War; Good God! What is it Good For?, page 1

The art of war is of vital importance to the State.

~Sun Tzu, The Art of War~

Here is a list of
on
going political conflicts in the world today. The following are
wars or conflicts that result in at least 1000 deaths per year:

Naxalite-Maoist insurgency
Civil War in Afghanistan (5th Phase)
Somali Civil War (6th Phase)
Iraq War
War in North-West Pakistan
Mexican Drug War
Sudanese nomadic conflicts

War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed
and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that
nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for
which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his
own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of
being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than
himself.

~John Stuart Mill~

The literature of war holds a mirror to our bestiality, alerts us to our most primitive urges, warns us of the inextricable link between hubris and destructiveness – shows us clearly that we pay an enormous price for who we really are. In the war stories themselves, we glimpse not only our destructiveness but also our political failures and the paucity of our ideas; war stories reveal our best-kept secrets. But we also find there in those stories signs of grandeur: willing sacrifice for the welfare of others, deep love for comrades, redemptive acts of mourning, the revelation of character, the knowledge of what it means to be responsible, the acknowledged ache of loneliness. War literature catches us at our worst and at our best. And when the literature itself is good, when it captures the essence of war, it spares no one – neither civilian nor soldier – because it speaks of our deepest primordial urges. In The Soldiers' Tale, one of the most comprehensive accounts of war ever written (especially of war from the soldiers' point of view), Samuel Hynes tells us that the “story of the Vietnam War is a cautionary tale for our time, the war story that can teach us most” (177). Hynes is right; it is a war that we Americans have still, as a nation, not come to terms with, a war whose lingering impact on the relationship between the soldier and the state has been largely unexamined.

The Beauty and Destructiveness of War: A Literary Portrait of the Vietnam Conflict

~Pat C. Hoy II~

What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans and the homeless, whether the mad destruction is wrought under the name of totalitarianism or the holy name of liberty or democracy?

~Mahatma Gandhi~

The nature of warfare never changes, only its superficial manifestations. Joshua and David, Hector and Achilles would recognize the combat that our soldiers and Marines have waged in the alleys of Somalia and Iraq. The uniforms evolve, bronze gives way to titanium, arrows may be replaced by laser-guided bombs, but the heart of the matter is still killing your enemies until any survivors surrender and do your will.

~New Glory; Expanding America's Supremacy, Ralph Peters~

The outcome of the war is in our hands; the outcome of words is in the council.

~The Illiad, Homer~

Ancient Warfare

The difference between prehistoric and ancient warfare is less one of technology than of organization. The development of first city-states, and then empires, allowed warfare to change dramatically. Beginning in Mesopotamia, states produced sufficient agricultural surplus so that full-time ruling elites and military commanders could emerge. While the bulk of military forces were still farmers, the society could support having them campaigning rather than working the land for a portion of each year. Thus, organized armies developed for the first time.

Either it was the technological advances of humanity that facilitated war, or that war brought forth technological advances that benefited humanity, either way the cost/benefit ratio is the question.

The Chariot

Naval Warfare

It is a matter of life and death, a road either to safety or to ruin. Hence it is a subject of inquiry which can on no account be neglected.

~The Art of War; Sun Tzu~

Empires

Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and myself founded empires; but what foundation did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force. Jesus Christ founded an empire upon love; and at this hour millions of men would die for Him.

~Napoleon Bonaparte~

Akkadian Empire

Assyrian Empire

Achaemenid Empire

Cry havoc and let loose the dogs of war!

Alexander the Great

“An empire founded by war has to maintain itself by war.”

~Charles de Montesquieu quotes~

The Roman Empire

Fortune, which has a great deal of power in other matters but especially in war, can bring about great changes in a situation through very slight forces.

~Julius Caesar~

The Roman Empire was the post-Republican phase of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean.[5] The term is used to describe the Roman state during and after the time of the first emperor, Augustus.

