But having so many forward operating bases, chow halls, and vehicles in theater required a huge amount of logistical support, Donovan said on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe key is, I think we\u2019re also made ourselves more vulnerable because of our requirements, specifically our logistics requirements in that, when you go, [you] have to go more firm or solid and build up logistics base for our own logistics needs, you make yourself more vulnerable,\u201d Donovan said.<\/p>\n
At the time, U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan faced small arms and roadside bomb attacks. But the threat that enemy drones now pose should force the U.S. military to rethink how it wages war, Donovan said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe haven\u2019t fought really under the gun in a long time,\u201d Donovan said.<\/p>\n
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Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, on Oct. 14, 2010. Photo by Hossein Fatemi\/Middle East Images\/AFP via Getty Images.<\/p>\n
The Army has already practiced having soldiers move in smaller units<\/a> and use concealment, camouflage and dispersion to avoid being spotted by enemy drones.<\/p>\n Donovan stressed the need for the U.S. troops and commanders to make it tougher for the enemy to target and hit them.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s very hard to hide anywhere these days,\u201d Donovan said. \u201cIt is. But the reality is, we could be much better at deception. We could be much better with our own kind of discipline in how we set ourselves, move into a location, work with partners, and reduce our digital footprint.\u201d<\/p>\n He added that it would be hard for the military to change its mindset on large deployments because for two decades it was able to operate out of large forward operating bases, send quick reaction forces to help troops under attack, and medically evacuate wounded service members within the \u201cgolden hour.\u201d<\/p>\n Top Stories This Week<\/p>\n