Notes on War(making) in the 21st Century

One pithy aphorism from the great philosopher and theorist of war, Sun Tzu, is: “The art of war is winning without fighting.” This may seem like an oxymoronic idea.

But in the 21st century, it seems that Sun Tzu’s dictum can be applied to picture perfection, almost.

First, let me break down the meaning and implications of this aphorism.

Essentially, Sun Tzu seems to suggest that war is a psychological exercise, and that success or failure in battle is decided in the minds of men and women.

This is not to say that actual combat is unnecessary. It is not.

But when the psychological strength of generals and strategists is either depleted or renewed, that is where war begins or ends.

Whether it was the trench warfare of World War I, the total war of World War II, or the quasi-war and con