Peters argues the suicide bombers are so effective that a modern military cannot cope with them, and therefor a modern military does not need modern military equipment.
I don't think Peters is saying any such thing. He makes an astute point that our military senior leadership wants the next sexy weapons system to fight their classic war and that scenario is growing ever more remote....well unless you throw China into the mix and even then it won't be tanks and infantry. Believe me, speaking as a former Armor Officer, that hurt to write!
It is the age of asymmetrical warfare. The most effective force in dealing with this form of terrorist (I refuse to give them the dignity of calling them insurgents) is the SpecOps community. Unfortunately, there aren't very many of them....partly owing to the push for sexy new weapons systems (and the fact that the military establishment HATES special forces). Also, the type of individual who will sacrifice to join and train is a rare breed. So we need to use them more effectively. We also need to get our heads out of our fourth point of contact and admit that what the enemies true objectives are and understand that dealing with those objectives will require some unpleasant self examination.
#1 We have to stop facilitating our own victimization! We have to close our borders and make hiring an illegal worker a worse pain than hiring a wage earner that you have to actually pay the minimum wage!
#2 We have to get free from oil addiction...especially to middle eastern and south American sources. That means either alternative energy or we drill off the coast of Florida/Louisiana/Texas AND up in Alaska and we drill it like a $10 Hooker!!
#3 We have to reach the inescapable conclusion that countries that sponsor terrorists are not our friends and must be handled accordingly. This will be easier if we're not kissing their collective A$$ in buying their oil!
What does this mean to our military? Maintain the heavy divisions but push the SpecOps recruitment and force structure. Put the covert agencies hand in hand with SpecOps and go back to the days of undercover "wet work" against our enemy. I suspect we're already doing this.
I agree with your points as what our country needs to do. Most are not military actions.
You military recommendations are what the QDR is pushing - more spec ops and less emphasis on major war. I don't mind that - and I'm not a huge fan of the F-22. I wish we had cancelled it 15 years ago.
However, we didn't, and now we need some number to continue to deter major combat for the next 30-40 years. We also need to be prepared for proxy fights such as we had with the USSR for many years.
I'm glad we're putting more emphasis on special ops, and wish we would put more emphasis on sustaining legacy aircraft such as the F-16, 15, etc. The USAF will sell its soul for a couple of hubcabs for the F-22. The F-22 is PART of a future viable military, but it cannot do it all. Peters would be right if he argued that, but he wants to cancel programs such as F-22 and...and...hire suicide bombers? Sneak people into the media?
What many people forget is that we don't know our future threat - not 10+ years out. That is what we acquire aircraft, etc for, and it makes it very tough to do it right. We need a mixed capability military.
I've read a number of articles by Peters, which makes it hard for me to be objective about him. In this one, he damn near does a Monica on the suicide bombers. Yes, they impress eastern intellectuals, democrats and spaniards. They MAY intimidate some south seas islands - but they will NOT stop the US from our strategic goals.
At least, not until Kerry, Gore or Co get in office...