[Travis McGee]

Good article!

[Incorrigible]

Nice.  After all the kvetching on FR about the status of the US Military since the start of the Clinton regime, it's nice to hear something so positive.

Hope the writer is not too optimistic.

[Timeout]

Wooo Hooooo! What a great read. Thanks for finding it!

[FlyVet]

The United States does not employ "grunts" any more, only soldiers who call themselves "grunts" with a droll pride.

I got news for ya...the "grunts" have never been the problem. The "grunts" always get it done, unless the "grunts" have handcuffed leadership, the result of lousy, weak-kneed, stupid politicians. All it takes is a President who doesn't call the strikes from his little leather chair. Give the generals the authority to use their knowledge, make them do the right thing, screw political correctness, then get out of the way. Make the other poor bastard die for his country.

[buccaneer81]

"It's all very well for the Americans to spend a fortune on defence, they have to defend the free world from terrorism. We only have to defend our own smugness."

That line is a classic.

[beekeeper]

Good find.

contemporary West Point or Naval War College graduate is familiar with Thucydides, Machiavelli, Clausewitz, Fuller, Liddell Hart -- and with Sun Tzu and Mao Zedong, for that matter.

This explains a lot, especially Liddell Hart. What we are doing and how we are doing it would warm his heart. He is a Brit but was listen to by the Germans in WWII. They credited him for most of their success. He loved Sherman for his tactics and strategy. Wrote a great book on Sherman.

[B4Ranch]

Another good one for Vets

[B4Ranch]

as the United States learned over Serbia, you can't really fight a war while waiting for 19 different defence ministers to sign off on each target.

So damn true!

[linn37]

FYI G.I. Joe dolls are not only in the toy store but seem to be selling well.I picked up two for the 7 yr. old I just hope Joe is a Gentleman to Barbie while they wait under the Christmas tree!