After reading today's post, I'm reminded of a particularly hard hitting paragraph in a recent article by David Betz and M.L.R. Smith, "Smart Weapons, Dumb Assumptions: Western Strategic Delusions Meet Industrial Reality in Ukraine." The paragraph reads: "Western military models aren't faltering for lack of virtue, but because they rest on assumptions that, if they were ever viable, no longer apply. The future, inconveniently, failed to arrive on schedule. And the past, just as rudely, refuses to stay buried."
The article clearly calls into question the central argument of Force Design that the defense is now the dominant form of warfare.
The more things change the more they stay the same. Can drones be a part of the future, no doubt. 10 years ago regulated utilities used helicopters to inspect high voltage transmissions lines particularly in rough hard to access terrain. Today the helicopter pilots head out with the local line crews and fly drones to inspect the lines. Great use of a drone. Saves a lot of rate payer dough. But in the end, artillery and especially a lot of it mass fired will support the maneuver elements, and CAS will enhance and support same. FD is just counting on assumptions that have not been remotely proven out.
Grok:”Drones complement rather than replace artillery and tanks in conflicts like Ukraine and Israel’s engagements with Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis due to their limitations in firepower, vulnerability to defenses, and tactical focus. They lack the destructive power and resilience of artillery and tanks, which are critical for sustained, high-intensity warfare. However, drones enhance these systems by providing real-time surveillance, guiding precise artillery and tank strikes, and delivering cost-effective, low-risk attacks. In Ukraine, drones like FPVs compensate for artillery shortages and account for 60–70% of equipment damage by targeting or guiding fire. In Israel, drones like Skylarks and Harops improve targeting and counter asymmetric threats, but conventional forces remain dominant against fortified positions or sophisticated defenses.”.
Some readers are looking for the good news from Chowder Society II. There is a slowly growing amount as the Corps' leaders see "the wheels start to come off the FD 2030 train." Examples: decision not to cut a CH-53K squadron, decision to stand back up an HMLA squadron, decision not to cut as many airframes, decision not to convert the 4th Marines ("Oldest and Proudest Regiment" in the Corps) into an MLR, decision not to pursue creation of Tomahawk units. Of course if the 38th and 39th commandants had not destroyed MCCDC and circumvented the Combat Development Process the 39th CMC would not be in a damage control mode.
Grok”The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) dominate Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Iran through a combined arms offensive, integrating airpower, intelligence, artillery, tanks, and drones, which overwhelms static defenses, as argued in Ben Connable’s *Ground Combat: Puncturing the Myths of Modern War* (2025). Connable’s analysis of 423 battle cases (2003–2022) shows that ground combat remains evolutionary, with tanks, artillery, and infantry central, not revolutionized by technology like drones. Defensive strategies fail against adaptive, multi-domain offensives due to their inability to counter coordinated force.
Against Hamas, the IDF’s 2023–2025 operations destroyed leadership (e.g., Yahya Sinwar) and infrastructure, with drones guiding artillery and tanks to crush tunnel networks. Hezbollah’s 2024 losses (e.g., Hassan Nasrallah) reflect the IDF’s air and intelligence superiority, using drones for ISR to target bunkers while tanks counter missile threats. The Houthis’ missile defenses are neutralized by long-range airstrikes and drone surveillance, ineffective against Israel’s adaptability. Iran’s aging defenses falter under covert strikes (e.g., 2024 “Rising Lion”), with drones enabling precision but not replacing airpower.
