In the WWII Pacific Campaign, the overall allied strategy was called "Island Hopping" and the intent was to establish a chain of bases to allow the supply of airfields within range of Japan, and bypass most of the islands the Japanese had conquered. Anything action beyond achieving that goal was superfluous.
In one campaign an Australian field commander on a disputed island fought a vigorous offensive against the Japanese garrison. His job was defending the airfield, but as a consequence of his excellent leadership and tactics, he managed to capture almost the entire garrison with little loss.
MacArthur was, reportedly, furious:
1) The Japanese garrison was starving and almost out of ammo and posed no real threat.
2) Now supplies would need to be diverted to deal with the Japanese prisoners.
3) Ammunition and other supplies had been wasted and lives put at risk to achieve non-objectives.
Great tactics, but counter to the strategy, and thus unproductive.
A more recent example:
The US invasion of Iraq was a superbly executed piece of tactical planning and execution in pursuit of an idiotic (stated) strategy (conquer Iraq, the people will happily become democratic, and the Middle East will be inspired by their wonderful example). It's possible the real strategy was to generate business for large defense contractors, in which case job well done. Bravo.
In the WWII Pacific Campaign, the overall allied strategy was called "Island Hopping" and the intent was to establish a chain of bases to allow the supply of airfields within range of Japan, and bypass most of the islands the Japanese had conquered. Anything action beyond achieving that goal was superfluous.
In one campaign an Australian field commander on a disputed island fought a vigorous offensive against the Japanese garrison. His job was defending the airfield, but as a consequence of his excellent leadership and tactics, he managed to capture almost the entire garrison with little loss.
MacArthur was, reportedly, furious:
1) The Japanese garrison was starving and almost out of ammo and posed no real threat.
2) Now supplies would need to be diverted to deal with the Japanese prisoners.
3) Ammunition and other supplies had been wasted and lives put at risk to achieve non-objectives.
Great tactics, but counter to the strategy, and thus unproductive.
A more recent example:
The US invasion of Iraq was a superbly executed piece of tactical planning and execution in pursuit of an idiotic (stated) strategy (conquer Iraq, the people will happily become democratic, and the Middle East will be inspired by their wonderful example). It's possible the real strategy was to generate business for large defense contractors, in which case job well done. Bravo.