Learning Lessons From the War in Ukraine

After a war, all parties turn to "lessons learned," a phrase that has become commonplace. A war is, in a hideous way, a learning opportunity, with the goal being that the successes and failures of one's own forces are identified and the process that led to either outcome is studied and integrated into planning and training for the next war. This is altogether reasonable and necessary. It is also obvious that the process is an occasion for finger-pointing: Taking credit for another's victories or shifting blame for defeats is an inevitable part of...