Levels of strategy

THEORY
Nearly every book about the Vietnam War written in the last twenty years includes the following exchange between Harry Summers, an Army colonel, and one of his counterparts in the North Vietnamese Army. "You know, you never defeated us on the battlefield," Summers said. The North Vietnamese colonel tartly replied, "That may be so, but it is also irrelevant."

The fact that the United States won all the battles it fought, but still lost the Vietnam War, was the inspiration for Summers to write On Strategy, a Clausewitzian critique of US strategy in the war. This observation about the Vietnam War is also an inspirational point for starting a discussion of the levels of strategy. As in Vietnam, what we're doing today in Iraq and Afghanistan may be successful at one level, but a complete disaster at the higher levels--the ones that ultimately determine whether we win or lose.

There's a lot about Summers' analysis that's flawed (for example, he got Clausewitz's notion of friction all wrong). It's a good book, but there's a better one for the topic at hand: Strategy: The Logic of War and Peace by Edward Luttwak, A must-read books for anyone interested in the subject of this blog. Strategy is a distillation of many classic ideas about military strategy, and Luttwak mixes in some very thought-provoking observations of his own.

This subject deserves a lot of explanation, but I don't want to write one overlong post about it. Instead, I'll break the discussion into one level per post. That approach fits the blog medium better than a mega-post, and I'll actually get the whole thing written faster and better in small chunks. So stay tuned, Dear Reader, for this series of critical postings. Believe me, once you digest these concepts, you'll never look at warfare the same way again.

The levels of strategy are...

• Grand strategic.


• Theater.


• Operational.


• Tactical.


• Technical.

I'll explain each in turn, and I'll provide a running series of examples to illustrate them. Since the Chinese civil war provides an excellent overall example, I'll wrap up things up with that case study.

For now, keep in mind the following point: the difference between victory and defeat often turns on whether efforts at one level actually contribute to the other levels. The success story of the blitzkrieg wasn't just a story of fine German engineering, manifested in the panzers that slashed through Poland, the Low Countries, and France. The blitzkrieg depended not only on the tank, but also how it fit into a combined arms approach that linked armor, infantry, and air power through radio communications. In the first two years of the Russo-German conflict, the Wehrmacht actually faced an enemy with better tanks. Aficianados of WWII armor will tell you that the Soviet T-34 was easily superior to the German PzKW III and IV, as measured by firepower, speed, and protection. However, the Germans fought better with their tanks than the Soviets did, which made it possible for the Wehrmacht to stop just short of Moscow in 1941, and just short of the Volga in 1942.

Every science starts with classification. Putting names to things, identifying the differences among them, is a critical exercise whether you're a student of entymology, astronomy, or military history. Since classification makes the overall picture of what you're studying more clear, it's often the catalyst for inspiration. Classifying the differences among birds in the Galapagos Islands gave Darwin the mental nudge the theory of evolution. Classifying the different species of military strategy can also inspire Big Thoughts, as we'll see.

PRACTICE
If you've read the earlier posts on theory and practice, you've seen that I don't have much patience with the notion that Do something! is a good guide to action. Nothing we'll discuss on this blog will put a stake through the heart of that great fallacy than this discussion of the levels of strategy. Do something! is meaningless, once you see that doing a fantastic job at one level of strategy may be irrelevant to the ones that ultimately decide victory or defeat. In fact, success victory at one level can blind you to the real problems brewing at other levels, as the Vietnam example illustrates. It's natural for people to look for signs of hope when American soldiers are dying, but the signs may be pointing in the wrong direction.

US and allied forces did a stellar job invading Iraq. The list of what made this victory possible at the theater level of strategy is long and familiar: superior equipment, outstanding training and organization, experience fighting the Iraqi army in Operation Desert Storm...Reading or listening to the news, we've heard the pundits run through this list over and over again.

But what did we win? I hope this discussion of the levels of strategy will help answer that critical question.

