Part II

Getting back to where I started, I advise that you begin the the basics among which are the following books. Sun Tzu The Art of War, The 36 Strategies, Carl Von Clausewitz On War(when you read On War bring a dictionary and remember that this book is unfinished, Clausewitz died before it was finished and his wife gathered his papers, put them together and published them. His writing style is dialectic that is to say he wrote a thesis then a antithesis and a synthesis or in plain English a idea then a counter idea and finally a finished idea that leads you in the right direction. For example the thesis (1st idea) is "We shall not enter into any of the abstruse definitions of war used by publicists. We shall keep to the element of the thing itself, to a duel. War is nothing but a duel on an extensive scale. If we would conceive as a unit the countless number of duels which make up a war, we shall do so best by supposing to ourselves two wrestlers. Each strives by physical force to compel the other to submit to his will: his first object is to throw his adversary, and thus to render him incapable of further resistance. the antithesis (counter idea) is "War is not an independent phenomenon, but the continuation of politics by different means. " (which brings us to the synthesis that is to say to tie together the spirit of both to begin to study the problem impartially) the `remarkable trinity' In On War: Clausewitz defines the components of the trinity as (1) primordial violence, hatred, and enmity; (2) the play of chance and probability; and (3) war's element of subordination to rational policy. Mao tse Tung (there's 4 books and one essay to be read to understand guerrilla warfare and they are in order A Single Spark Can Start a Prairie Fire (January 5, 1930)- On Guerilla Warfare (1937) -Basic Tactics (1937)- -On Guerrilla Warfare 1937-On Protracted War (May 1938). Bring your dictionary because what you thought a word means and what it actually means is two different things and can influence your understanding of what you are reading. Also look up on the Internet others papers, for example the meaning of politics as we use it today and as Clausewitz used it is very different and today those who translate Clausewitz can't agree on what he meant and was trying to say, so by seeing both pro and con you can come to a better informed opinion. For example as Antulio J. Echevarria II wrote in his paper (Clausewitz's description of war as a "continuation of politics (Politik) by other means" is of course well known. But it is unfortunately interpreted to mean that war is merely an act of state policy brought forth to achieve a political aim. At least part of the confusion surrounding this misunderstanding stems from the ambiguity of the German term Politik, for it means both policy and politics. But Clausewitz, too, deserves some blame, for he neglected to define in simple language how he wanted this multivalent term to be understood. Indeed, German scholars and soldiers alike have puzzled over this question since the late nineteenth century. Historian Eberhard Kessel argued, for example, that, for Clausewitz, Politik consisted of subjective and objective elements. The former pertained to the choice or choices made by the political leadership regarding the type of war to be waged and the specific aims to be pursued. The latter involved the dominant ideas, emotions, and political interrelationships unique to a given time and place.
In fact, Clausewitz's varied usage of Politik and the historical context within which he wrote indicate that he meant three things by the term. First, Clausewitz did intend Politik to mean policy, the extension of the will of the state, the decision to pursue a goal, political or otherwise. Second, Politik also meant politics as an external state of affairs, the strengths and weaknesses provided to a state by its geo-political position, its resources, alliances and treaties, and as an ongoing process of internal interaction between a state's key decision-making institutions and the personalities of its policy makers. Lastly, Clausewitz used Politik as an historically causative force, providing an explanatory pattern or framework for coherently viewing war's various manifestations over time.) others will have their own interpretation of what was meant of course giving you points of view and interpretations to allow you to choose what you think was meant.
In my next posts I shall take what I feel is a look at war based upon the writings I have listed, however DON'T TAKE WHAT I WRITE AS GOSPEL-HADDITH LOOK FOR YOURSELF.
In the end we are faced with many schools of thought among those are those leaders who are so in love with the book that they can't do a thing without the book or to use a Navy saying covering the three people. There are 3 types of leaders who base their actions on three expressions 1. Unless the book says you can do it you can't 2. Unless the book says you can't do it you can 3. Its easier to ask for forgiveness than permission. Got to love those sailors, but then the fleet has always been the branch of the armed forces that has traditionally had to operate independently of "HIGHER" more than any other branch.
Was going to write something differently however one of the guys I talk to was looking at my script and just scratched his head saying "That's nice but do you have to use so many big words? Who you trying to impress with your vocabulary? Can't you just write this is plain English?" So I am rewriting this and will be publishing hopefully a thoughtful coherent paper instead of an essay that seeks intentionally or unintentionally to look like a scholarly work out to impress those in the academic community while boring to tears those in the field.
Until then I have two messages for my brothers.
To those world famous "Devil Dog" Brothers of mine Semper Fidelis
To those world infamous "Rakkasans", the heroes of Shah-i-Kot Valley NE DESIT VIRTUS
as for the rest of y'all God love and bless everyone of you.
Last thought WHY do you CAV guys always say IF YOU AIN'T SHIT YOU AIN'T CAV? Since I never have been, are, or intend to be SHIT I can't be CAV?
YHWH/GOD/ALLAH bless Colonel James Hallums! Rakkasan Commander! American Hero!Good Night Uncle Chesty-Wherever you are.