The Stupidest War in History?

[Nazis in Space]

1-Iraq the First
2- Iraq the Second
3- Korea
4- Afghanistan

How was the Korean War stupid? The North Koreans invaded the South in order to incorporate them into a Soviet-allied communist state. The people in the South objected and the US, plus a bunch of other countries, sided with them.

It was stupid from the North Korean PoV, invading the south just after the Soviet Union opted to temporarily leave the UN, enabling the US to push through the resolution that allowed it to fight the war with UN support.

It was also stupid from the American PoV insofar as it ignored about a dozen warnings by the Chinese that they'll come down on them in force if they don't limit their activities, which they promptly did, with considerable success (Turns out that the reds had learned a lesson or two about fighting under OPFOR air superiority back during the civil war).

While not exactly the stupidest war ever, it's safe to say that none of the protagonists were particularly blessed with brains.

[Bythyrona]

Sheer stupidity? The Falklands War.

Hate me for this, but the Vietnam War had a purpose at the very beginning. When it degraded into a mere war of attrition, though, it became the most useless war in American history.

[The Fanboyists]

The First World War is the most needless major war to have occurred.

But I'll take the Chaco War as at least among the stupidest ever. It effectively was a desperate attempt between Bolivia and Paraguay to avoid being the "losers" of South America. It was an entirely-too-long, proportionally-devastating war over a strategically and economically worthless region.

EDIT: Oops, ninja'd...
How about the 'War of the Triple Alliance', back in the 19th century: That also had Paraguay as one of the sides, but in that incident their dictator thought that it would be a good idea to go to war simultaneously with Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay... According to some accounts it's estimated that Paraguay lost somewhere around 90% of its adult males in the fighting...

They're both pretty stupid. I just figured that since the Chaco War featured excessive stupidity on both sides, it might at least match the War of the Triple Alliance.

[Jari Head]

There is also a war where shots were fired by both sides resulting in no casualties (not even a pig) The Toledo War, which was a border disagreement between the State of Ohio and the Michigan territory over a strip of land, now known as the Toledo Strip. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toledo_War

[Wewtlandem]

The Emu War

Vive la Résistance!

I must ask, how long have you been waiting to use that picture?

[Maroza]

I don't know the name of the war but some French baker claimed Mexican soldiers took his pastries and France demanded Mexico pay for them, mexico refused and France promptly invaded mexico. After some fighting Mexico paid up and France left.

Does anyone know what war this was or if it even happened?

[Heaven Hieghts]

The Pig War. It was over nothing.

[The Murtunian Tribes]

I don't know the name of the war but some French baker claimed Mexican soldiers took his pastries and France demanded Mexico pay for them, mexico refused and France promptly invaded mexico. After some fighting Mexico paid up and France left.

Does anyone know what war this was or if it even happened?

Yes, that was my vote for stupidest war, actually. Yes, it did happen.

[Mesoland]

The Anglo-Zanzibar war, in which Zanzibar surrendered after 38 minutes. That's pretty dumb even entering a war which would cause you to surrender in under 40 minutes.

[Pahlavistan]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglo-Zanzibar_War this it lasted just over half an hour!

[Better America]

[Farnhamia]

I don't know the name of the war but some French baker claimed Mexican soldiers took his pastries and France demanded Mexico pay for them, mexico refused and France promptly invaded mexico. After some fighting Mexico paid up and France left.

Does anyone know what war this was or if it even happened?

Uhm ... no. In the 1860s Mexico got into a really bad debt crisis, to the point where several European countries decided military action was required. The French emperor, Napoleon III, found an unemployed Austrian archduke, invaded Mexico and made the duke Emperor of Mexico. The US didn't do anything because we were busy atthe time fighting ourselves. The Mexicans rose up in arms, fought a guerrilla war for several years, until the French finally abandoned Mexico. The end of the US Civil War helped them to see the light, too.

[The Murtunian Tribes]

I don't know the name of the war but some French baker claimed Mexican soldiers took his pastries and France demanded Mexico pay for them, mexico refused and France promptly invaded mexico. After some fighting Mexico paid up and France left.

Does anyone know what war this was or if it even happened?

Uhm ... no. In the 1860s Mexico got into a really bad debt crisis, to the point where several European countries decided military action was required. The French emperor, Napoleon III, found an unemployed Austrian archduke, invaded Mexico and made the duke Emperor of Mexico. The US didn't do anything because we were busy atthe time fighting ourselves. The Mexicans rose up in arms, fought a guerrilla war for several years, until the French finally abandoned Mexico. The end of the US Civil War helped them to see the light, too.

A bit of both, actually. The pastry chef thing DID happen, and it was the pretense for the war.

[Samuraikoku]

Ah, but the War of the Triple Alliance, fought from 1864 to 1870, was far and away bloodier and more devastating. A huge percentage of the Paraguayan population died, Brazil's economy was shaken and her military became a political force, which had consequences right down into the 20th century.

Even now I have no idea what drove us on our part (other than sheer dislike of Paraguay and the government) to take Solano Lopez down. But, with someone like Mitre in charge... I guess it was to be expected.

[Farnhamia]

Ah, but the War of the Triple Alliance, fought from 1864 to 1870, was far and away bloodier and more devastating. A huge percentage of the Paraguayan population died, Brazil's economy was shaken and her military became a political force, which had consequences right down into the 20th century.

