The distance between Britain and St Cast was modest, but eighteenth-century commanders still operated without satellite links or continuous information from home. Modern communications can tempt generals and politicians to direct very small units because they can see reports and issue instructions almost immediately. The Vietnam-era image of a 'squad commander in the sky' describes how oversight can become tactical micromanagement. Strategic computer games make centralized control feel easy, but real people, delays, and local conditions prevent military forces from behaving like perfectly responsive game pieces.
Notable Point · 55:44-57:06
Why instant communications invite tactical micromanagement
St Cast prompts a comparison between eighteenth-century delegated command and modern leaders trying to direct small units from afar.