RE: 2nd and 3rd rate powers

Tom said:
>2: IF rated as 3rd rate: I didn't say they weren't a force to be 
feared, but I suspect they still lack flexibility in responses, 
deeper doctrinal capability that only comes with being a superpower 
with a long institutional military history

Yeah, like the guys had going into WWI...<g>

>and a large budget, and I suspect they also have problems with
tribal/regional prejudices and class prejudices. That's IMU. 

I think their social structure is not as cohesive as, say, the US,
therefore units tend to be more fragile (you can't count on the other
guy
to look out for you).  And they use FSE hand-me-down equipment in a lot
of
cases--let someone else pay for bleeding edge research, IFed doesn't
need
it for their usual opponents (which is, after all, usually *other* IFed,
or
sometimes PAU).

>3: AE Imperial Forces as 2nd rate -- They don't have the huge 
military infrastructure that the NAC has 

But you said you were leavng out size, in this rating.	Certainly it
limits
them--having no divisions means you have no knack for maneuvering
them--but
I'd think that would apply at least as much to the Gurkhas, who you put
as
1st rate.  Same thing with skills subset--the Gurkhas probably *don't*
kick
butt at, say, panzer maneuvers or zero gee.

>4: NAC as 1st rate: I cite long military tradition of successful 
campaigns, strong culture of fixing mistakes, emphasis on flexibility 
at lower and intermediate levels, highest tech training aides, 
largest military budget, etc. 

Doesn't necessarily do it.  The US army that started off in Korea was
pretty poor, as I understand it.  Fortunately they learned, but only
thru
on-the-job training.  Certainly *some* NAC deserve first rate, but I'd
say
the bulk do not.

>7: Some PAU and some IF might well be 4th rate. 
IFed militia probably have (unfulfilled) hopes of being 4th rate.  The
best
IF Guards units are probably 2nd rate, with a good CO.

>9: Rating Aliens. I rate SV as 3rd rate in terms of quality as I 
don't think engineered bioconstructs have the same man-for-man 
capabilities as most humans. 

Uh....I agree.	They have a lot *better* capabilities.	After all,
that's
what they're built for.  (ok, it may be a swarm of wolverines instead of
a
few trolls...still, not healthy)

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