Fili’s world

What would Sun Tzu, a Chinese war strategist from the 5^th century BC, have to say about the current war raging in Israel-Lebanon? Can his ancient "The Art of War" text offer meaningful insights to such a "modern" war happening today?

I must have read hundreds of texts and articles about the current war happening in Israel, but this one from the "Useless Tree : Ancient Chinese Thought in Modern American Life" was a really interesting one to read. Evaluating the current affairs through Sun Tzu's eyes was - ironically - a "fresh" view on things.

"This is where Sun Tzu comes in.  In war-fighting, he tells us, we should attack the enemy's strategy, not his cities, not even his army.

Thus, what is of supreme importance in war is to attack the enemy's strategy;

Next best is to disrupt his alliances;

The next best is to attack his army.

The worst policy is to attack cities.  Attack cities only when there is no alternative. (chapter 3)

The Israeli response, thus far, seems to be working in reverse of Sun Tzu's priorities.  A more measured response, focusing on those Hezbollah military units in the south that may have participated in the kidnapping of the soldiers, would better serve Sun Tzu's first two points.

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From Wikipedia :

Sun Tzu (Chinese: 孫子; pinyin: Sūn Zǐ; 544-496 BC) was the author of The Art of War, an immensely influential ancient Chinese book on military strategy (for the most part not dealing directly with tactics). He is also one of the earliest realists in international relations theory.

The Art of War (Chinese: 孫子兵法 ; Pinyin: Sūnzĭ Bīngfǎ; literally: "Sun Tzu's Military Strategy") is a Chinese military treatise written during the 6th century BC by Sun Tzu. Composed of 13 chapters, each of which is devoted to one aspect of warfare, it has long been praised as the definitive work on military strategies and tactics of its time.

Other posts on the war going on in Israel can be found here: The missile era ; A country gone made ; Israeli confusion ;China vs. US on the Israeli issue