Even now I have no idea what drove us on our part (other than sheer dislike of Paraguay and the government) to take Solano Lopez down. But, with someone like Mitre in charge... I guess it was to be expected.

I only found out about the war because I was looking up the Praca de Onze in Rio, found the naval battle on the 11th of June, and then found the war that killed between 60 and 90% of the male population of Paraguay.

[Samuraikoku]

I only found out about the war because I was looking up the Praca de Onze in Rio, found the naval battle on the 11th of June, and then found the war that killed between 60 and 90% of the male population of Paraguay.

True. I believe the Paraguayans are still paying the consequences of that war to this day. The Argentinian President at that time, Bartolome Mitre, was a huge douchebag. He contributed a lot in our development back then, but he was very bloodthirsty against what he deemed "uncivilized". Further presidents Sarmiento and Avellaneda followed in his footsteps, but that was after the Paraguay war had ended.

[Calimera]

Probably one of the Netherlands wars with Louis XIV

Before saying something like that, LEARN THE DUTCH HISTORY!

But OK, the shortest and the most stupid: Zanzibar war, during 31 minutes.

[Manahakatouki]

I'm going to agree with the majority (For once) and go with WW1 as the stupidest...

[Arkiasis]

1. War on Drugs
2. WWI

[Rio Cana]

They're both pretty stupid. I just figured that since the Chaco War featured excessive stupidity on both sides, it might at least match the War of the Triple Alliance.

When it comes to the War of the Triple Alliance (1864 to 1870), Paraguay was just trying to maintain a balance of power. Afterall, Brazil had meddled in Uruguayan affairs by supporting rebels against the democratically elected govt.. Ever heard of the massacre of Paysandu in Uruguay. Brazilian warships bombarded that Uruguayan city while helping the rebels. The city fell. Argentina say what was happening from across the river but they did nothing. Argentina did not get involved since they did not care for the democratically elected Uruguayan govt. So if you are Paraguay and you see this what would you think. They probably thought they might be next. So they went to Uruguays defense. The Paraguayan President was kind of high strung so things got kind of out of hand. But the allies thought they could defeat Parguay in three months. It took them five years and they ruined there economies. This is one reason the Empire of Brazil fell 18 years later.

Today in Brazil no one sings to the Emperor of Brazil. Today in Uruguay no one sing to the Uruguayan rebel who overthrew the democratically elected govt, who was eliminated after leaving office. Today in Argentina no one sings to the Argentine President of that time. But in Paraguay they do sing to there then President Francisco Solano Lopez.

Music Video in Guarani language - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgFrs5wxcw0

Brazilians took and still have not returned much of the Paraguayan archives they took after the war. Some say they rather not let anyone see it since it could finally prove they started the war.

Paraguay has this, a Brazilian Iron Clad warship they captured during the start of the war on exhibit.


Concerning the Chaco War (1932 to 1935)
After losing there Pacific coast the Bolivia became landlocked. So the Bolivian govt. started looking to the Paraguay river by the Chaco region in eastern Bolivia in order to reach the Atlantic ocean. There were many years of talks in which the border was redrawn on maps. But finally the new elected President of Bolivia Daniel Salamanca, who was said to be a war hawk, had enough of talks and invaded the region of the Chaco controlled by Paraguay. Paraguay has history in the Chaco while Bolivia not really. Bolivians of course made sure Brazil had no eyes on the Chaco before starting the war.

Bolivians bought many modern weapons and there President not trusting his Generals even hired a German to run there military. He was fired when the war went bad. Paraguay bought used but less expensive weapons. Argentina helped Paraguay them with supplies. Chile also to a lesser extent. White Russian volunteer also helped Paraguays side. Think they even had a US fliers helping fly Paraguayan combat planes.

The following is a very short video of Paraguays Victory Parade in there Capital City most likely in 1935. The military officer you see on the dark horse in the middle of the street which the camara seems to be following is José Félix Estigarribia. He was a military marshal and head of Paraguays military. His military genius was responsible for Paraguay winning the war. He later became President of Paraguay.

Victory parade starts at 45 seconds
Video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UW8INWQPk3g

Bolivian President Daniel Salamanca of Bolivia had bad relations with many of his generals. During the war, while visiting his Generals not far from the war line, Bolivian troops that were taken out of the fight surrounded where the President was staying and the Generals forced him to resign.

The President was said to have said the following to his Generals

"I gave them everything they asked for -- weapons, trucks, whatever they wanted; the one and only thing I could not give them was brains." He is also supposed to have remarked dryly to Peñaranda, upon the encirclement of the house where he was staying at Villamontes during the coup: "Congratulations General; you just completed your first and only successful military siege of the entire war."

[The Kangaroo Republic]

Aren't they all stupid?

[Samuraikoku]

Today in Argentina no one sings to the Argentine President of that time.

They read his "La Nacion" newspaper.

[Rio Cana]

Today in Argentina no one sings to the Argentine President of that time.

They read his "La Nacion" newspaper.

Chances are todays newspaper is nothing like the original.

[Samuraikoku]

They read his "La Nacion" newspaper.

Chances are todays newspaper is nothing like the original.

As a reader... it is.

[Beridia]

I WOULD SAY WW1 IS AT THE TOP OF MY LIST.