The Art Of War by Sun Tzu
This manual, over a thousand years old, is considered the Original Text for all military campaigns since, by every army that has existed since it’s time. Variations of it are taught from basic military schools to West Point. It is supposed to be common knowledge to any Commader & Chief.
Please read the following brief excerpt:
“When you engage in actual fighting, if victory
is long in coming, then men’s weapons will grow dull and
their ardor will be damped.
is long in coming, then men’s weapons will grow dull and
their ardor will be damped.
If you lay siege to a town,
you will exhaust your strength.
you will exhaust your strength.
Again, if the campaign is protracted, the resources
of the State will not be equal to the strain.
of the State will not be equal to the strain.
Now, when your weapons are dulled, your ardor damped,
your strength exhausted and your treasure spent,
other chieftains will spring up to take advantage
of your extremity.
your strength exhausted and your treasure spent,
other chieftains will spring up to take advantage
of your extremity.
Then no man, however wise,
will be able to avert the consequences that must ensue.
will be able to avert the consequences that must ensue.
Thus, though we have heard of stupid haste in war,
cleverness has never been seen associated with long delays.
cleverness has never been seen associated with long delays.
There is no instance of a country having benefited
from prolonged warfare.”
from prolonged warfare.”
Perhaps copies should be sent to George W. Bush, John McCain and any other leaders, potential or otherwise, who insist on ‘Staying The Course.’
The end game there is a bankrupt Nation, subject to the attacks of any smaller antagonist who can assess our weakened position.
Our current stance can end only in the collapse of our country, economically, socially, and in terms of our integrity to the world.
June 26th, 2008 at 12:12 pm
What we have here is an administration based on euphemisms. Example: “stay the course” translates roughly to “let bodies pile up endlessly rather than admit a mistake, then, after eventually leaving office, let your successor take the responsibility for the clean up — and when that doesn’t go smoothly hide in the shadows while every one blames the wrong person.”
Bush is a simple man. “Stay the course” just rolls off the tongue so much easier. It’s a phrase that sounds important, poetic, patriotic & strong — when really it means none of those things.
We are already essentially bankrupt. Our economy is an illusion. China owns our collective ass.
In McCain’s recent financial disclosure it was revealed that he owes hundreds of thousands in credit card debt. How it’s even possible for a millionaire to owe so much is not clear, but it shows that he has the training and ability to make a smooth transition into the idiotic and malicious mode of operation that Bush has so laboriously set up. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss. We really need to band together and prevent this shit from continuing.
These are not even republicans. Republicans are at least fiscally conservative. These are war mongering lunatics. These are sociopathic teenagers with Visa cards and no concept of personal responsibility.
June 26th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
While I set out to lend ancient wisdom & philosophy to modern world, you have concisely brought to the surface the exact details that prove it to be so. Thanks.
As much as I appreciate that, I’m still getting over being absolutely floored by your compliment of Sun Tzu’s lesson with lyrics from the Who’s Pete Townshend. (”Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.”) That is truly Art.
Let’s hope that by drawing upon every lesson we can muster, that “We don’t get fooled again.”
June 27th, 2008 at 1:06 pm
Mccain is also dangerous because of his complete lack of understanding of the continually accelerating effect of technology. Do we really want someone who does not use a computer to be in office during a time that the Internet is such a hige and growing part of the global economy?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYs8X0DZNI4&eurl=http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2008/06/mccain-reps-com.html