Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates talked to Marines at Forward Operating Base Bastion in Afghanistan. Pool Photo by Jason ReedFrom The New York Times:
CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan — Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates visited southern Afghanistan late last week not only to assess the American war effort, but also to showcase the kind of conflict he thinks the military must prepare to fight in the years ahead.
Mr. Gates predicted more of these messy, unconventional wars, and he argued that this kind of conflict requires America to shift spending to items like mine-resistant vehicles, surveillance drones and medical-evacuation helicopters, at the expense of tanks, bombers and aircraft carriers.
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My Comment: We are all creatures of habit .... including the military. To change these habits always brings about resistance and excuses not to change. Secretary Gates is fortunate to have the support of the Commander in Chief and a "somewhat" compliant Congress. Expect these changes to happen ... all be it very slowly.