Assignment 8

Those who were called skillful leaders of old knew how to drive a wedge between the enemy's front and rear;


The importance of this is still relevant.  Maybe not with just frontal assaults and things like that but the outcome of this is that you are able to break up the enemy and that makes communication more difficult and that might make you more successful.


 There is a proper season for making attacks with fire, and special days for starting a conflagration.


well what I can take from this is that there are certain times in which certain attacks are more effective.  It is not always the best to employ your best attack or use a lot of your resources  if right now is not the right time or if there will be a better time in the future.


Having DOOMED SPIES, doing certain things openly for purposes of deception, and allowing our spies to know of them and report them to the enemy.


I really hope they dont have this now because that sounds like you are sacrificing another and that does not seem like it is something the army is about.

Incidents of espionage are well documented throughout history. The ancient writings of Chinese and Indian military strategists such as Sun-Tzu  contain information on deception and subversion. Chanakya's student  made use of assassinations, spies and secret agents,' The ancient Egyptians had a thoroughly developed system for the acquisition of intelligence, and the Hebrews used spies as well, as in the story of Rahab. Spies were also prevalent in the Greek and Roman empires. During the 13th and 14th centuries, the Mongols relied heavily on espionage in their conquests in Asia and Europe. Feudal Japan often used ninja to gather intelligence. More recently, spies played a significant part in Elizabethan England.  Many modern espionage methods were well established even then.

The Cold War involved intense espionage activity between the United States of America and its allies and the Soviet Union and the People's Republic of China and their allies, particularly related to nuclear weapons secrets. Recently, espionage agencies have targeted the illegal drug trade and those considered to be terrorists.

Assignment 7

The general who thoroughly understands the advantages that accompany variation of tactics knows how to handle his troops.


Much of the time a leader has to adapt his plans according to the situation.  Even if the mission is similar, doesnt mean that he can employ the exact same tactics as he did before.  That is because no situation is the same.


Do not climb heights in order to fight. So much for mountain warfare.


This just reminds me that it is always harder to storm the high ground.  Not sure how this applies to modern warfare.  However it does emphasize the importance of taking and keeping key terrain.


 If the enemy has occupied them before you, do not follow him, but retreat and try to entice him away.


This is important because you dont want to rush into an enemies fortified area but most likely the advantage will lie in the hands of the enemy. 

Assignment 6

O divine art of subtlety and secrecy! Through you we learn to be invisible, through you inaudible;


This is how hopefully we do all of our operations by not letting the enemy know about them.  At least for Dday we didnt let them know exactly where we were going to do that so that lead to the success of the operation as a whole.  There were other contributing factors but the enemy not fully knowing what was going on was a good thing as well.


2. Having collected an army and concentrated his forces, he must blend and harmonize the different elements thereof before pitching his camp.


this could even pertain to even when individual units are harmonized, if they need to work with others they still need to find a rhythm to be successful.  The need to be able to work with the people around them to have the most success.  This goes with any operation that all the branches of the military are involved.  They need to be able to work together and accomplish missions as a team.  These could be seen in any of the previous wars that we have had and that can only lead to the success of the mission if done correctly

Assignment 5

What is important in this reading is how you use your forces in the best way possible.  One needs to exploit one's own strength in a manner that will exhibit the most benefits and lead to victory.


12. The onset of troops is like the rush of a torrent which will even roll stones along in its course.


This is kind of interesting because it is comparing the onset of troops to a current, however these troops are being killed in the process on breaking down the enemy.  yes the enemy will be beaten if you send enough troops at them but it probably not worth the cost of lives.

Assignment 4

To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself.


this would entail that the enemy messes up in general.  Also you would have to be aware that the enemy has screwed up.


The general who is skilled in defense hides in the most secret recesses of the earth;


but if you are constantly on the defensive then you could never beat your enemy.


What the ancients called a clever fighter is one who not only wins, but excels in winning with ease.


this means being able to use your troops and supplies in the most efficient and tactical way possible to defeat your enemy

Assignment 3

8. It is the rule in war, if our forces are ten to the enemy's one, to surround him; if five to one, to attack him;


This is implemented now in what we are taught in torc now when we are told to proceed with superior numbers.  


. But when the army is restless and distrustful, trouble is sure to come from the other feudal princes. This is simply bringing anarchy into the army, and flinging victory away


This is important because you cant fight a war if your soldiers are distracted and not ready for battle.  I dont know what the army is doing about this now but I do know that the army is invested in its soldiers well being.


(4) He will win who, prepared himself, waits to take the enemy unprepared.


It is important to always be prepared because if you are not then you might be over taken.

Assignment 2

Thus, though we have heard of stupid haste in war, cleverness has never been seen associated with long delays.


While I can not relate this to any actual event it does kind of play off of the fact that we as leaders need to make good yet swift judgement.  Because no matter how great a plan might be if it is implemented too late then it wont be at all effective.


There is no instance of a country having benefited from prolonged warfare


I cant think of any concrete examples off hand but many countries that have been going to just internal strife within its boarders never seems to get in good economic states.  Also I would like to comment that sometimes a "brief" war could be beneficial as it kind of was for the US taking us out of the Great Depression or at least contributing to that.  However, I am not too sure how long exactly is a prolonged war.