Connable emphasizes that drones complement, not replace, artillery and tanks due to limited payloads and vulnerability to electronic warfare (e.g., Hezbollah’s countermeasures). In Gaza, drones scout for tanks; in Lebanon, they guide artillery. Defensive postures, like Hamas’s static tunnels or Iran’s outdated systems, cannot withstand the IDF’s integrated tactics, aligning with Connable’s argument that combined arms exploit defensive rigidity. (Word count: 223)[](https://www.amazon.com/Ground-Combat-Puncturing-Myths-Modern/dp/1647125421)[](http://groundcombat.org/book)”
Grok”In *Ground Combat: Puncturing the Myths of Modern War* (2025), retired Marine Major and Ph.D. Ben Connable critiques former Commandant David H. Berger’s Force Design 2030 (FD2030), which restructured the U.S. Marine Corps by eliminating tanks, slashing cannon artillery by over two-thirds, reducing infantry battalions, and shifting focus to Marine Littoral Regiments (MLRs) and Stand-In Forces (SIF) optimized for short-range missile operations in contested littorals, particularly against China. Connable argues this was a mistake, as it undermined the Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) and its combined arms capabilities, which he sees as critical for effective ground combat. Below is a summary of his position, emphasizing why defensive-focused restructuring fails against modern warfare’s demands, with a maximum of 280 words.
Connable’s analysis of 423 global ground combat cases (2003–2022) shows tanks, artillery, infantry, and engineers remain central to warfare, evolving rather than being revolutionized by technology like drones. He criticizes Berger’s divestments—eliminating tanks, cutting artillery, and reducing infantry—for weakening the MAGTF’s ability to project combined arms power, a proven strength in crises like Desert Storm. The SIF and MLRs, designed for distributed, defensive operations with anti-ship and anti-air missiles, are too specialized, risking irrelevance outside Pacific scenarios. Connable argues their passive “stand-in” posture, with small, platoon-sized units, is vulnerable to detection and destruction by adversaries like China, offering limited deterrence.
He contends that defensive missile units cannot replace the MAGTF’s offensive flexibility, which integrates air, ground, and logistics for rapid, decisive action. Snipers and engineers, also reduced, are vital for precision and mobility in contested environments, as seen in Ukraine. Connable suggests Berger’s focus on technology-driven, China-centric missions ignored broader global demands, misaligning the Corps with its expeditionary legacy. He advocates recentering the Corps on aggressive, combined arms operations, renaming SIF to something like “expeditionary assault force” to reflect offensive capabilities.
The author has limitations. The USMC has an obligation to be cognizant. Or, do I speculate here?
The drone tech transfer is at full speed. Who exactly knows in what USA service what is the "latest" drone morphology? Well, the MAGA POTUS needs a full 24/7 week long stay in Kherson Ukraine, asap. Senior citizen or not. The orc peasant russian is ready to human safari the POTUS or any other big brass with USA protected ass. Blabbing in the mainland USA is way another universe from free blabbing on the streets of downtown Kherson.
The USMC will be too late to know zip about drones unless the USMC has every Marine drone participant on the ground in Ukraine. The lesson in shame in the recent USMC absent IDF expedition shows that the public had zero understanding that force design kept the marine safe and sound in their barracks.
The USMC has huge linear lines to patrol/control. The USA is not tiny Israel. Every marine saw how the high air was penetrated by muslim forces dedicated religiously. But, does the USMC have force design to be ready to defend say 2,000 to 3,000 fronts by drone? Hmm.
There is no luxury in periodicity. Its not the second world war. The Newfoundland Lads and lasses were giving life and limb for 3 years while the Yankee pretended there was no Hitler or Hirohito or Mussolini. Yeah, call the Canadians. They will tip us the technology transfer data that they got from fighting for 3 years.
Zero USA service fought the whole second world war. The USA only fought in WW2.
Ad REM: Funding must be made today for marines to be inside Ukraine in front line drone units. As the Ukrainian front lines collapse, as the Han CCP Zi Cabal gets direct battlefield experience for its top brass, some MAGA thinkers speculate that the Han CCP will never use drones in the Pacific. Say on the various USA jurisdiction islands.
As the fortifications In Ukraine have zero supply of cement for new construction or rebuild, the Ukrainian men in drone units live or die daily. The Marine needs to see/live this sequence of death. The USMC seems unable to get funding for a minimum 100,000 drone operators in the field in 12 hours. This is urgent, Doodle Dandies!
