On HistoryNet, take off to the Wild Blue Yonder as World War II magazine blogger Robert Citino pays tribute to the airmen of World War II. For more aviation, check out Max Gadney’s infograph illustrating the Spitfire. Finally, for a different angle, there is an interview with Ed Zwick, director of Glory worth checking out.

On ArmchairGeneral.com, Author Peter Suciu takes readers on a virtual tour of some of Italy’s best military tourist destinations. There is a review of the new Axis and Allies Booster set, Flank Speed and Steven Pressfield takes a look at some winning strategies for the current conflict in Afghanistan. President Obama should check that out! Lastly, we have a very special feature called the Incorrect Art of War, which is number 38 in a series dedicated to the humourous stylings of Doctor Sinister as he struggles to understand military strategy and military history. This is the last of the series!

On GreatHistory.com, there are a wide range of history articles to suit anyone’s fancy. A piece on Native Americans explores the concept of the land bridge from Asia. Ghosts of Migrations Past is a look at the National Park Service. Finally, Women Who Whack, Part II is a quirky look at one very serious set of murders in 19th century England – perpetrated by a woman no less!

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Some interesting links I’ve come across this week;

I’ve run into a few articles covering aircraft carriers and naval vessels in SE Asia, and found one of interest which shows how China is trying to restore an old Russian aircraft carrier so they can use it as a training vessel. Another article is a look at India, which is also trying to build a navy from scratch.

Just today, this article popped up on the problems Russia is facing with it own insurgency in the Caucasus. This is something that has fallen well beneath most radars here in the West.

Have a happy and safe Halloween. My 3 yr old son is going as Peter Pan because he just loves that movie. I’m hopeful tomorrow night is dry as it has been raining almost every day here in Missouri this October. Feels more like England than it ever should here!

What can we learn about insurgencies from the Nepali Civil War? Does it have lessons for Afghanistan, and perhaps Pakistan too? And leave it to Great History to mix cake and nuclear bombs. This fascinating piece showcases the life of one woman who had a calming effect on some of the men building the atomic bomb during World War II.  And continuing with the food theme we have a survey of restaraunts found in the American West. Are they different than any found in the East? Decide for yourself. Finally, we take a peak at the Obama administration’s plan to cut executive pay…something that has never been done quite like this.

On HistoryNet.com, we have an article on General Grant and his drinking.  There is an article looking at the problems of the American health care system.  Robert Citino tours Warsaw and comes to realize how much history was destroyed during World War II, and how much we’ll never understand what truly happened.

Armchair General has a couple of new game reviews for Dawn of Discovery and World War 2: Time of Wrath. While there, stop in and read Tactics 101: Air Movement Plan so you’ll know how to conduct airborne operations!  Carlo D’ Este also checks in with an examination of Eisenhower’s broad front strategy at the end of World War II.

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Some interesting links I’ve come across this week;

Ever wonder what would happen if the US or Israel went in to bomb the Iranian nuclear facilities buried underground? It turns out that it may just be impossible to penetrate new varieties of concrete.

A nice blog post by game designer and publisher Mark H. Walker, giving props to our Armchair General game reviews.

Hollywood apparently is finding interest in making a movie about the Georgian-Russian conflict of 2008. With the recent EU report blaming both sides for the conflict, I will be anxious to see which side Hollywood will take.

Is China already at war with the United States? Apparently, they are in cyberspace right this minute!

Sad pictures of North Korean life. While building nuclear reactors, the government forgot to feed the people…

Finally, here is something cool; The USS New York, built with some steel from the downed World Trade Center, is up and running!

I’ve been personally interested in a story which happened in Afghanistan last week.  A battle for a small outpost in remote Afghanistan resulted in the death of 8 US soldiers, 2 or 3 Afghan soldiers, and approximately 100 Taliban.  The Afghan Tip of the Spear takes a look at this.  Some interesting video in the link, plus it gives a good sense of the difficulties in trying to bring peace to the wasteland of that country.

