Force powers to land 6,000 troops on the beach near Dieppe. Most were Canadian but were accompanied by some 1,000 British commandos. The result was a massacre. None of the operational aims were accomplished and the landing party took losses of sixty percent, over 3,000 men. The naval and aerial support also took losses. The allies might have proved that it was possible to land a significant force onto a German held beach but they failed to prove that it was possible to hold the position without getting killed.