Shooting Blanks: War Making that Doesn't Work

[HawkerHurricane]

by James F. Dunnigan and Albert A. Nofi

An excellent book that I picked up in the Late 90's, I'm rereading it again, and thinking about how it applies to the Iraq War II.

The main ways countries shoot blanks are...

1. Intellegence Confusion
Military Intellegence generally isn't, and leaves leaders in the dark...
Plenty of examples of that here... "Saddam has WMD's and will use them on us or give/sell them to terrorists".

2. Amatuerism
Political leaders frequently don't know what to expect from the military.
We could conquer Iraq in a month, but hold it? We needed more troops and the professionals knew it, but the Amatures (Rummy, Wolfie, Perle) wouldn't admit it.

3. Media Muddle
The media generally give a spotty or misleading picture...
Faux News anyone?

4. Procurement Puzzle
Large military budgets cause questionable behavior.
Do we have the right equipment in Iraq yet? No? Why not?

5. Wrong War Syndrome
There is a tendency to prepare for the wrong war. Or even fight it.

Subtypes include (but are not limited to)
Pearl Harbor Syndrome: Hit them hard, hit them fast, hit them first and it'll be over before the leaves fall. Shock and Awe, anyone? Premptive war?
Assault Rifle Diplomacy: Carl Von Clausewitz pointed out that warfare and politics are intertwined, but one should NOT call out the troops as one would send out for Pizza.

Symptoms of shooting blanks include...
Best Damned Army*
Martial Race
The Perfect Plan*
Science of War*
Technology Will Out*
The Intelligence Advantage*
Air Power*
More is Better
Victory Disease*
Citizen Soldier*
Military Solution*
Surprise
Treachery**
(Single Astirisk indicates ones I think we committed in this war. Double astirisk indicates one that will be committed if we fail)

Posted for comments, if you wish to discuss.

[sweetheart]

1. Bushido is so much more brutal and simple

As the only sin in war is failure, and the iraq war is failed, then
those who waged the war should be executed, the entire chain of
command.

The samurai only draws his sword when there is absolutely no
alternative, none whatsoever, and even then... none. Once the sword
comes out, the justice of its drawing is so great that the war is
over the moment it starts. The bad guys die, and there is justice
and glory.

This new theory adds all this extra baggage to the concept of
failure as if there is such a thing as excuses. All these amateurs
have done is increase the likelihood of future attack. They are
petty bullies, not professional assassins. Had they any ethics,
they'd do the honourable thing and commit seppukku.