Dale.Amon@FAS.RI.CMU.EDU (12/11/85)
Just thought I would note that the reason the maginot line didn't work is that it was never attacked. The german armies came through Belgium and Netherlands in a blitzkreig that caught the frence flat footed and cut off their troops, quite a few of which were were the front was 'supposed' to be. The French just did not expect the Nazis to attack through neutrals; they expected an assault across the German/French border (near the Saar I believe?) It was not a defensive mentality that did the french in, it was a lack of creative thinking, and an inabilibity to understand that their foe was not at all gentlemanly. The lesson learned was that modern war has no rules. I do not think SDI is quite the same unless we get fat and happy over it.