January 22, 1879

[Jed Dilligan]

The last time (before, arguably, September 11, 2001) that an army without guns defeated an army with guns.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Isandlwana

A moment worth contemplating for any nation involved in "lopsided" warfare.

[rockymountaindem]

1. Worth contemplating for everybody

that the Brits did eventually win that war. In fact, shortly after at the battle of Rourke's Drift, a token force of Brits beat thousands of Zulus in a defensive operation.

I think a more apt comparison between then and now would be the Boer War.

[Jed Dilligan]

2. I was thinking more in terms of terrorism

than Iraq. All the capability in the world doesn't matter if you're caught with your ass hanging out.

[sjdnb]

3. Many a might nation have fallen to Mesopotamia ...

and Afghanistan ... just ask the Brits or Russians.

Fact is, when you try to impose beliefs/politics on a nation, any nation, with a thousand or more year history of beliefs, you are going to get f'd over. Especially, when you're a young upstart like the US - with a little over 200 years under your belt - how arrogant of you.

You have neither the experience, knowledge, history, nor gritty persistence to combat that level of historical knowledge, history, culture, or truth.