Quote Originally Posted by Outlaw
Still question why there was a disconnect between the military I&W and the decision makers---that was the purpose behind the creation of I&W---to have no disconnect--- and from your comment it seems to not have happened.
Because Washington policy-makers live in a bubble, and so do the political parties as well as the political appointees and media that fawn over them. Washington is still living in the "end of history" and can't possibly fathom that there are credible and serious challengers to American power abroad; much less formulate any kind of long-term policy to deal with it. And this is certainly reflected in everything from Congress, defense acquisition, and foreign policy. It's comforting to think that the American global position is unassailable, but when this assumption is made on the basis of ideological principles, we leave ourselves vulnerable to surprises by the decisive actions of others.