The (Unintended) Advantage

clipped from outsidethewire.com With the Russian Bear deciding the 'Great Game ' is back on and steady growth of the Chinese military--History and big geopolitics is, as Robert Kagan says , making a comeback. Geopolitics and History invariably lead to the Clauswitzian politics by other means--war. And in those other means, the United States has a distinct advantage over all others--not just in machines and materials--but where it counts the most:  NCO and Officer Leadership. On March 20th, 2003, when the U.S. led coaltion crossed from Kuwait into Iraq, very few officers and non-commissioned officers of any rank had actual combat experience. Five years and several months later--the United States military is one of the most combat-experienced militaries in history. Virtually every U.S. Rifle Platoon has something the Russian and Chinese military do not--experience in a gun fight.