but here are some links to interesting material about how things have improved.

Space, A Warfighter's Perspective. Be sure to look at the slides (link is provided on the briefing), especially consider the ramifications of this verses this.

Remember, in 1991, the GPS constellation wasn't complete and few soldiers had GPS receivers. In many cases, soldiers' parents bought commercial receivers for their sons to use. As for bombs, only 10% of the 1991 Gulf War's bombs were precision guided (all laser). Some 90% of the bombs dropped this time were precision guided, and GPS guided bombs are less subject to atmospheric problems than laser guided bombs.

There's been a lot of development in what's called Network Centric Warfare since 1991. This is one of those tranformational technologies that Rumsfeld is talking about (this dates back to the 1990s). NCW is only partially implemented, but even today, the ability of sensors like the Predator to get information to the shooters is seen, such as the extremely rapid response last Monday to a Saddam sighting. A B-1B crew, on its way to another target, was diverted and briefed on the fly and the suspected Saddam location was attacked 12 minutes later.

We're seeing NCW manifest itself in other ways, such as the ability of JSTARS to detect targets on the ground and getting that information quickly to shooters out in the field and to aircraft looking for targets of opportunity. In 1991, the prototype JSTARS was sent over and did good work. This time, several operational JSTARS aircraft were on location. As a result, any time the Iraqi forces tried to move, they were attacked.

There's also another factor that has proven helpful this time around. In 1991, very few of our military personnel had any combat experience and none had any combat experience in desert warfare. Since then, US and UK aircraft have been patrolling the no-fly zones including many attacks on anti-aircraft sites. They not only had operational experience, they were familiar with Iraq. Quite a few of the leaders at all levels this time are Gulf War vets, too. Their experiences were passed on in the training they provided to their troops, so while our forces are much smaller this time, they're better equipped, better trained, and better led.