How about this:
Add a new Strat target, the "Village", which controls ground observer communications (sector bars). Every sector, except those with cities or factories, has a Village. Villages can be destroyed and captured (with zero rebuild time). Red sector bars show only in sectors with a friendly Village, have a 5 minute delay, and are visible in flight. (Green sector bars show everywhere.) Winning the war captures all Villages in friendly territory, and resets all other Villages to neutral.
This would have a few effects on the game:
Add a valuable new Strat target.
Enable a sneak attack by killing the Villages in advance of the main force.
Simulate "underground" observers by capturing Villages in enemy territory.
Provides a reward for winning the war.
Give ground forces something new to do.

popeye
[This message has been edited by popeye (edited 08-11-2000).]