Might get flamed for this, but the Bulge wouldn't have happened if Bradley and Eisenhower hadn't ignored the German buildup. Or assuming they paid attention to it and the attack happened anyway, the supply problem wouldn't have existed if it hadn't been for J.C.H. Lee and his hotel takeovers.
No you're absolutely right. They got caught napping. My grandfather was serving in Patton's Third Army at the time.
In retrospect, do we now know how long the Germans had been undertaking the 'buildup' to start to Battle of the Bulge?
...and
If, this was a complete surprise (ie, German counter attack), why was it so?
Why didnt the Allied air superiority allow for them to gather intelligence over the air to see the German buildup?
They wouldn't have been able to build up forces if Patton had bee let loose in Germany instead of being held back so Montgomery could look competent.
How could not seeing the German buildup be a mistake? We never had a mistake until Bush and Rummy failed to put armor on the Humvee .... though it was never meant to have armor.
I know an old guy who was out east of Bastogne on the day it all started, with the 28th Division. He says that he'll always believe that Ike and Bradley knew it was coming.