Some have suggested that our troops are meeting stronger resistance than expected. I’d suggest that anyone who thinks that this is
a) strong resistance is a bit loopy. In a few short days we have covered more ground than either side in the 8 year Iran-Iraq war.
b) an example of Generals underestimating the other side is wishing too hard. While all warplans have surprises, this is incredibly smoothly. War produces casualties and the casualties in this one are almost all on one side.
Daniel Drezner comes up with a good reason why we may be seeing different views:
"’If you’re the corporal in the lead vehicle that’s getting shot at, then you would call that stiff resistance. But if you’re the division commander and you’re moving 30, 50, 60 miles in one day, that’s no resistance,’ said Col Ben Hodges, commander of the 1st Brigade of the 101st Airborne at Camp Pennsylvania, Kuwait.
‘At the moment, the main thing that’s slowing the forces is the ability of the fuel trucks to keep up with them.’"