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Scapegoats: Thirteen Victims of Military Injustice
At all costs avoid blame. Such is the creed of dictators and politicians, tycoons and company chairmen, media celebrities and spin doctors the world over. But what about men at war, where the penalties for errors of judgement can be devastating? History is full of tales of those who have been wrongly castigated in the rush to find a culprit; only later, sometimes much later, when the real truth comes out, is the scapegoat exonerated. Exposed here are the real stories behind the myths that allow the reader to make a balanced judgment on history's fairness to the individual. From Admiral Byng, executed for 'failing to do his utmost' in 1757, to General Elazar, held responsible for Israel's lack of preparation at the start of the Yom Kippur War and General Dallaire, let down by the United Nations over the Rwanda massacres of 1994, these portraits of individuals unjustly accused span continents and centuries. The book begins with an introduction, defining the scapegoat and examining the conditions needed to qualify. This superbly researched book by a former professional soldier uncovers what might be termed the most disgraceful miscarriages of military justice.
- GenresHistory
466 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2013
About the author
Michael Scott
6 books1 followerLibrarian note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
Michael Scott was commissioned into the Scots Guards in 1960. After worldwide regimental service, he led the 2nd Battalion Scots Guards in the Falklands War and was awarded the DSO. He was subsequently a brigade commander in Northern Ireland and, as a Major General, commanded the Army in Scotland and was appointed Governor of Edinburgh Castle in 1993. On leaving the Army, he was selected to be the first Complaints Commissioner to the Bar Council dealing with complaints against barristers. His first book, In Love and War – the Lives of General Sir Harry and Lady Smith, co-written with David Rooney, was published in 2008. A paperback edition, Surrender at New Orleans, followed. His second, Scapegoats - Thirteen Victims of Military Injustice, was published in 2013 and rights sold to the American publishers, Skyhorse, who also brought out an audio book edition. Royal Betrayal was published in 2017 and an option sold to a film company for a possible six part Netflix production for TV. His next book, The Lady of Kabul - Florentia Sale and the Disastrous Retreat of 1842 was published in 2019 by Endeavour Media. Lume Books have now brought out a 3rd edition. In 2023, Marble Hill published his Minding the Law - The hazardous and hilarious world of handling complaints against barristers.
Michael Scott was commissioned into the Scots Guards in 1960. After worldwide regimental service, he led the 2nd Battalion Scots Guards in the Falklands War and was awarded the DSO. He was subsequently a brigade commander in Northern Ireland and, as a Major General, commanded the Army in Scotland and was appointed Governor of Edinburgh Castle in 1993. On leaving the Army, he was selected to be the first Complaints Commissioner to the Bar Council dealing with complaints against barristers. His first book, In Love and War – the Lives of General Sir Harry and Lady Smith, co-written with David Rooney, was published in 2008. A paperback edition, Surrender at New Orleans, followed. His second, Scapegoats - Thirteen Victims of Military Injustice, was published in 2013 and rights sold to the American publishers, Skyhorse, who also brought out an audio book edition. Royal Betrayal was published in 2017 and an option sold to a film company for a possible six part Netflix production for TV. His next book, The Lady of Kabul - Florentia Sale and the Disastrous Retreat of 1842 was published in 2019 by Endeavour Media. Lume Books have now brought out a 3rd edition. In 2023, Marble Hill published his Minding the Law - The hazardous and hilarious world of handling complaints against barristers.
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