No time to rest on our laurels

The Washington Times ^ | April 20, 2003 | William R. Hawkins

[xsysmgr]

The spectacular drive of Army and Marine units into Baghdad was truly a testament to the superb combination of troop training, high-technology and creative operational planning that makes the American military the best fighting force on the planet.

Yet, there is a danger in thinking of the Iraq campaign as easy. The invasion has taken far more effort that is apparent in most media reports. Attention has focused on the Army's 3rd Infantry Division and the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, making it seem that only a handful of U.S. ground troops have been needed to overrun Iraq. Both units are, however, heavily reinforced and much larger than standard divisions. Indeed, 3rd ID brigade groups and Marine regimental combat teams have each been operating like small divisions, with a mix of tanks, mechanized infantry, artillery, engineers, helicopters and support troops maneuvering as independent combined-arms teams.

[HighRoadToChina]

AMEN!

[LenS]

Nice vague sentiments that we can all agree with. But he doesn't get into real specifics on the weapons that we need and their costs. I'd be curious to see if he's for the Crusader and it's $10 billion price tag. Considering his job, I wonder whether his primary interest is US security or jobs and contracts for certain companies. We can't buy or improve everything, there has to be priorities.

[ASOC]

Nice article
But
There is an old saying about defense contractors

"Rats get fat while good men die"

I wonder who this 'modern" enemy is to be - the French? Anyone with a modern armed force most likely has nukes....a different kettle of fish.

I can't say big iron is dead, but an M1A is almost too heavy for use outside of an urban area or outside on the SWA TO.

Oh well, we shall see what the future brings

[AFPhys]

The rapid collapse of Iraqi resistance was brought about by exploiting battlefield success with highly mobile ground forces that neutralized most of the Iraqi army by maneuver rather than by combat. The diplomatic situation, as well as the need to act faster than Iraqi forces could react, ...

Not a bad characterization, but this article ignores the role of special ops and psyops units...

It is completely clear that we need to be building up our weaponry to modern standards - and I mean modern standards of the US, not those of france or russia. We have the ability for certain... we must also show the will to do so or we will go the way of the decadence of Rome.