" 
 :: It was really just a stylistic change. I thought it sounded more formal and encyclopedic the new way, that's all. ""Over the course of.."" is more appropriate than ""during,"" I think, though that is also a minor quibble. As for ""strategy and tactics"", just because we don't defend it with examples in the article doesn't mean it didn't happen. As I said, just minor stylistic stuff; I did not mean to offend you or anything.  "