[Renfield]

I notice that a number of these recommendations were adopted by the Israelis a generation ago. Why are we just now finding these things out?

[11B3]

Stubbornness maybe? I'd guess that there's no lesson learned by having someone else do the learning as those lessons tend to be forgotten. But when you get your own ass handed to you for being a bad listener then you remember the lesson.

Just my guess.

Heck, there's a lot of lessons in this that we were saying years ago as well, and they just bought some slightly better gear and thought that would fix a problem with doctrine. As the rank goes up, the reality fades away. I doubt that the author of this AAR is above O-6 or O-7, which would be the last rank before becoming completely desk bound. (Not that you find O-6s digging a fighting position either.)

[american_ranger]

Because Generals know more than guys on the ground. I'm a former Armor officer and I remember as a Captain argueing about no anti-personnel rounds for the 120mm maingun on the M1A1. I was told to shut and sit down because the high command had decided it wasn't necessary.

[mathluv]

Could that be part of what Rummy is trying to change in the Pentagon?