Logistics and warfare.

General Mathew B. Ridgway, of World War II fame, once observed, "What throws you in combat is rarely the fact that your tactical scheme was wrong ... but that you failed to think through the hard cold facts of logistics." Logistics is the key element in warfare, more so in the 21st century than ever before. Success on the modern battlefield is dictated by how well the commander manages available logistical support. Victories by the United States in major wars (and several minor wars or conflicts) in the 20th century are linked more directly to the ability to mobilize and bring to bear economic and industrial power than any level of strategic or tactical design. The Gulf War and operations to liberate Iraq further illustrate this point. Long before the Allied offensive could start, professional logisticians had to gather and transport men and materiel and provide for the sustained flow of supplies and equipment that throughout history has made possible the conduct of war. Commanders and their staffs inventoried their stocks, essayed the kind and quantities of equipment and supplies required for operations in the severe desert climate, and coordinated their movement plans with national and international logistics networks. "The first victory in the Persian Gulf War was getting the forces there and making certain they had what they required to fight [Emphasis added]. Then and only then, would ...