Interested in a view of why the US decided to discontinue the anti-Iran missile shield in Poland and the Czech republic?  Frank Chadwick takes a look with The Missiles of September: The Return of Common Sense.  Also on Great History, is part II of the overview of blowups in the US congress – fresh on the heels of the Joe Wilson “YOU LIE!” outburst against President Obama. Joe Wilson and the History of Congressional Blowups, Part II. Finally, we have a look at New York City’s 400th birthday with Peter Culos and Vermeer Shmermeer.  Lots of other great articles on Great History, so go check it out!

On HistoryNet.com, you’ll find a lot of new material this week as several new issues are going to newsstands.  If you are into Vietnam, you might want to check out Pararescue Jumpers’ Daring Rescue of Downed Fighter Pilot Deep Inside North Vietnam or Ho Chi Minh and the OSS. Civil War enthusiasts will find lots of new material, including Murder and Mayhem Ride the Rails – Union Soldiers Rampage in Virginia. Be sure to visit www.historynet.com for all the latest articles showing up on the site.

On Armchair General, besides the leading link discussing Obama’s Nobel Peace Prize, we have a few new game reviews; Heroes of the Blitzkreig – Board Game Review, Battlefield Evolution: Modern Combat – Miniatures War Game Review, Richard Berg’s Flintlock – Carolina Rebels – Board Game Review.

Lastly, for a cool story about how the global recession has affected international shipping (not as boring as it sounds!) see this story about the Ghost Fleet of the Recession.

The big story this week was the United Nations. A rambling speech by Libyan crackpot Muammar Qaddafi pretty much typifies the business of the United Nations these days, with follow on nonsense by Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. On the plus side US President Obama gave an address about working together in the UN, though one wonders if the UN can ever be a positive force in this world when it is packed with the likes of the former leaders. Kudos to Canada for ingoring the Iranian speech altogether. Our members discuss Obama at the United Nations.

Afghanistan was also in the news this week, as the top commander there gives his assessment of what we need now to win the war. That decision is still up in the air, but here is an article with some perspectives on that nation. The History of War in Afghanistan on Great History. A related article asks if the US currently has the Best Army in History? Lastly on this theme is this book review by Ralph Peters called The War After Armageddon.

Want to know more about Congressional conflict, in the same vein as Joe “You Lie!” Wilson? Check out Joe Wilson and the History of Congressional Blowups, Part I.

Over on Armchair General, the latest Tactics 101 piece is out, covering Landing Plans in airborne operations. Sticking with the air theme, they also have articles on Operation Market Garden and air power in Western Europe during the Second World War.

On HistoryNet.com, a great interview with one of the mainstays of Capitol Hill – not a politician – but a barber! Fascinating. Joe Quattrone, Barber to Capitol Hill. A second article looks at the effects of losing hundreds of WW2 veterans each day; What is Lost When Veterans Pass?. Finally, lets look at something totally mad from the Civil War. How about John Brown?

There were many more stories on all 3 sites, so if these aren’t enough to keep you busy over the weekend, go check out the rest!

Follow these sites on Twitter to stay up to the minute with the articles. @greathistory_ @historynet @armchairgeneral

If you are a fan of top 10 lists as well as history, you’ll probably want to check out this article; 10 Heroic Last Stands from Military History.

Agatha Christie fans might be interested to learn more about her private life in Greenway House – At Home With Agatha Christie.

On Armchair General we have a game review for the follow on to Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45 called Darkest Hour: Europe ‘44 – ‘45. I personally feel the need to check out the game because the first title was frustrating with its flaws, though it had fantastic potential.  I wrote a piece a few years ago to vent said frustrations; Red Orchestra: Are You a Panzer Leader or Panzer Loser?

Lots of new stuff on Great History.  A fascinating look at women in ancient Persia (I think Frank Chadwick could make dung beetles fascinating!) called Ancient Persia’s Remarkable Women. A new podcast with Mike Green, who has interviewed tankers from World War I through modern day; Mike Green Podcast – War Stories of the Tankers. Finally, the next step in Marvel Comics now that Disney has bought them.

