The most effective machinery we used to womp on Iraq were items that the military never wanted (because of lack of "Wow!" factor) but in some cases were actively campaigning to get rid of.

A prime example is "Warthog", which the Air Force didn't want in the first place and had almost succeeded in getting scrapped just before the war started.

The Navy most certainly didn't want the fast deployment freighters that carried the gear, nor did the Air Force want the big transport planes that hauled some of the lighter loads.

All these "Plain Jane" projects were forced on the military by Congress. Many were Carter administration projects and none were particualarly high tech or particularly expensive.

Star Wars has more "Wow!" than you can shake a stick at, and a price tag that gives defense contractors a throbbing erection, but it doesn't work, will never work well enough to use, and is aimed at a target of fading importance.