The route for attack thru Canada is so obvious. Launching from say, James Bay, Xi/Putin drones would be able to knocw out the eastern seaboard cities and central USA real fast. No USA based service "can" stop them. Or, prove me wrong in print. The "weather" balloon that spied for the Han CCP Zi was all thru Canada and not a single USA service gave the "alarm"! Hmmmm.
The recent NATO summit was a big food fest. Spain, Canada, et al, got a phony free ride. Why? Which NATO force can stop Putin/Xi sending glide bombs and drones, thereby wiping out each USA force deployed anywhere in Europe. The USA service men would not even be able to flee from their bases. Maybe DeVore is right and the Cartels can give the USA a shocker.
As Putin/Zi combined forces steal Ukrainian soil daily, all of NATO does zip, The same awaits the USA mainland or any US part. Just as the MAGA POTUS is not concerned about the kidnap and torture of Ukrainian civilians and POW, NATO will not be concerned about POW Marines, tortured by orc muscovites. Every one has read how large numbers of USA service men were enslaved by orc Stalin in the Siberian mines and never EVER released.
Yep, fellas, reading a nice write-up is, well, nice. How many marines can be drone fighters tomorrow? 200,000, 300,000? Maybe these drone marines do not even have to be 18. The high school Ukrainian kids with drones saved Ukraine in that critical first week in 2022.
As Russia flames every piece of overpriced Pentagon shit we send them with cheap drones. Hey, MIC bitch? Who is winning in Ukraine? With what weapons? Fuck. You cannot make drivel like the above up.
After reading today's post, I'm reminded of a particularly hard hitting paragraph in a recent article by David Betz and M.L.R. Smith, "Smart Weapons, Dumb Assumptions: Western Strategic Delusions Meet Industrial Reality in Ukraine." The paragraph reads: "Western military models aren't faltering for lack of virtue, but because they rest on assumptions that, if they were ever viable, no longer apply. The future, inconveniently, failed to arrive on schedule. And the past, just as rudely, refuses to stay buried."
The article clearly calls into question the central argument of Force Design that the defense is now the dominant form of warfare.
You can read the full article at: https://www.militarystrategymagazine.com/exclusives/smart-weapons-dumb-assumptions-western-strategic-delusions-meet-industrial-reality-in-ukraine/
The more things change the more they stay the same. Can drones be a part of the future, no doubt. 10 years ago regulated utilities used helicopters to inspect high voltage transmissions lines particularly in rough hard to access terrain. Today the helicopter pilots head out with the local line crews and fly drones to inspect the lines. Great use of a drone. Saves a lot of rate payer dough. But in the end, artillery and especially a lot of it mass fired will support the maneuver elements, and CAS will enhance and support same. FD is just counting on assumptions that have not been remotely proven out.
Grok:”Drones complement rather than replace artillery and tanks in conflicts like Ukraine and Israel’s engagements with Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis due to their limitations in firepower, vulnerability to defenses, and tactical focus. They lack the destructive power and resilience of artillery and tanks, which are critical for sustained, high-intensity warfare. However, drones enhance these systems by providing real-time surveillance, guiding precise artillery and tank strikes, and delivering cost-effective, low-risk attacks. In Ukraine, drones like FPVs compensate for artillery shortages and account for 60–70% of equipment damage by targeting or guiding fire. In Israel, drones like Skylarks and Harops improve targeting and counter asymmetric threats, but conventional forces remain dominant against fortified positions or sophisticated defenses.”.
Some readers are looking for the good news from Chowder Society II. There is a slowly growing amount as the Corps' leaders see "the wheels start to come off the FD 2030 train." Examples: decision not to cut a CH-53K squadron, decision to stand back up an HMLA squadron, decision not to cut as many airframes, decision not to convert the 4th Marines ("Oldest and Proudest Regiment" in the Corps) into an MLR, decision not to pursue creation of Tomahawk units. Of course if the 38th and 39th commandants had not destroyed MCCDC and circumvented the Combat Development Process the 39th CMC would not be in a damage control mode.
