[fiatmoney]

"Surprise" is relative; "blitzkrieg" (or "shock and awe") might be more apt. Iraq I, Iraq II, Afghanistan, Grenada, Panama all fit the pattern. Kosovo doesn't as much, but then again there were other considerations there (eg, not pissing off Russia too much).

You're right on the higher-level strategy, but operationally it relies heavily on immediately killing off all C&C, air defense, air force, etc. in the first few hours so you can then bomb with impunity.