It seems very typical in military tactics that in the next war Generals are trying to fight based on what they learned in the last one. The Civil War, (or more properly, the "War of Northern Aggression" if you are from the Old Dominion) for the most part was pursued by the North in trying to fight set-piece battles with massed troops, and only a few of the more innovative Northern commanders such as Sherman and Crook who had fought Indians, appreciated the shock value of cavalry for rapid insertion, fire and movement, and the use of artillery to harass and interdict the enemy.
Southern commanders had fewer resources, but tended to use them more judiciously, trying to make every artilley round, horse soldier and infantryman count. Extensive use was made of unconventional forces and tactics which today we would call either special ops, or terrorism, depending upon whose side you were on, Mosby and Forrest being prime examples.
The U.S. Army went into WWII trying to use WWI tactics and failed miserably. By 1944 in both the Pacific and European theatres they had the upper hand.
Korea was a new ball game, and the Cold War and Vietnam frustrated everyone trying to balance between mutual assured destruction, deterrance and detente...
Desert Storm was probably the first modern war of the new millenium, but I don't see the unity in our coalition if (or when) we are to go into Iraq this time.
With terrorism being conducted by transnational groups without a distinct identify, it's much harder to tell who the enemy is or where to retaliate. I am very much concerned that our constitutional freedoms are being thrown out the window in the name of protecting national security. As a professional in the emergency management field I am acutely aware of the hazards and threats, and receive electronic briefs daily. But it really bothers me that we are on our way to becoming a police state and that everyone seems to be cheering them on. Hitler would be pleased, we seem to be singing his song and nobody cares...
Appologies in advance to the moderator for staying off topic.
Maybe we better cut this discussion off or move it to where it belongs.
Just how'd we get from the civil war to John Ashcroft's agenda?
Well, it's all because of the Southern Strategy! Yes, the South has indeed won the Civil War, it's just that we've taken 137 years.
Save your Confederate money boys, the South has risen again, just look at who is running the country!