I think if they pushed harder on the caradasians they would have been better prepared. Because as much as they bost about their military... They only work when they are bullying a lesser power. The Dominion proved that when they are fighting some there own size... They suck

Arguably the UFP had not had a near peer conflict since the Klingons and Kirks days. There is a lot of talk about how stuff created in peace will find its flaws in combat. That designers can't really foresee what new battles will need. See stuff like the FN FAL. How the Borg and Dominion changed it.