Grok”The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) dominate Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Iran through a combined arms offensive, integrating airpower, intelligence, artillery, tanks, and drones, which overwhelms static defenses, as argued in Ben Connable’s *Ground Combat: Puncturing the Myths of Modern War* (2025). Connable’s analysis of 423 battle cases (2003–2022) shows that ground combat remains evolutionary, with tanks, artillery, and infantry central, not revolutionized by technology like drones. Defensive strategies fail against adaptive, multi-domain offensives due to their inability to counter coordinated force.
Against Hamas, the IDF’s 2023–2025 operations destroyed leadership (e.g., Yahya Sinwar) and infrastructure, with drones guiding artillery and tanks to crush tunnel networks. Hezbollah’s 2024 losses (e.g., Hassan Nasrallah) reflect the IDF’s air and intelligence superiority, using drones for ISR to target bunkers while tanks counter missile threats. The Houthis’ missile defenses are neutralized by long-range airstrikes and drone surveillance, ineffective against Israel’s adaptability. Iran’s aging defenses falter under covert strikes (e.g., 2024 “Rising Lion”), with drones enabling precision but not replacing airpower.
Connable emphasizes that drones complement, not replace, artillery and tanks due to limited payloads and vulnerability to electronic warfare (e.g., Hezbollah’s countermeasures). In Gaza, drones scout for tanks; in Lebanon, they guide artillery. Defensive postures, like Hamas’s static tunnels or Iran’s outdated systems, cannot withstand the IDF’s integrated tactics, aligning with Connable’s argument that combined arms exploit defensive rigidity. (Word count: 223)[](https://www.amazon.com/Ground-Combat-Puncturing-Myths-Modern/dp/1647125421)[](http://groundcombat.org/book)”
Grok”In *Ground Combat: Puncturing the Myths of Modern War* (2025), retired Marine Major and Ph.D. Ben Connable critiques former Commandant David H. Berger’s Force Design 2030 (FD2030), which restructured the U.S. Marine Corps by eliminating tanks, slashing cannon artillery by over two-thirds, reducing infantry battalions, and shifting focus to Marine Littoral Regiments (MLRs) and Stand-In Forces (SIF) optimized for short-range missile operations in contested littorals, particularly against China. Connable argues this was a mistake, as it undermined the Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) and its combined arms capabilities, which he sees as critical for effective ground combat. Below is a summary of his position, emphasizing why defensive-focused restructuring fails against modern warfare’s demands, with a maximum of 280 words.
Connable’s analysis of 423 global ground combat cases (2003–2022) shows tanks, artillery, infantry, and engineers remain central to warfare, evolving rather than being revolutionized by technology like drones. He criticizes Berger’s divestments—eliminating tanks, cutting artillery, and reducing infantry—for weakening the MAGTF’s ability to project combined arms power, a proven strength in crises like Desert Storm. The SIF and MLRs, designed for distributed, defensive operations with anti-ship and anti-air missiles, are too specialized, risking irrelevance outside Pacific scenarios. Connable argues their passive “stand-in” posture, with small, platoon-sized units, is vulnerable to detection and destruction by adversaries like China, offering limited deterrence.
He contends that defensive missile units cannot replace the MAGTF’s offensive flexibility, which integrates air, ground, and logistics for rapid, decisive action. Snipers and engineers, also reduced, are vital for precision and mobility in contested environments, as seen in Ukraine. Connable suggests Berger’s focus on technology-driven, China-centric missions ignored broader global demands, misaligning the Corps with its expeditionary legacy. He advocates recentering the Corps on aggressive, combined arms operations, renaming SIF to something like “expeditionary assault force” to reflect offensive capabilities.
