Sorry, Eric, it feels a little like piling-on, but some of the comments here are on the money. Colin Powell was/is a brilliant man and perhaps a generational tactician, but as an ordinary man in the world of politics, he fell on his sword for all the wrong reasons. He made an impassioned argument about something that did not exist.

Did he do it because it actually believed there were weapons of mass destruction in hidey-holes and basements throughout Iraq, and thus the world was in danger? As an insider at the time, did he view the evidence? As a general did he not know the cost of such an invasion in terms of life, property, culture, regional stability?

I feel that the Main Attack principle is prone to being used to reverse engineer successful campaigns that may have used other strategies, so as to make itself the reason for success. Focus on doing something well, seems like a tried and true dictum from way back.

In my opinion, the 1991 campaign in Iraq to free Kuwait was not a success. Not militarily. As the commander of a fire brigade in Northern California, would you consider it a success to extinguish 99% of the fire, but leave the cause of it, fully functioning and ready to start a new one?

We “saved” Kuwait, but left Saddam in power. The man who threatened the region. Who was an unpredictable despot with a history of doing bad things. Who, 10 years later did it all over again. By what terms are we defining success here?

Eric, what your theory does present, rather thoroughly, is that the world is a very complex place, filled with factors that are equally unpredictable. They’re called people.

Perhaps Hulu’s success came from following the Main Attack principle fully and completely. Or maybe its success came about because you gave the viewers what they wanted — a good quality image. That’s like a baker consistently delivering great bread and being a success. Or a car maker consistently delivering quality dependable cars.

It just seems to me that this is all rather self-evident as a goal. And has been since we stopped hunting in packs. Man does two things exceedingly well: we make great products that people want, or we skillfully manufacture the want in people, for the things that we make.

I think both Iraq wars fell under the second ability. Not our finest trait.