Opinion - Lessons learned?

One of the best depictions of small unit combat in the Vietnam War was recently shown on television, and it was not even about Vietnam.

It was about small unit combat in Afghanistan.

The similarities are chilling. Take away the forests and replace them with jungle and very little has changed over the intervening years.

Of course, equipment, weapons and communications are better now. The food looks better too, but that is about it.

The troops still are isolated, even from their own support. They still conduct small patrols in very hostile territory. They still are wounded and killed.

Despite al...