[81alum]

General Barry McCaffrey was just on cable news indicating that the offensive "is not going very well."  Difficulties in coordinating a combined-arms attack, the slowness of getting through the mine fields, etc.  The armor, he said, is best suited for exploiting after a sudden, surprise attack, and the presence of thousands of overhead drones has fundamentally changed the battlefield, making surprise much harder--or impossible--to achieve.

Of course this war is of interest because of the clash between the two nations, but it also is of interest in what it says about the evolution and future of warfare.  The cheapness of mines and ubiquitous of drones may be turning the tide of war back to defense.

Looking at ISW's interactive map is eye-opening.  All the talk about the "offensive" and the land that shows up as changing hands are little slivers on a massive front. 

https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/36a...1cf64bd375

[81alum]

General Barry McCaffrey was just on cable news indicating that the offensive "is not going very well."  Difficulties in coordinating a combined-arms attack, the slowness of getting through the mine fields, etc.  The armor, he said, is best suited for exploiting after a sudden, surprise attack, and the presence of thousands of overhead drones has fundamentally changed the battlefield, making surprise much harder--or impossible--to achieve.

Of course this war is of interest because of the clash between the two nations, but it also is of interest in what it says about the evolution and future of warfare.  The cheapness of mines and ubiquitous of drones may be turning the tide of war back to defense.

Looking at ISW's interactive map is eye-opening.  All the talk about the "offensive" and the land that shows up as changing hands are little slivers on a massive front. 

https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/36a...1cf64bd375