The Persian Empire

Once a major empire of superpower proportions,[1][2] Persia as it had long been called, has been overrun frequently and has had its territory altered throughout the centuries. Invaded and occupied by Greeks, Arabs, Turks, Mongols, and others—and often caught up in the affairs of larger powers—Persia has always reasserted its national identity and has developed as a distinct political and cultural entity.

Celestial Empire

The art of war, then, is governed by five constant factors, to be taken into account in one's deliberations, when seeking to determine the conditions obtaining in the field.

These are: (1) The Moral Law; (2) Heaven; (3) Earth; (4) The Commander; (5) Method and discipline.

~The Art of War; Sun Tzu~

Stratagies of War

There are overall approaches to warfare that change how wars are conducted. Here are some of the ways of doing this:

* Alliances: Bringing your friends in to play.
* War of Attrition: Wear them down.
* Battle war: Engage in a series of pitched battles.
* Blitzkrieg: Power and speed.
* Cold war: Conflict without direct fighting.
* Crippling: Take out key abilities.
* Guerilla war: Asymmetric force.
* Scorched earth: Retreat, leaving them nothing.
* Terrorism: Random acts, big impact.
* Trench war: Dig in and fight every inch of the way.
* Siege War: Taking out major citadels.

Note also that individual tactics may be used on a wide scale as a general strategy, rather than being decided separately for individual actions.

The Moral Law causes the people to be in complete accord with their ruler, so that they will follow him regardless of their lives, undismayed by any danger.

~The Art of War; Sun Tzu~

Tactics in War

There are a many tactics that are used on the battlefield. Some planned within the overall strategy. Others will be decided on the spur of the moment as opportunity presents itself or events force some particular action. * Ambush: Catch them unawares.

* Beheading: Take out their leaders.
* Decoy: Confuse them about what's where.
* Encirclement: Surround them, then tighten the noose.
* Feint: Moving to deceive.
* Flanking: Go around to attack their sides.
* Harassment: Keep them on their toes.
* Hold by the nose and kick up the backside: Engage at the front whilst out-flanking.
* Isolation: Cut them off.
* Lure: Tempt them away.
* Pincer Movement: Two groups to encircle or attack.
* Retreat: Living to fight another day.
* Starvation: Cut off their supplies.
* Surprise attack: When they are least expecting it.
* The Wedge: Cut into their force.

Heaven signifies night and day, cold and heat, times and seasons.

~The Art of War; Sun Tzu~

A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

Ecclesiastes; 3:8

Earth comprises distances, great and small; danger and security; open ground and narrow passes; the chances of life and death.

~The Art of War; Sun Tzu~

Islamic Empire

"Slay them wherever you find them...Idolatry is worse than carnage...Fight against them until idolatry is no more and God's religion reigns supreme."

~Surah 2:190~

Carolingian Empire

The Commander stands for the virtues of wisdom, sincerely, benevolence, courage and strictness.

~The Art of War; Sun Tzu~

By method and discipline are to be understood the marshaling of the army in its proper subdivisions, the graduations of rank among the officers, the maintenance of roads by which supplies may reach the army, and the control of military expenditure.

~The Art of War; Sun Tzu~

War is not nice.

~Barbara Bush~

War, huh, yeah What is it good for Absolutely nothing Uh-huh

~Edwin Starr~

These five heads should be familiar to every general: he who knows them will be victorious; he who knows them not will fail.

~The Art of War; Sun Tzu~

Holy Roman Empire

and he will appoint them unto him for captains of thousands, and captains of fifties; and [he will set some] to plow his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and the instruments of his chariots.

~1 Samuel; 8:12~

Russian Empire

All warfare is based on deception.

~The Art of War; Sun Tzu~

Mongol Empire

Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near.

