Auspices.

This is coolbert:

Found this one in the Strategy Page Professor Al Nofi CIC entry # 3.

The reasoning and logic is impeccable, without question?

"As late as the eighteenth century [1700's], military engineers selecting sites for fortresses were wont to 'consult the auspices' by examining the livers of domestic animals, not for reasons of superstition, but rather because a healthy liver was generally an indication of a healthy site with safe water".

TRADITIONALLY IN WARFARE THE TWO BIGGEST KILLERS HAVE BEEN FEET AND WATER AND NOT MORTAL COMBAT!

A troop having bad feet falling out on the march and being set upon and killed by local civilians, marauders, guerrillas.

Water soldiers not having enough water to drink or drinking bad polluted and diseased water.

Even unto most recent time [The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan] the Red Army suffering 300,000 non-battlefield casualties. I assume hepatitis as a result of drinking contaminated and unsafe water.

What was true in the past is true in the present and always will be. Eternal warfare. Yesterday, today, tomorrow, forever.

coolbert.