Slap,
I think Bill's question is a good one, and is actually in keeping with the thread. Understanding the nature of the enemy, and the enemy's objective must be accounted for. It may not be the deciding factor, but the enemy's rationale and means of resistance must be accounted for. If you don't, you remove the key source of resistance to your objective and you change the objective nature of War (it may be that you are also removing the key reason for continued use of military force to achieve the policy objective). This is one of the things I think some of the non-military folks have trouble envisioning.

Norfolk, Neil, - if its any consolation it makes my head hurt some too

Best, Rob