Laurence Caromba at Commentary watched Troy, and noticed that the Trojans allowed their priests to make important military decisions, with disastrous consequences. It's something I also noticed when watching the movie.
The cynical Greeks desecrated temples and virgin priestesses. They used the mourning period for Hector to build their wooden horse, which was seen as an offering to Poseidon by the Trojans. The Trojans stupidly allowed their strategy to be dictated by omens and superstition, and they paid the price.
Fortunately, today's superpower is rational, and would not let religious fruitcakes dictate its foreign policy. [Link via Juan Cole]