There were many more stories on all 3 sites, so be sure to check out the rest!  Follow these sites on Twitter to stay up to the minute with the articles.  @greathistory_ @historynet @armchairgeneral

PS. I never made it to Inglorious Basterds last week.  I’ve heard it was pretty good, though predictably there were lots of views about politics from around the world.  Apparently some folks think it was too harsh on ordinary Germans by the Jewish soldiers…

For now, I’m just going to look around the Weider History network to see what new stuff has popped up.

If you are into Abraham Lincoln, you might to check out Abraham Lincoln and the Extra ‘d’ in His In-laws’ Name to learn more about his relationship with his in-laws.  Something us married folk can relate to!  In the modern sphere, you might find this of interest – Global Military Spending: Are We Crazy? by Frank Chadwick.  You’ll learn how much money the US spends on military defense relative to the rest of the world.  Eye opening to say the least.  Finally, and perhaps even more eye-opening, is a piece on women’s fashion and Tennis.  Fashionistas on the Court by Tracey McCormick.  Personally, Tennis isn’t my sport, but still a great read.

Looking for a good podcast? ArmchairGeneral.com has a piece about collecting real tanks.  Perhaps you need a new hobby? Podcast with Tank Collector Jacques Littlefield I might have to pick up a new hobby actually…

Armchair General also has a DVD review for a small production company who made a film about D-Day. The Americans on D-Day – DVD Review

Let’s see, on HistoryNet.com we have an important piece on Beer in Great Britain.  Seriously, a must read!  And, as I mentioned the movie at the outset, it might pay to read Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds: Riot on the Western Front. The short short review is that historical accuracy is not quite what this movie is aiming to do.

There were many more stories on all 3 sites, so if these aren’t enough to keep you busy over the weekend, go check out the rest!  Follow these sites on Twitter to stay up to the minute with the articles.  @greathistory_ @historynet @armchairgeneral

The Cowboy Brigade’s Roosevelt Inaugural Invasion – The Rough Riders in Washington D.C. (from Wild West magazine on HistoryNet.com).

The Autumn 2009 issue of Military History Quarterly has this piece on Napoleon The Emperor’s Tipping Point: Napoleon at Eylau.

Have you ever been to a game convention? I’ve been to several, including GenCon, Origins, Historicon, the World Boardgaming Championships. Each has something unique to offer, but for those interesting mostly in military history, your best bet is Historicon, which will be held in Baltimore in 2010. Here are some pictures from the 2009 convention; Historicon 2009 photos

Armchair General also did a review of Panzerkrieg: Burning Horizon 2.

A couple recent articles on Great History, just in case you missed them.
Abraham Lincoln and the Extra ‘d’ in His In-laws’ Name
Woodstock – Looking Back on 3 Days of Peace and Music

Personally, the most interesting story of last week was the lost freighter that everyone was searching for in the mid-Atlantic.  Pirates apparently boarded her at some point, but then left, and she went dark after passing through the English Channel.  An international search was launched, and days later she showed up off Cape Verde Islands.  Today, it has been confirmed that the Russian navy has reached her, and the crew is safe.  But will the mystery be solved? The Arctic Sea is found off Cape Verde.  Cool stuff!

So Long Pontiac – Say goodbye to an old friend (from American History magazine on HistoryNet.com).

What was the turning point of World War II? Discuss this on World War II magazine’s website with Rob Citino, and also on the Armchair General World War II forums. It was mentioned this past week on Twitter and it seems to have drawn in a lot of comments.

Combat Mission Shock Force: Marines and Combat Mission Shock Force: British Forces. Two PC game reviews from Armchair General.

There were several articles released on GreatHistory.com, including In Defense of the Wild and The Vietnam Spy Who Betrayed Us, Part II.

I was most interested in the continuing problems in the republic of Georgia, and the possible flare up of the conflict which began last summer. Russia vs. Georgia round 2? Some experts seem to think this clash is inevitable…