The Differential Theory of US Armed Forces upon encountering a snake in the AO (Area of  Operations)

1.  Infantry: Snake smells them, leaves area.

2.  Airborne: Lands on and kills the snake.

3.  Armor: Runs over snake, laughs, and looks for more snakes.

4.  Aviation: Has Global Positioning Satellite coordinates to snake.  Can't find snake.  Returns to base
for refuel, crew rest and manicure.

5.  Ranger: Plays with snake, then eats it.

6.  Field Artillery: Kills snake with massive Time On Target barrage with three Forward Artillery
Brigades in support.  Kills several hundred as unavoidable collateral damage.  Mission is considered
a success and all participants (i.e., cooks, mechanics, and clerks) are awarded Silver Stars.

7.  Special Forces: Makes contact with snake, ignores all State Department directives and Theater
Commander Rules of Engagement by building rapport with snake and winning its heart and mind.
Trains it to kill other snakes. Files enormous travel settlement upon return.

8.  Combat Engineer: Studies snake.  Prepares in-depth doctrinal thesis in obscure 5 series Field
Manual about how to defeat snake using countermobility assets.  Complains that maneuver forces
don't understand how to properly conduct doctrinal counter-snake ops.

9.  Navy SEAL: Expends all ammunition and calls for naval gunfire support in failed attempt to kill
snake.  Snake bites SEAL and retreats to safety. Hollywood makes fantasy film in which SEALS kill
Muslim extremist snakes.

10. Navy: Fires off 50 cruise missiles from various types of ships, kills snake and makes presentation
to Senate Appropriations Committee on how Naval forces are the most cost-effective means of
anti-snake force projection.

11. Marine: Kills snake by accident while looking for souvenirs. Local civilians demand removal of all
US forces from Area of Operations.

12. Marine Recon: Follows snake, gets lost.

13. Combat Controllers: Guides snake elsewhere.

14. Para-Rescue Jumper: Wounds snake in initial encounter, then works feverishly to save snake's
life.

15. Supply: (NOTICE: Your anti-snake equipment is on backorder.)

16. Transport pilot: Receives call for anti-snake equipment, delivers two weeks after due date.

17. F-15 pilot: Misidentifies snake as enemy Mil-24 Hind helicopter and engages with missiles.  Crew
chief paints snake kill on aircraft.

18. F-16 pilot: Finds snake, drops two CBU-87 cluster bombs, and misses target due to weather.

19. AH-64 Apache pilot: Unable to locate snake, snakes don't show well on infrared.

20. UH-60 Blackhawk pilot: Finds snake on fourth pass after snake starts bonfire to mark Landing
Zone.  Rotor wash blows snake into fire.

21. B-52 pilot: Pulls ARCLIGHT mission on snake, kills snake, and every other living thing within
two miles of target.

22. Missile crew: Lays in target coordinates to snake in 20 seconds, but can't receive authorization
from National Command Authority to use nuclear weapons.

23. Intelligence officer: Snake?  What snake?  Only four of 35 indicators of snake activity are
currently active. We assess the potential for snake activity as LOW.

24. Judge Advocate General (JAG): Snake declines to bite, citing grounds of  professional courtesy.