A couple of speculative thoughts:

High-tech, autonomous or semi-autonomous weaponry can actually appeal to the Obama/Clinton types as an alternative to boots-on-the-ground — we’ve already seen that to be the case whenever these types of politicians want to appear belligerent for effect.

Free electron lasers may be well-suited for launching quick response reconaissance satellites, because of the distances these lasers can project their beams before the beam is diffused by a “blooming” effect.

In the end though, we’re just talking about weaponry that has to be deployed because there have been both intelligence breakdowns and a projection of weakness that encourages an enemy to become rash and bold. Until we 1) take Humint seriously again and redevelop (and improve) those capabilities, and 2) always show stength and resolve and brook no nonsense — even in negotiations — we will blunder into armed conflict.