Ahh but even the Talismans would be unable to overcome if the economy was too advanced. Say 10 Talisman battleships to 100 baseships. Or say a well placed star destroyer or ten. Doesn't matter how accurate your fire is when the star in front of you is going nova.
So I suppose what I am saying is enough technological and economic advantage and the power to use it and even talismans won't save you.
For instance the Afghans could develop all the Talismans they want on their rifles, but in the end picture the US could still just drop a few nukes... or 50,000 more soldiers... etc etc... But it of course won't.
The key difference in modern warfare is CAN and WILL. In the olden days of war, say Civil War and before and even upto World War I, there was no difference between CAN and WILL. If you had it you were free to use it.
So discussions that equate those earlier conflicts with more modern ones are inherently flawed by overlooking a new fundamental that must be taken into consideration. I for one am thankful for this new fundamental.
For something a little scary...
http://nuketesting.enviroweb.org/hew.../Allbombs.html
http://nuketesting.enviroweb.org/hew...ovwarhead.html