Within the [US] Army, and inside the civilian leadership of the Defense Department, a higher-level debate over the shape of future threats also rages, with Army and Marine Corps stressing that large, ready-to-deploy ground forces will continue to be the backbone of American power, while the Navy and Air Force stress high-tech, “stand-off” capabilities like drones and missiles that risk fewer American lives and require fewer troops – and thus health care, pension and housing costs.
via EconoMonitor : Last Days of Rome » Pentagon’s ‘War Over Future Wars’ Is Underway.
Colin Twiggs: ~ What the US has done well in the past is hard, conventional battles with mechanized forces. Also intelligence and stand-off capabilities. Where they struggle is with wars like Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan. Knowing this, their enemies present few hard targets and draw them into long, energy-sapping occupations where they spend their time chasing shadows. Hopefully they have learned to avoid a repeat of their current situation.