Small Wars in the "new" cash strapped Western economy

[William F. Owen]

I'm not sure that strategy and tactics stand apart from policy. If policy is not sensible, doesn't discussion of strategy and tactics become sort of pointless?

Excellent question. If the policy cannot be made to work, using all instruments of power, then it is probably a dumb policy - The US periods Prohibition being a good example.
I think "Nation building" is probably in the same bracket - BUT IF that is the policy, what do you do about those opposing it using violence?

IMO, the distinction between policy and strategy is vital to getting people to understand what strategy is.