From:	Robert Watkins robert.watkins@******.com
Subject:	Starting equiptment [was: Value and so on]
Date:	Tue, 20 Jul 1999 08:57:55 +1000

Arcady writes:
> And recent wars have shown that ground troops are more and more
> just mop up
> and hold position. Iraq and Kosovo.

Recent wars have not been fought against a power capable of neutralising the
air power the US/NATO have supplied. But _despite_ the pounding NATO did to
Kosovo, NATO refused to send ground troops in until the Serbs pulled back of
their own accord. The reason: the Serbs, despite the bombings, still had the
potential to inflict extreme casualties on an invading force. Had NATO
needed to invade, then it would have been up to the foot soldier to take and
hold ground. Not just mop up.

As for Iraq... six months of air raids, but the war didn't end. Three days
after sending in the tanks, well...

"You can use air power to deny possession, but you don't own a hilltop until
you send a pimply 17-year old kid with a rifle to stand on top of it" --
paraphrasing someone I can't remember.

--
.sig deleted to conserve electrons. robert.watkins@******.com