[flying Elvis]

While I admire Rumsfeld I'm not a big fan of this kind of mentality. One cannot reduce warfare to formulas unless it is a simple ratio of dead and surrendered enemies to live enemies. That is the only true measure of success. I dare say the pounding of Fallujah intimidated more potential enemies and won more hearts and minds than any sewer or water project. It didn't make anyone love us, but it certainly made more than a few respect us.

[John Locke]

In war there is no substitute for victory.

General Douglas MacArthur, April 19, 1951.

[Explodo]

While I understand your sentiment in dealing with reducing warfare to simple formulas, I would strongly disagree with not using available data to determine what tactics worked and what didn't. Measurements are the best way IMO to find activities that were more effective than others. If I can figure out a way to pound fallujah while not exposing my troops to unnecessary danger, I'm going to do it. The Numbers Weenies are your best bet in this vein of thought. Why not use a resource that Americans are really good at. We can crunch numbers with the best.