~The Art of War; Sun Tzu~

The New World

During the Age of Discovery, Spain began to settle the Caribbean islands and conquistadors soon toppled native empires such as the Aztecs and Incas on mainland South America. Later expeditions established an empire that stretched from present-day Canada in North America to the Falklands in South America. The Spanish expedition of world circumnavigation started by Ferdinand Magellan in 1519, and completed by Juan Sebastian Elcano in 1522, achieved what Columbus had longed for, a westward route to Asia, and brought the Far East to Spain's attention, where it established colonies in Guam, the Philippines and surrounding islands. During its Siglo de Oro, the Spanish Empire comprised the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Belgium, most of Italy, parts of Germany, parts of France, territories in Africa, Asia and Oceania, as well as large areas in the Americas. By the 17th century Spain controlled an empire on a scale and world distribution that had never been approached by its predecessors

French Colonial Empire

France began to establish colonies in North America, the Caribbean and India, following Spanish and Portuguese successes during the Age of Discovery, in rivalry with Britain for supremacy. A series of wars with Britain during the 1700s and early 1800s, which France lost, ended its colonial ambitions on these continents, and with it is what some historians term the "first" French colonial empire. In the 19th century, France established a new empire in Africa and South East Asia. Some of these colonies lasted beyond the invasion and occupation of France by Nazi Germany during World War II.

Portuguese Empire

Portuguese sailors began exploring the coast of Africa in 1419, leveraging the latest developments in navigation, cartography and maritime technology such as the caravel, in order that they might find a sea route to the source of the lucrative spice trade. In 1488, Bartolomeu Dias rounded the Cape of Good Hope, and in 1498, Vasco da Gama reached India. In 1500, by an accidental landfall on the South American coast for some, by the crown's secret design for others, Pedro Álvares Cabral discovered Brazil. Over the following decades, Portuguese sailors continued to explore the coasts and islands of East Asia, establishing forts and factories as they went. By 1571, a string of outposts connected Lisbon to Nagasaki along the coasts of Africa, the Middle East and Asia. This commercial network brought great wealth to Portugal.

British Empire

During the Age of Discovery in the 15th and 16th centuries, Portugal and Spain pioneered European exploration of the globe and in the process, established large overseas empires. Envious of the great wealth these empires bestowed, England, France and the Netherlands began to establish colonies and trade networks of their own in the Americas and Asia.[3] A series of wars in the 17th and 18th centuries with the Netherlands and France left England (Britain, following the 1707 Act of Union with Scotland) the dominant colonial power in North America and India. However, the loss of the Thirteen Colonies in North America in 1783 after a war of independence was a blow to Britain, depriving it of its most populous colonies. Despite this setback, British attention soon turned towards Africa, Asia and the Pacific. Following the defeat of Napoleonic France in 1815, Britain enjoyed a century of effectively unchallenged dominance, and expanded its imperial holdings across the globe. Increasing degrees of autonomy were granted to its white settler colonies, some of which were reclassified as dominions.

Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign disorder, and crush him.

~The Art of War; Sun Tzu~

en.wikipedia.org...

The Age of Revolution was a time period experiencing a change of power: from absolutism to a more free, democratic government. The Age of Revolution is a term used to denote the period from approximately 1775 to 1848, a time in which a number of significant revolutionary movements occurred on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean in Europe and the Americas.[1] The period is noted for the change in government from absolutist monarchies to constitutionalist states and republics. The Age of Revolution includes the American Revolution the French Revolution, Haitian Revolution, the revolt of the slaves in Latin America, and the independence movements of nations in Latin America. The period would generally weaken the imperialist European states, who would lose major assets throughout the New World. For the British, the loss of the Thirteen Colonies would bring a change in direction for the British Empire, with Asia and the Pacific becoming new targets for outward expansion.

