March 17

45 B.C. - The Battle of Munda: Julius Caesar defeated the Pompeians, led by two sons of Pompey the Great, who lost over 30,000 men.

This was the last great battle between Caesar and the forces of Pompey, and its victory set the stage for Caesar’s triumphant return to Rome, his accession as dictator, his assassination, and the end of the Roman Republic.

461 - According to tradition, St. Patrick (patron saint of Ireland) died in Saul.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day.

1040 - Harold I Harefoot, King of England, died, and was succeeded by Hardthacanute, King of Denmark.

As an island nation the Brits were destined to be a seafaring people, but it wasn’t until the Danes and Normans took the throne that the English began to establish their excellence at sea.

1649 - The English Parliament abolished the office of king.

This didn't last long...In 1660 England reestablished the monarchy, but made sure the position was set up with limitations.

1776 - Having seized Dorchester Heights, George Washington forced the British troops under William Howe to evacuate Boston:  U.S. Revolutionary War.

This victory was tactically minute, but huge strategically, because the Revolution could never have been successful without Boston or Philly.

1861 - A new united Kingdom of Italy was proclaimed by parliament with Victor Emmanuel II as king.

After 1400 years of getting their asses handed too them by the Spanish, French and Austrians/Germans, the Italians finally agreed to unite...Unfortunately, the Italians haven’t been able to repeat their past greatness and remain one of Europe's crappers.

1894 - The United States and China signed a treaty aimed at preventing Chinese laborers from entering the United States.

Neither side did much to enforce the treaty.  Much like our current immigration laws.

1945 - The Battle of Iwo Jima ended in victory for the United States:  WWII.

Iwo Jima is one of the greatest WWII battles in the Pacific Theatre. The Japanese almost fought to the last man (21,000 of 22,000 soldiers died in the battle), and the U.S. victory signaled the end of effective Japanese fighting...From here out, the U.S. thoroughly pounded Japan.

1966 - A U.S. midget submarine located a missing hydrogen-bomb which had fallen from an American bomber into the Mediterranean off Spain.

Read that again: A 'missing hydrogen-bomb' = A weapon at least 20-times more powerful than an atom-bomb laying around in the sea.

How do hydrogen-bombs go missing?  Has it happened again?

2003 - President George W. Bush delivered an ultimatum to Saddam Hussein: “leave Iraq within 48-hours or face an attack.”

He wasn’t kidding...Thank you for doing your job President Bush. It's unfortunate your predecessors didn’t have the balls to do it earlier, and also that we gave Saddam months to move his toys. Better late than never, though.

Unfortunately, we stuck around trying to make a Middle Eastern nation in our image...We should have left, and let them figure it out their own way - with the knowledge we'd return if they, their friends or their supporters ever messed with us again.