Hermit [hidden@lucifer.com] Mon 2002/07/29 08:39 AM wrote:
<snip>
[Hermit 4] Isn't this supposed to have contributed to the collapse of
the USSR? Have you taken a look at what is left of the US economy
lately? Besides, have you heard the expression, "It is impossible to
defend from the inside"? It means that the money spent attemptiong to
defend yourself is wasted. You can spend everything you have - and, as
dubya seems to be attempting, more attempting to create an impregnable
situation. Yet an enemy only needs to find one hole - and your
investment is wasted. Military analysts around the world have known that
for 3,000 years. When will the US catch up?
<snap>
[Blunderov]
Sun Tzu, the generals' general, noted:
<snip>
When you do battle, even if you are winning, if you continue for a long
time it will dull your forces and blunt your edge; if you besiege a
citadel, your strength will be exhausted. If you keep you armies in the
field for a long time, your supplies will be insufficient...
Therefore I have heard of military operations that were clumsy bur
swift, but I have never seen one that was skilful and lasted a long
time. It is never beneficial to a nation to have a military operation
continue for a long time...
When a country is impoverished by military operations, it is because of
transporting supplies to a distant place. Transport supplies to a
distant place and the populace will be impoverished...
Therefore those that win every battle are not really skilful - those who
render others' armies helpless without fighting are the best of
all.(!Bl)
<snap>
[me] I think the US should seriously reevaluate the nature, purpose and
extent of it's future conventional forces operations . It seems to my
amateur mind that conventional demonstrations of force, while probably
to some extent necessary from a cosmetic point of view, are in future
likely to provide diminishing returns. In particular the likely enormous
cost of a campaign against Iraq worries me.
You never know with war - it could be much harder this time. If it takes
longer than expected, and the economy is eroded faster than expected,
and if there are some unexpected reverses, a very new scenario may
emerge.
Maybe if Israel wasn't such a problem, none of this would be such a
problem. (I just had to say that. I can't help myself. I have a disease)
Warm regards
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