“In the eyes of empire builders men are not men but instruments”

~Napoleon Bonaparte~

Napoleonic Wars

The Napoleonic Wars were a series of conflicts declared against Napoleon's French Empire and changing sets of European allies by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionized European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to the application of modern mass conscription. French power rose quickly, conquering most of Europe, but collapsed rapidly after France's disastrous invasion of Russia in 1812. Napoleon's empire ultimately suffered complete military defeat resulting in the restoration of the Bourbon monarchy in France. The wars resulted in the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire and sowed the seeds of nascent nationalism in Germany and Italy that would lead to the two nations' consolidation later in the century. Meanwhile the Spanish Empire began to unravel as French occupation of Spain weakened Spain's hold over its colonies, providing an opening for nationalist revolutions in Latin America. As a direct result of the Napoleonic wars the British Empire became the foremost world power for the next century,[1] thus beginning Pax Britannica.

If he is secure at all points, be prepared for him. If he is in superior strength, evade him.

~The Art of War; Sun Tzu~

Pax Britanica

Pax Britannica (Latin for "the British Peace", modelled after Pax Romana) was the period of relative peace in Europe (1815-1914) when the British Empire controlled most of the key naval trade routes and enjoyed unchallenged sea power. It refers to a period of British imperialism after the 1815 Battle of Waterloo, which led to a period of overseas British expansionism. Britain dominated overseas markets and managed to influence and almost dominate Chinese markets after the Opium Wars

If your opponent is of choleric temper, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant.

~The Art of War; Sun Tzu~

American Imperialism

American empire (American imperialism) is a term referring to the political, economic, military and cultural influence of the United States. The concept of an American Empire was first popularized in the aftermath of the Spanish-American War of 1898. The sources and proponents of this concept range from classical Marxist theorists of imperialism as a product of capitalism, to modern liberal and conservative theorists analysing U.S. foreign policy.

“The United States is unique because we are an empire of ideals.”

~Ronald Regan~

And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

~Matthew; 24:6~

Rumors of War

One is left with the horrible feeling now that war settles nothing; that to win a war is as disastrous as to lose one.

~Agatha Christie~

World War I

If he is taking his ease, give him no rest. If his forces are united, separate them.

~The Art of War; Sun Tzu~

The League of Nations

The quickest way of ending a war is to lose it.

~George Orwell~

Treaty of Versailles

Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected.

~The Art of War; Sun Tzu~

World War II

These military devices, leading to victory, must not be divulged beforehand.

~The Art of War; Sun Tzu~

I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.

~Albert Einstein~

The Cold War

Now the general who wins a battle makes many calculations in his temple ere the battle is fought. The general who loses a battle makes but few calculations beforehand. Thus do many calculations lead to victory, and few calculations to defeat: how much more no calculation at all! It is by attention to this point that I can foresee who is likely to win or lose.

~The Art of War; Sun Tzu~

You cannot simultaneously prevent and prepare for war.

~Albert Einstein~

Military Industrial Complex

War is much too serious a matter to be entrusted to the military.

~Georges Clemenceau~

New World Order

You can no more win a war than you can win an earthquake.

~Jeannette Rankin~

9/11

It is a man's own mind, not his enemy or foe, that lures him to evil ways.

~Buddha~

War on Terror

Concentrated power has always been the enemy of liberty.

~Ronald Regan~

War, huh, yeah
What is it good for Absolutely nothing
Uh-huh
War, huh, yeah
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Say it again, y'all

War, huh, good God
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing Listen to me

Ohhh, war, I despise
Because it means destruction
Of innocent lives

War means tears
To thousands of mothers eyes
When their sons go to fight
And lose their lives

I said, war, huh
Good God, y'all
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Say it again

War, whoa, Lord
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Listen to me

War, it ain't nothing
But a heartbreaker
War, friend only to the undertaker
Ooooh, war It's an enemy to all mankind
The point of war blows my mind
War has caused unrest
Within the younger generation
Induction then destruction
Who wants to die

Aaaaah, war-huh
Good God y'all
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Say it, say it, say it
War, huh
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Listen to me
War, huh, yeah
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing Uh-huh
War, huh, yeah
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Say it again y'all
War, huh, good God
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Listen to me

