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Tin Man is quite right when stating the desirability of surprise. Now comes the inevitable "yet ...".
In any tactical theatre getting the boot in first is wonderful. This supposes the belligerants are already engaged. Bear with me.
The actuality of most nation state/nation state conflict is that excluding WMD anihilation (I include WWII eastern front here) there will invariably be a threat, or period of tension accompanied by mobilisation.
Combat itself is but one aspect of war. Our old chum Tsun Tzu is para-phrased in many Hollywood script as advising that wars should be won before there is ever a need to fight.
In part I'm selling gunboat diplomacy at the hotter end of the iron. Not "shock and awe", more "we don't give a toss". Bang the drums. Deafen them.
That sort of thing. Arrogance in design, if you will. Rather than wait in terror for the stealth attack - and for the purpose of clarity of argument I'm not addressing intelligence orgs. or special forces here -the obvious assault mirrors the diplomatic imperative.
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Where's the bloody gin? An army marches on its liver, not its ruddy stomach.
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