Praxis: "The Bullet and the Bayonet."

"Poetry about a decidedly unpoetic modality of war."

Some thoughts on the continued utility of the bayonet from Weaponsman:

"It’s unlikely the British will give up their Sweet Sister any time soon. In 2004, they used bayonets in Iraq to rout Sadrist militia; the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders — perhaps a descendant of Sassoon’s “Highland Major’s” regiment — killed some 35 with a full-on bayonet charge."

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"The psychological effect of the bayonet is two-sided: it strikes fear into the enemy at point end, and stirs confidence in the soldier behind the bayonet. Such de minimis subtleties are the foundation stones of many a victory."

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"Because new things must be taught in Army basic training, bayonet training’s been cut, like other obsolete skills such as much close-quarter drill."

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"The Marines take a different approach. The Marines’ official website says flatly, “Every Marine receives bayonet training in the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP) and on the Bayonet Assault Course in Recruit Training.”

Every military generation since, oh, I don't know, the War Between the States, has heard predictions about the bayonet being as obsolete as the pike. While it is true that resort to the bayonet represents a tactical foul-up inflicted by a. command failure; b. supply failure; or c. lop-sided enemy numbers and/or tactical skill; the fact of the matter is that such failures happen and then you will have to resort to what the Brits in the Boer War referred to as "the long spoon."

In addition, nothing says seriousness of intent in a situation where bullets ought not be the first resort -- herding prisoners, keeping order at a food distribution facility, etc. -- like a fixed bayonet. I'm sure we'll have a lively discussion of this topic.