A Pentagon Battle Over 'The Next War'

Many military officers are pushing back against Defense Secretary Gates' focus on
preparing for more 'asymmetric' fighting rather than for a large, conventional conflict.

Insider fighting within pentagon between SECDEF and military leaders with respect to the focus of future conflicts.

WASHINGTON -- Air Force Maj. Gen. Charles J. Dunlap Jr. is not a fighter pilot, wing commander or war planner. But he is waging what many officers consider a crucial battle: ensuring that the U.S. military is ready for a major war.

Dunlap, like many officers across the military, believes the armed forces must prepare for a large-scale war against technologically sophisticated, well-equipped adversaries, rather than long-term ground conflicts like Iraq and Afghanistan. ...