Meta-blog ~ Example of the military preparing to fight the last war!

President Bush has constructed an American Maginot Mine upon our minds because focusing the preponderance of our military efforts on Iraq does not defeat terrorism.

Terrorists haven't all moved to Iraq for our convenience. Focusing soldiers and resources so intensely on Iraq wears the military to a frazzle rendering the U.S. unprepared for the unexpected. In this sense, George Bush and those in favor of the "surge" have advocated an American Maginot line by intently facing one direction while terrorists prepare to come from all others.

Generally considered one of the great failures of military history, the term "Maginot Line" is now sometimes used as a metaphor for something that is confidently relied upon though ending up being ineffective. It could be argued that this association is inaccurate, as the Line achieved the specific task it was intended to do, rendering a direct assault against France's eastern border impossible (the few Maginot forts which were directly attacked by German armored troops held very well).

It would be more truthful to state that the Line was sound, but France's strategic use of it was poor. As originally envisaged, the Maginot Line was only part of a larger defense plan, in which the Line was to provide coordinated backup to resistance from the French Army. But execution of the plan was lax and this, combined with a failure to appreciate that the frustration of one particular approach would not necessarily render an aggressor impotent, cost both the Line and the French Army their effectiveness.

In some sense, French authorities came to believe their own propaganda: that the mere existence of the Line rendered them impervious to invasion. Now, George Bush's folly has become our folly.