Theory, Strategy, Context, and Execution | RealClearDefense

Very nice, thanks. As the author moved from Clausewitz and Bismarck down through Douhet to Grant, he moved from Theory as applied to nation-state warfare at multinational level (Grand Strategy) down through Theater-level (some would call Operational-level warfare) as practiced by RAF and the USAAF, to the individual engagements and battles where Grant demonstrated his tactical genius. You could use Maj Trimble's paper to argue that a sound grand strategy must be based on theory, but tactical success can be achieved through leadership and context alone.