After 6 months Sparta gave up, and went home, only to come back next summer.
No offense, but we don't have six months; six weeks is about max.
The point is, that although Pericles didn't get defeated in battle, most of the city residents felt like cowards, and it hurt Athens chances of winning the war. Eventually Attica ventured on a risky military gambit, to stop the Spartans from surrounding Attica, lost the gambit, and lost the war. How you fight a war can be as important as why. Saddam will do well with guerilla tactics, poorly if he uses civilians as shields. as the arab street is his only chance of winning the war.
I understand the theory but if the Iraqis beat us, no matter how they did it, they will go ballistic. Sparta was slightly more powerful than Athens. We are significantly more powerful than Iraq.
A lot of times smart military moves can backfire. Here, if we stick to the basics, try to avoid civilian casualties, Saddam will be the ultimate loser.
This can work the other way as well. With all of our tech armaments, we expect we will win hands down, no problem. However, that doesn't make for a given.
Another thing has to do with Rummy. He's fooling with a new concept of waging war: minimal manpower, maximum tech and armaments. A number of generals are not comfortable with the concept. It could be because its new fangled and they don't like it, or it could be because they are right. Probably, we will find out in Iraq.
ted |
