[Mind-numbed Robot]

My thought is that battles of large numbers arrayed against each other across an organized front is a thing of the past. Terrorism is the method of the next 20-50 years. In this kind of war there is no place for artillary pieces. They are vulnerable to the same kinds of weapons which will replace them. Take Afganistan as an example. Each side had artillary, though not of the sophistication of the Crusader, but American air power and special forces made them of little use. The military of the future will be distant and deadly, complemented by fast and mobile when the battle field must be engaged.

[Tallguy]

I think that I agree with you (and Rumsfeld) that the Crusader is an expensive luxury given its size & weight. In an urban guerilla war most CO's are going to be reluctant to unleash his artillery. The collateral damage would have nasty repercussions.