What Were They Thinking?

Posted 15:52 GMT
Mangala nodded sympathetically as Gen. William S. Wallace confided his frustration with the course of war and the irregular tactics of his enemies: "The war we're fighting is different from the one we'd war-gamed against."

"Yes, friend William," Mangala replied. "But what else did your leaders expect? Irregular tactics are the methods of the weak, and with such a power gradient on your battlefield, it is natural that your enemy would adopt them. Likewise, those who express dismay that the Shiites have not raised a revolt against the Iraqi government: The Shiites did so in 1991, and were massacred. Would they repeat acts that led to disaster?"

Mangala paused in thought. "Friend, from what I hear, one would think there are generals who are attempting to fight the last war."