Preparing for the Last War

Generals are always preparing for the last war. Of course, if it ran exactly the same way as next-to-last war, there would be no point to make such a distinction, so by induction we can guess the next one isn't going to be quite the same either. Which is why the connotation is that this way they are not quite catching the train. Of course, any expectations not backed by practice would be speculative. Thus as a rule even people who actively prepare are never quite ready for what happens the next.

Web Comics

 * Schlock Mercenary had a moment with an uplifted ape [//www.schlockmercenary.com/2017-07-01 explaining] the concept to an alien new to the current galactic civilization.