 |
| The pictures in this posting have nothing at all to do with the substance of the text. They are there to pretty up the thing and because I like Alfred Hitchcock. |
Recently I had occasion to revisit my little copy of The Art of War. I thought this was authored by a certain Sun Tzu, but looking carefully at it, discover no named author is mentioned. It is 'a composite of several military treatises which existed during the period of the Warring States (476-221 B.C.)'.
Glancing through this led me to some interesting points that have a relevance to violent events that have been visiting this world. I have a feeling that right now the mightiest military powers in the world are being taught some sharp and timely lessons. Here, from the chapter on planning (pp10-11):War is mainly a game of deception. The strong should feign weakness, the active inactivity. If the goal is near, pretend it is far away. If the objective is far off, pretend that it is close.
Lull the enemy with small 'victories'; entice them with bait. Then attack and throw them into complete disorder so that they may be crushed with ease.
If the enemy is powerful, extra care must be taken... Know and avoid the enemy's strong points, attack their weaknesses. If they are angry, provoke them further. Pretend to be weak to make them arrogant and over-confident. When they are eager for action, weary them with delays. When they are united, try to create discord...
It seems to me that the West needs to stand back and have a good long think, and not just about how to deal with global terrorism - especially given that the West is itself the author of much of it. It is no good running around aimlessly, yelling threats and firing off guns, and indiscriminately spreading unpleasantness all around. The West ought also rethink its attitude toward, and treatment of, the rest of the world and its people. We need to rethink how to resolve contention, competition and conflict. If our first recourse is to violence, as it has been, how can we honestly blame others for the same?
We aren't the good guys, here. We haven't been for a long, long while.
Your Art of War seems to be a prescription for conducting guerrilla warfare. What exactly is the definition of terrorism? Depends upon one's perspective.
ReplyDeleteI'm not so sure that it does depend on perspective. Terrorism just comes in many forms. Terrorism remains terrorism whether carried out by a loner with a grudge, a disenfranchised socio-political group, or a State.
DeleteThat excerpt, and the rest, is a prescription for conducting war of any kind. It seems to me doubtful that its authors would have had guerilla warfare in mind, but not impossible. The principles must be the same.
The sad truth is we for all our history, arts, and technology are still a tribal species. We can grasp larger concepts but, when under real or perceived threat we react in the same way as our ancestors and reach
Deletefor our spears......
There are times when I think our technological 'know how' has far outstripped our wisdom.
DeleteI used to keep a tiny abridged copy on my desk at work. Always seemed to me that the problem was that it asked a person to make rational decisions based on observation and deduction informed by study.
ReplyDeleteToo much too ask, do you reckon? Yeah, well... if so, it is hardly flattering to the competence of our leaders!
DeleteVery good critique of what's going on. Unfortunately, we seem to have knee-jerk responses to things, but maybe that is all the public seems to see.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Chris. These topics aren't easy, especially in the wake of horrific acts of terrorism that seem to be increasing in violence, frequency and numbers of dead and wounded. I'm fortunate in living in a relatively tranquil part of the world, but that does not excuse us for staying blind to global events...
DeleteYou have hit the nail on the ahead my friend. Both with the Art of War quotes and with your comment about the need for reflection before action.
ReplyDeleteThank you. You comment and others have been reassuring more than somewhat, as I was not sure what sort of reaction I would receive. I had intended to link this to my facebook timeline, but it wouldn't allow it for some security reason. But I did feel I had to make some sort of comment.
Delete