To me, the biggest issue here is that while the rest of the world has moved into a post-Soviet world, and we in the military have adapted our strategy and tactics to small wars and counterinsurgency, the Russians are using the big hammer just like in the old days - and guess what? It still works! So much for all the new War College “next-war” eggheads...
Colonel, USAFR
The situations we currently face reminds me of what Alexander Hamilton noted in 1787 in Federalist Paper 23 when stating the first duty of federal government was national defense through raising armed forces and prescribing rules for their direction. He said, “These powers ought to exist without limitation, because it is impossible to foresee or define the extent and variety of national exigencies, or the correspondent extent and variety of the means which may be necessary to satisfy them. The circumstances that endanger the safety of nations are infinite, and for this reason no constitutional shackles can be wisely imposed on the power to which the care of it is committed. This power ought to be co-extensive with all the possible combinations of circumstances; and ought to be under the direction of the same councils which are appointed to preside over the common defense”.
I just looked at Federalist Paper 24 where Hamilton explains further that potential adversaries range from Britain and Spain (coventional warfare) to the indian tribes on the Westeern frontier (uncoventional/counterinsurgency warfare). Two hundred and twenty years ago guys like him could figure out the next war is whatever happens next.
I noted from reading these articles that powers are to exist without limitation in relation to capabilities and intentions, and not to emerge upon reflection of the damaged absorbed.