Page 348 - Le Operazioni Interforze e Multinazionali nella Storia Militare - ACTA Tomo I

348 XXXIX Congresso della CommIssIone InternazIonale dI storIa mIlItare • CIHm

between the two senior allied service commanders, Hamilton and de Robeck; and how
this attitude filtered down into their respective staffs and operational planning. It also
shows the dangers of a system over reliant on personalities. But above all else, it high-
lights the problems caused by a lack of consultation between politicians and their service
chiefs – both with regards to Kitchener and Churchill not seeking, or ignoring the views
of the military experts, but also those same service chiefs not having the resolution to air
their professional opinions and opposing views. Going to war should be a last resort, and
as such, should only occur after an honest, informed, and challenging dialogue between
the decision makers and those tasked with transforming an idea into an operational real-
ity. This did not happen in 1915.