I know you said not to get you started. But I can't let it rest, it runs through my head everyday. Politics are the cause of war and the cause of a failure in war. I wish politics would stay out of it. I also wish the public would stand behind the leaders they've elected and support the decisions. I believe it's too late to pull back now. We need to evolve our strategies and tactics in Iraq. We need politics out of it, we as Americans need to understand, that while some of us may have not voted for our imfamous President, the majority rules. It is as the same in nature, the stronger all ways wins out in the end. I believe as a nation we need to just support the decision. The public is too against war in these times, I think they fail to realize it will always be around. The one thing I stand most behind is that we need to support our troops over there. It does not help for them to come back with mixed reactions from the public. And I honestly hope no one would bash a soilder. Sorry, I had to get that out, I'm not trying to start an argument or anything. (I just thought to add, I didn't mean to imply that you were doing any of those things David, don't get the wrong impression, the war in Iraq just gets my unmentionables all twisted)
I'm not a military man, but I think without the tactics and/or strategy, the technology is useless.
If you wanna get Sci-Fi with the discussion... look at Earth's first engagement in Starship Troopers. The Mobile Inf. had the tech... but no strategy and got the snot beat out of them... Then I notice they take a Nimitz/McArthur effect and start "Island-Hopping" their way to victory.
BTW re-reading Marine! by Burke Davis... I forgot how much of a tough-guy General Puller was...