Comments

[jordan sneakers]

In any case, new Air Jordan has the immense popularity in the basketball palyers. The jordan sneaker which is catched on by more people undoubtedly

[Creative Recreation]

I only lately started out leaving comments! Makes me imagine a tiny extra about what I enjoyed and learned concerning the article! Fantastic recommendations, thanks!Welcome to visit my web http://www.sneakers4sales.com

[Nike SB Dunk High]

I thought it was going to be some boring old post, but I’m glad I visited. I will post a link to this page on my blog. I believe my visitors will find that very useful.

[Nike Dunk Low]

Personally I'm not too angry about it: the fetishism for neo-grecco/roman architecture that are the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials are a bit embarrassing.Nike SB Dunk

[ff14rmt]

rmtなどがそうだ。rmt リネージュ2これらMMORPGといわれるオンラインゲームは、リネージュ2 rmt1つのサーバーに数千人のプレイヤーが同時にログインしゲームを行なっている。ここでいうサーバーとは、物理的なサーバーではない。MMORPGでは、rmt とはサーバーやワールドと呼ばれる単位で複数の同じ世界が存在する。アトランティカ RMT3万人が同時に1つのサーバへアクセスすると処理が重くなってしまうrmt aion

[louis vuitton]

i believe that quality comes first before quantity..though it is needed to have enough numbers of words..

[ipad 2 cases]

The fool lies in melding our cards faster than my opponents. The Fight slot from Cherry Red is turning usually the heads of players pretty much. You won't ever hear of any rejection to pay withdrawals without delay or any use just about any cheating software. best ipad mini cases iphone covers cool iphone Cases keyboard for ipad 3 (grizzlygadgets.com) cases for galaxy s3 aluminum iphone case mini ipad covers leather ipad 2 case galaxy s2 covers, http://grizzlygadgets.com/samsung-galaxy-s2-case, lifeproof iphone 4s case targus ipad 3 case samsung galaxy s3 accessories ipad 2 case lifeproof case for galaxy s3 (http://grizzlygadgets.com) best case for iphone 5 iphone 4s accessories, http://grizzlygadgets.com, iphone 5 cases ipad mini keyboard case iphone 5 waterproof case [grizzlygadgets.com] iphone accessories iphone 5 screen protector ipad mini accessories ipad 3 cases and covers (grizzlygadgets.com) galaxy s2 phone case, http://grizzlygadgets.com, ipad 3 cases with keyboard (http://grizzlygadgets.com/ipad-3-accessory) iphone aluminum case (grizzlygadgets.com) iphone 5 cases cool iphone accessories ipad 3 accessories ipad mini keyboard iphone 5 screen protector ipad mini case iphone 4S Cases Iphone Cases cool iphone 4 cases ipad smart cover best iphone 4 cases ipad mini case ipad case s3 cases (http://grizzlygadgets.com/samsung-galaxy-s3-cases) iphone 4 case ipad accessories iphone 5 covers (grizzlygadgets.com) phone cases for samsung galaxy s3 aluminum iphone case best ipad mini cases [http://grizzlygadgets.com/best-ipad-case] iphone 4 charger best iphone cases ipad cases with keyboard ipad mini cover iphone charger [grizzlygadgets.com] Iphone 5 lifeproof Case best ipad mini case (grizzlygadgets.com) iphone 5 cable samsung s3 cases best iphone cases ipad 3 Accessories cute iphone 5 cases (grizzlygadgets.com) Iphone 4S Case (Grizzlygadgets.Com) Best Ipad Mini Case - Grizzlygadgets.Com, iphone cases (http://grizzlygadgets.com/iphone-accessory) unique iphone 4 cases, http://grizzlygadgets.com/, ipad 2 cases and covers best case for galaxy s3 (grizzlygadgets.com) iphone 5 cable best ipad 2 case custom galaxy s3 case s3 cases ipad 4 accessories lifeproof iphone case best iphone 5 Cases ipad 3 cases With Keyboard metal iphone 5 case iphone 5 leather case (http://grizzlygadgets.com/leather-iphone-cases) ipad 3 Case iphone 4s cases cases for iphone 5 samsung s3 accessories iphone 5 waterproof case accessories for samsung galaxy s3 lifeproof case for galaxy s3 ipad mini covers case for galaxy s3 cheap iphone 5 cases iphone 4 case ipad mini covers samsung galaxy s2 cases best ipad case; grizzlygadgets.com, ipad stand Iphone accessories lifeproof case for galaxy s3 leather iphone 4 Case Custom Ipad 3 Cases ipad mini smart cover Iphone 4 Accessories iphone 4 battery Cool Iphone 4 Case iphone 4 case ipad 3 covers ipad 3 Accessories ipad accessories cases for ipad 3 (http://grizzlygadgets.com/new-ipad-3-cases) iphone 5 accessories iphone 5 waterproof case samsung s3 Case (grizzlygadgets.Com) ipad Smart cover ipad 2 cases