War, it ain't nothing but a heartbreaker
War, it's got one friend That's the undertaker
Ooooh, war, has shattered
Many a young mans dreams
Made him disabled, bitter and mean
Life is much to short and precious
To spend fighting wars these days
War can't give life It can only take it away

Ooooh, war, huh
Good God y'all
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Say it again
War, whoa, Lord
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Listen to me

War, it ain't nothing but a heartbreaker
War, friend only to the undertaker
Peace, love and understanding
Tell me, is there no place for them today T
hey say we must fight to keep our freedom
But Lord knows there's got to be a better way

Ooooooh, war, huh
Good God y'all
What is it good for
You tell me S
ay it, say it, say it, say it
War, huh
Good God y'all
What is it good for
Stand up and shout it Nothing

~Edwin Starr~

War is not nice

~Barbara Bush~

reply to post by Jean Paul Zodeaux

---

War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed
and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that
nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for
which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his
own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of
being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than
himself.

"War" has nothing to do with violence and death. You don't have to kill and be killed to fight the most important wars. The "wars" you're talking about, are nothing but mass suicide and homicide...and is that really a "solution" to a problem...humans quickly resort to violence and mass destruction when threatened or faced with a problem...it's so primitive and instinctual...declaring a massive loss of life a viable answer is ridiculous, death is probably the last option you ever want to resort to...yet we willingly devote our lives to our "country"...yet you're actually fighting for a minority of people who don't give a damn about your lives...a bunch of elites who can't get along so they send their armies at each other...the men on the opposite side are no different from you...you're all killing innocent men...how can you point a gun at the "enemy" and justify what you're doing...how can they point the gun back at you and justify that...

You're no different from each other, both probably have families to go home to, yet you sit pointing a gun at each other, having never met before, and not even knowledgeable of the hidden agendas for which you're really fighting...both of the same species, of the same planet, of the same universe...the only actual reason you're fighting each other is because those in power told you there was a threat which only "war" could solve...what if both sides just refused to go out and die for no reason...I say, if the elites have a God damn problem, and they want to fight so badly, we can put them in a ring and let them fight it out like men instead of sending their mindless minions to a mass slaughtering to prove who ultimately has a more destructive and ruthless nation...*applauds*...

[edit on 30/5/10 by CHA0S]

reply to post by Asktheanimals

---

Thank you my friend for sharing that really cool story about Kirkland and his compassion during a time of strife and warfare. You always bring considered thought to my threads, and for this I am most grateful. I will read up more on this "Angel of Marye's Heights".

reply to post by ladyinwaiting

---

It is good to see you Dear Lady, and I am pleased you see what I attempted to do with this thread. I wasn't sure that by keeping my own thoughts out of the matter, if the intent would be clear or not. Indeed, I remain to this day, ambivalent about war. I have been long familiar with Sun Tzu's seminal work The Art of War and have read it several times over. I have used his tactics on a number of occasions, in business, and even in love. You know what they say, "all is fair in love in war".

There is more I would like to add to my initial posts in that style of simply quoting others, and supplying links to epochs and eras of war, and I wanted to first just give a sort of digested version of the history of war, and how that has led us to the terrible state we are in today, and yet, as another poster has suggested, without war where would be, and would that being be worse than it is now? I love Edwin Starr's song, it is just cool in its funk and power, but it is also naive, but at the same token, Barbara Bush's remark is equally powerful in its quaint simplicity, and not at all naive. However, your quote is great, and I would like permission to add that quote to my next effort of quotes and links. Thanks for posting.

reply to post by Jean Paul Zodeaux

---

Of course, you may use my brilliant quote. lol. You know, I almost ended that post with Barbara Bush's quote "war is not nice", but decided to change it.

Hitler had to be stopped from genocide. It should never have been permitted by the Germans to have escalated to that degree. Since it did, obviously someone had to step in and take action. I would have preferred snipers with assigned targets. Assassinations are preferable to indiscrete and indiscriminate killings.

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