It is both, actually, with the “rules of engagement” moving out in front farther and farther as they become more suicidal from the point of view of the infantryman or murderous from the point of view of the President.
When America chose to fight any insurgency, they easily prevailed. Their weapons were fine.
So, while no one is saying that weapons cannot be improved, you can’t tie a soldier’s hands behind his back, give the enemy one or two free shots, tell him he can’t shoot back even then if he can’t see the whites of the guy’s eyes, and expect our soldier to have a fighting chance. You’ve given him a dying chance.
So, Marlowe is right. It’s the Rules of engagement. You could put a howitzer in every troop’s hands, but if he’s not allowed to use it, you’ve just signed his death certificate.