[best iphone case]

Internet poker is well known gameplay which played over the internet by not only younger generation but elders as carefully. We have hit the jackpot considering DoubleDown Casino as all players can take gain of WildCoins, get in-game chips and power-ups into make the game maybe even more entertaining. best iphone case cases for galaxy s3 iphone accessories Best Iphone 4S Cases best iphone 4 cases ipad case samsung galaxy s3 case best iphone 5 accessories, grizzlygadgets.com, mini Ipad covers samsung galaxy s3 cases amazon unique iphone 4 cases iphone 5 screen protector ipad 2 cases and covers ipad 2 cases iphone 4 cases iphone 4 cases best ipad mini case best case for iphone 5 Leather Iphone case iphone 5 cases best case for ipad 2 ipad accessories iphone aluminum case (grizzlygadgets.com) ipad mini case Leather Iphone cases iphone 5 leather cases (http://grizzlygadgets.com/) ipad 2 cover ipad keyboard (grizzlygadgets.com) cases For galaxy s3 iphone 5 accessories ipad accessories (http://grizzlygadgets.com) samsung galaxy s3 accessories iphone 5 wallet case Iphone 5 Case ipad 3 covers iphone 5 aluminum case iphone 5 cases ipad 2 case (grizzlygadgets.com) Cool Iphone 5 Cases leather iphone 4 case unique iphone 4S cases best ipad 3 case ipad keyboard case ipad mini covers Leather Cases for iphone 5 iphone 5 cases ipad keyboard (http://grizzlygadgets.com/ipad-keyboard-cases) Iphone 4 Accessories keyboard for ipad case for galaxy s3 (grizzlygadgets.Com) iphone cases best ipad 3 case mini ipad cases leather cases for iphone 5 (grizzlygadgets.com) i pad Covers unique iphone 4 case aluminum iphone 5 cases galaxy s3 case otterbox - grizzlygadgets.com - best case for galaxy s3 iphone 5 best cases phone cases for samsung galaxy s2 cool iphone 4 cases iphone leather case iphone 4 cases case for galaxy s3 samsung galaxy s3 cases amazon ipad mini keyboard phone cases for iphone 4 iphone 5 cases iphone aluminum case (grizzlygadgets.com) iphone aluminum case - http://grizzlygadgets.com/ - iphone 5 accessories (Grizzlygadgets.com) mini ipad cases (grizzlygadgets.com) ipad 2 cases best ipad 3 case Ipad mini Keyboard ipad 3 case samsung galaxy s2 cases ipad mini case, grizzlygadgets.com, ipad 2 cover iphone accessories (grizzlygadgets.com) galaxy s3 waterproof case iphone 4 case iphone case aluminum iphone 5 case ipad case with keyboard best iphone case best iphone accessories Samsung Galaxy s3 cases i Phone accessories ipad bluetooth keyboard Iphone 5 Best cases samsung S3 Cases iphone 4 cases (http://grizzlygadgets.com/) iphone 5 covers zagg ipad keyboard Cheap Iphone 5 Cases mini ipad covers iphone 5 lifeproof case ipad keyboards apple ipad case michael kors iphone case New ipad accessories iphone 4 cases custom ipad 3 cases iphone accessories ipad 3 covers