The Art of War

“Thus, though we have heard of stupid haste in war, cleverness has never been seen associated with long delays.” In war, even if there is rush, there is no such thing as a good lag (or skillful prolongation), declares “The Art of War,” an ancient Chinese military treatise. “There is no instance of a country having benefited from prolonged warfare,” the narration continues.

“It is only one who is thoroughly acquainted with the evils of war that can thoroughly understand the profitable way of carrying it on.” If you are not someone who knows the damage of war, then you do not understand the benefits either; this is a verse printed at the beginning of English inter-war theorist Sir Basil Henry Liddell Hart’s famous book “Strategy: The Indirect Approach.”

Aerial bombing operations of the 2003 Iraq War were, in reality, carried out under a theory of military affairs influenced by Sun Tzu. Sun Tzu must be rolling over in his grave at the course of a seven year war that was created by incompetent disciples, who looked only at the benefits of using the military and ignored the evils.

President Obama announced the end of military combat operations for American troops stationed in Iraq. One can only bow his head after hearing about the 4,400 American military casualties and the over 11,000 Iraqi casualties during that period. The just cause for beginning the war — the weapons of mass destruction — was never found in the end and the blood has yet to stop flowing from the remaining wound.

Iraq’s general elections this spring failed to establish a new government on account of disagreements during coalition negotiations and left a vacuum of power. Acts of terrorism have also increased in time with the withdrawal of American troops. The American military is said to have 50,000 individuals remaining, who will be stationed to support the Iraqi government. President Obama anticipates the complete withdrawal of troops to come at the end of next year.

“Those wrathful will be cheerful again, but a kingdom that has once been destroyed can never come again into being; nor can the dead ever be brought back to life. Hence the enlightened ruler is heedful, and the good general full of caution.” The hatred created by war will be forgotten before long; however, those killed in war cannot be revived — this is another “Art of War” that cannot be communicated to incompetent disciples.