Historical pattern
Carl von Clausewitz On War 1832
•Critique
•Clausewitz
overemphasized decisive battle and underemphasized strategic
maneuver.
•Clausewitz
emphasized method and routine at the tactical level.
•Why?
•Clausewitz was concerned with trying to overcome,
or reduce, friction/uncertainty. He failed to address the idea
of magnifying adversary’s
friction/uncertainty.
•Clausewitz
was concerned with trying to exhaust adversary by
influencing him to increase his expenditure of effort.
He failed to address, or develop, the idea of trying to paralyze
adversary by denying him the opportunity of expend
effort.
•Clausewitz
incorrectly stated: “A center of gravity is always found where
the mass is concentrated most densely”—then
argued that this is the place where the blows must be aimed
and where the decision should be reached. He failed to develop idea
of generating many non-cooperative centers of gravity by
striking at those vulnerable, yet critical, tendons,
connections, and activities that permit a larger system
to exist.
? Raises question ?
What does
all this mean?
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