Blimps are the new black

As this excellent article from Wired.com [link] suggests blimps have a strong future in upcoming military scenarios.

There are problems though: as the article explains we are presently seeing several different versions competing. This classic Pentagon-style infighting: do we really need one model for the air force, one for the army (and a separate (secret) one for the CIA)?

The real problem though is with classic military logic. The strategists are preparing for the war they fought yesterday or, at best, the one they are fighting today.
While it is true that they are great for spying on an occupied area blimps are very big and slow. They fly by being "lighter than air" and while some hot air baloons go very high these airships will be filled with high tech gear. I don't know how high they'll go. Compared to spy planes and drones they seem to be very easy targets for anyone with an anti aircraft missile or a fighter jet. While they'd probably work Ok in Iraq and Afghanistan where the enemy has limited and predictable capabilities they'll be like giant pies in the sky for an aggressive and better equipped enemy.
Mostly at this time though they look like fancy new ways for Americans to spend money they really don't have on things they really don't need...
So what else is new?
:o)