Connable warns that FD2030’s reductions make the Corps resemble a “joint force temp agency,” risking institutional irrelevance. Defensive strategies, per his data, fail against adaptive, multi-domain offensives, underscoring the need for robust MAGTFs. (Word count: 247)[](https://warontherocks.com/2025/06/we-need-a-marine-corps-part-ii-a-corps-confounded/)[](https://warontherocks.com/2025/06/we-need-a-marine-corps-part-i-a-corps-in-crisis/)[](https://warontherocks.com/2025/06/we-need-a-marine-corps-part-iii-a-corps-recentered/)”
The author has limitations. The USMC has an obligation to be cognizant. Or, do I speculate here?
The drone tech transfer is at full speed. Who exactly knows in what USA service what is the "latest" drone morphology? Well, the MAGA POTUS needs a full 24/7 week long stay in Kherson Ukraine, asap. Senior citizen or not. The orc peasant russian is ready to human safari the POTUS or any other big brass with USA protected ass. Blabbing in the mainland USA is way another universe from free blabbing on the streets of downtown Kherson.
The USMC will be too late to know zip about drones unless the USMC has every Marine drone participant on the ground in Ukraine. The lesson in shame in the recent USMC absent IDF expedition shows that the public had zero understanding that force design kept the marine safe and sound in their barracks.
The USMC has huge linear lines to patrol/control. The USA is not tiny Israel. Every marine saw how the high air was penetrated by muslim forces dedicated religiously. But, does the USMC have force design to be ready to defend say 2,000 to 3,000 fronts by drone? Hmm.
There is no luxury in periodicity. Its not the second world war. The Newfoundland Lads and lasses were giving life and limb for 3 years while the Yankee pretended there was no Hitler or Hirohito or Mussolini. Yeah, call the Canadians. They will tip us the technology transfer data that they got from fighting for 3 years.
Zero USA service fought the whole second world war. The USA only fought in WW2.
Ad REM: Funding must be made today for marines to be inside Ukraine in front line drone units. As the Ukrainian front lines collapse, as the Han CCP Zi Cabal gets direct battlefield experience for its top brass, some MAGA thinkers speculate that the Han CCP will never use drones in the Pacific. Say on the various USA jurisdiction islands.
As the fortifications In Ukraine have zero supply of cement for new construction or rebuild, the Ukrainian men in drone units live or die daily. The Marine needs to see/live this sequence of death. The USMC seems unable to get funding for a minimum 100,000 drone operators in the field in 12 hours. This is urgent, Doodle Dandies!
The route for attack thru Canada is so obvious. Launching from say, James Bay, Xi/Putin drones would be able to knocw out the eastern seaboard cities and central USA real fast. No USA based service "can" stop them. Or, prove me wrong in print. The "weather" balloon that spied for the Han CCP Zi was all thru Canada and not a single USA service gave the "alarm"! Hmmmm.
The recent NATO summit was a big food fest. Spain, Canada, et al, got a phony free ride. Why? Which NATO force can stop Putin/Xi sending glide bombs and drones, thereby wiping out each USA force deployed anywhere in Europe. The USA service men would not even be able to flee from their bases. Maybe DeVore is right and the Cartels can give the USA a shocker.
As Putin/Zi combined forces steal Ukrainian soil daily, all of NATO does zip, The same awaits the USA mainland or any US part. Just as the MAGA POTUS is not concerned about the kidnap and torture of Ukrainian civilians and POW, NATO will not be concerned about POW Marines, tortured by orc muscovites. Every one has read how large numbers of USA service men were enslaved by orc Stalin in the Siberian mines and never EVER released.
Yep, fellas, reading a nice write-up is, well, nice. How many marines can be drone fighters tomorrow? 200,000, 300,000? Maybe these drone marines do not even have to be 18. The high school Ukrainian kids with drones saved Ukraine in that critical first week in 2022.
As Russia flames every piece of overpriced Pentagon shit we send them with cheap drones. Hey, MIC bitch? Who is winning in Ukraine? With what weapons? Fuck. You cannot make drivel like the above up.