 |
The John Batchelor ShowAuthor: John Batchelor
The John Batchelor Show is a hard news-analysis radio program on current events, world history, global politics and natural sciences. Based in New York City for two decades, the show has travelled widely to report, from the Middle East to the South Caucasus to the Arabian Peninsula and East Asia. Language: en-us Genres: News, Society & Culture Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
Listen Now...
S8 Ep556: 3. The Ghost of Crassus and the Perils of Imperial Hubris Gaius draws a direct parallel between the Iran crisis and Crassus’s disastrous invasion of Parthia (modern Iran) in 53 BCE. Crassus, the richest man in Rome, was driven by ego and a desire for mi
Episode 556
Sunday, 8 March, 2026
3. The Ghost of Crassus and the Perils of Imperial Hubris Gaius draws a direct parallel between the Iran crisis and Crassus’s disastrous invasion of Parthia (modern Iran) in 53 BCE. Crassus, the richest man in Rome, was driven by ego and a desire for military fame to match Caesar. His campaign failed due to poor intelligence, a divided army, and a complete failure to respect the enemy's unique technology. The Parthians utilized highly mobile horsemen and composite bows—a technology disparity that the Romans, overconfident in their traditional legions, could not overcome. Similarly, the U.S. maintains traditional forces while Iran, Russia, and China have developed advanced missile technology to counter American manned aircraft and tanks. Germanicus notes that when ancient emperors faced such "holes," they often sought to "declare victory" and extricate themselves through treaties to save face. However, the current "emperor" is depicted as trapped in a bubble of euphoria and sycophants, possessing a temperament that refuses to yield or "stop digging" despite the rising costs. The debate concludes that without a pathway to a sensible outcome, the U.S. risks a repeat of historical catastrophes where a refusal to recognize asymmetric threats and lack of a clear objective led to total annihilation. (4)1880 CICERO DENOUNCES CATALINE
