Which other Great Strategic Thinkers have you really read?

LTC Eric Udouj — Sat, 03 Nov 2018 15:06:58 -0400

The standard buzz word bingo answer to which military strategic thinker have you read is Clausewitz or Jomini or perhaps Sun Tzu would also be one that is read or quoted in our buzz word bingo use of strategy and pulling quotes to define it. Our system focuses too much on them - but more lip service than actually looking deeper at others who covered the ground better. Which of the others have you read and found to be important to your understanding of war?

Response by LTC Eric Udouj made Nov 3 at 2018 3:07 PM

LTC Eric Udouj — Sat, 03 Nov 2018 15:07:54 -0400

Here is a bit of a cheat list for those who find themselves wondering. https://www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/show/masters_of_war_historys_greatest_strategic_thinkers

Masters of War: History's Greatest Strategic Thinkers | The Great Courses Plus

Take an inside look at both the content and historical context of the world’s greatest war strategists,guidedby a member of the elite U.S. Naval War College

Response by PVT Mark Zehner made Nov 3 at 2018 3:30 PM

PVT Mark Zehner — Sat, 03 Nov 2018 15:30:05 -0400

My top 2 Ulysses S Grant and Patton!

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 3 at 2018 9:13 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 03 Nov 2018 21:13:51 -0400

I prefer to read anything that theorizes an irregular approach to war. I enjoy Clausewitz, but I’ve become inoculated in the SOF realm so at times it feels like his trinity is best suited for the conventional force. The fog of war and friction are certainly important, and he did provide us with the Center of Gravity construct, to which the CARVER matrix can really define where you should focus efforts. Using war as a continuation of policy by other means is fascinating to me in relation to the period following Clausewitz – which Fredrick and Moltke seemed to take to heart. Fredrick played an exceptional game of diplomatic chess that insulated the Germanic people from war – put his successor Wilhelm seemed to have undone the many treaties Fredrick acquired when they entered WWI along side of the Austrians. But would WWI look different if Moltke agreed to reverse the western mobilization?

T.E. Lawrence applied Clausewitzian strategy with his own irregular approach – instead of attacking the Turkish garrison in Medina he harassed the lines that supplied the garrison and ultimately gained legitimacy and influence over the population and rendered the Turks obsolete. Since Lawrence, we are taking a harder look at things through an irregular lens. Irregular approaches have a much greater impact today than they did during the time of monarchies because the impact and burden of war are much higher on elected officials because the population can hold them accountable. Influencing a population when we are left of bang can have great impacts on international relations and how the other country conducts itself domestically and internationally. We have been de-legitimized in the eyes of host nation populaces because our adversaries exploit us using irregular tactics during GWOT. Outside of GWOT, we are almost always in phase zero and our operational inputs come from the DOD, DoS, NGOs, IGOs, and other inter-agency partners and we have an abundance of fiscal authorities that provide us with funding for irregular activities.

Response by LTC Eric Udouj made Nov 3 at 2018 10:33 PM

LTC Eric Udouj — Sat, 03 Nov 2018 22:33:01 -0400

Here is another item - great resource and read as well. http://www.strategybydesign.org/the-history-of-strategy/

The History of Strategy

Response by SMSgt Thor Merich made Nov 3 at 2018 10:58 PM

SMSgt Thor Merich — Sat, 03 Nov 2018 22:58:48 -0400

LTG Hal Moore. More of a tactical guy. But he understood more than anyone the importance studying your enemy, the history of the country and the terrain that you are fighting in.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Nov 4 at 2018 1:34 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sun, 04 Nov 2018 13:34:23 -0500

I tried reading about Sun Tzu and Jomini but could not get excited over them. I like Clausewitz tenets. I think his Trinity of Passion, Military Genius, and Rational Government are on target.