And while we frequently observed that the human terrain was the decisive terrain, the physical terrain and manmade objects often dictated how we and our partners on the ground were able to engage, secure, and serve the people - tasks that were of central importance in the irregular warfare of the post- 9/11 era.Īnother key observation of Sun Tzu was the significance of continually adjusting tactics and avoiding predictability.

We certainly revalidated this reality in Iraq and Afghanistan, which featured substantial urban areas as well as broad deserts, heavily vegetated river valleys, and rugged hills and mountains. This is a tall order, especially when fighting on foreign soil and perhaps even on the enemy’s own turf.

Preparing for a variety of enemy responses, not just the most likely, has to be a central part of any planning process.Īlso of great importance to Sun Tzu was understanding the terrain, with all its variations and prospective uses, better than the enemy does. Prolonged wars are, needless to say, costly and drain soldiers of their staying powerĪs we reminded ourselves repeatedly while developing plans for operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere in the Middle East and Central Asia, the enemy does, indeed, “get a vote,” and we always needed to appreciate how he might react to our operations. “Know yourself but not your enemy, and win one battle but lose another.” “Know your enemy and know yourself, and fight a hundred battles without danger,” Sun Tzu observed. Indisputably as true today as in Sun Tzu’s time is the necessity for understanding the enemy - his plans, dispositions, strengths, and weaknesses. Those who soldiered during the Cold War - or any war, for that matter - can certainly attest to the wisdom of Sun Tzu’s observation however, those who remained in uniform beyond 9/11 would caution that, unfortunately, it is not always possible to prevail against one’s enemies without resort to arms. “Troops that bring the enemy to heel without fighting at all - that is ideal,” he advised.

Indeed, its relevance has been reconfirmed in the twenty-first century.įor Sun Tzu, and for any strategist, of course, the best strategy is the one that delivers victory without fighting. Written well over two thousand years ago in China, but not translated into English until the beginning of the twentieth century, it is now studied in military academies around the globe. The Art of War has rightly become one of the world’s most influential books on military strategy. The Art of War by Sun Tzu translated, edited and introduced by Peter Harris

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