[PzLdr]

The C/S Rumsfeld ran out was right. You need troops on the ground to CONTROL the place after you take it. It amazes me how we took a couple of years to de-Nazify Germany, but a couple of days to de-Baathicize Iraq. Rumsfeld's failures are twofold: his hubris (check out the retired Gen. he brought back to be Army C/S), and his belief that one size warplan fits all. Sorry boys and girls, the Chinese aren't going to fall to some A-teams and the US Air Force. Rumsfeld has won his fight with the Army. But I wouldn't be too happy about the fact, or the victor, if I were you.

[axes_of_weezles]

How much time did the Army have to plan for Iraq? They had 12 YEARS since the fall of Kuwait. Rummy and rest of the JCS did not want to keep the status quo after 9/11.

The Army has to get smarter about it's operations. It has to be more flexible and leaner and lighter. The US does not have the airlift and sealift to put divisions on the ground in days. It took them 6 months to get ready. The other services were in the AOR within weeks, not months or years.

I can understand where Rummy is coming from. Hell - the Army has not gotten out of Germany, Kosovo, Korea,Japan, Egypt and Haiti is still a steaming pile.

As for China, there are plenty of strategic targets that will make life unbearable for the Chinese. I would not want to set foot in the country, wartime or not. And if something does happen; they will not be driving tanks across the Pacific or Airdropping Chairborne rangers during the first strikes.