Don't kid yourselves about
Tipping Points or the like... Instead... Ponder upon
Habeas Corpus,
Torture,
COINTELPRO, and the
Hidden Stinger in the Bush NIE release:
Anti-US and anti-globalization sentiment is on the rise and fueling other radical ideologies. This could prompt some leftist, nationalist, or separatist groups to adopt terrorist methods to attack US interests. The radicalization process is occurring more quickly, more widely, and more anonymously in the Internet age, raising the likelihood of surprise attacks by unknown groups whose members and supporters may be difficult to pinpoint.
Realize... YOU MUST REALIZE! My friends... That you are upon DESPERATE GROUND... And your one and only hope is TOTAL AND UTTER VICTORY...
SUN TZU ON THE ART OF WAR Translated from the Chinese By LIONEL GILES, M.A.
(Published in 1910, thus Public Domain Text, thus long excerpts do not raise copyright issues):
XI. The Nine Situations
1. Sun Tzu said: The art of war recognizes nine varieties
of ground: (1) Dispersive ground; (2) facile ground; (3) contentious ground;
(4) open ground; (5) ground of intersecting highways; (6) serious ground;
(7) difficult ground; (8) hemmed-in ground; (9) desperate
ground.
2. When a chieftain is fighting in his own territory, it
is dispersive ground.
3. When he has penetrated into hostile territory, but to
no great distance, it is facile ground.
4. Ground the possession of which imports great advantage
to either side, is contentious ground.
5. Ground on which each side has liberty of movement is
open ground.
6. Ground which forms the key to three contiguous states,
so that he who occupies it first has most of the Empire at his command,
is a ground of intersecting highways.
7. When an army has penetrated into the heart of a hostile
country, leaving a number of fortified cities in its rear, it is serious
ground.
8. Mountain forests, rugged steeps, marshes and fens--all
country that is hard to traverse: this is difficult
ground.
9. Ground which is reached through narrow gorges, and from
which we can only retire by tortuous paths, so that a small number of the
enemy would suffice to crush a large body of our men: this is hemmed in
ground.
10. Ground on which we can only be saved from destruction
by fighting without delay, is desperate ground.
11. On dispersive ground, therefore, fight not. On facile
ground, halt not. On contentious ground, attack not.
12. On open ground, do not try to block the enemy's way.
On the ground of intersecting highways, join hands with your
allies.
13. On serious ground, gather in plunder. In difficult ground,
keep steadily on the march.
14. On hemmed-in ground, resort to stratagem. On desperate
ground, fight.
15. Those who were called skillful leaders of old knew how
to drive a wedge between the enemy's front and rear; to prevent co-operation
between his large and small divisions; to hinder the good troops from rescuing
the bad, the officers from rallying their men.
16. When the enemy's men were united, they managed to keep
them in disorder.
17. When it was to their advantage, they made a forward
move; when otherwise, they stopped still.
18. If asked how to cope with a great host of the enemy
in orderly array and on the point of marching to the attack, I should say:
"Begin by seizing something which your opponent holds dear; then he will
be amenable to your will."
19. Rapidity is the essence of war: take advantage of the
enemy's unreadiness, make your way by unexpected routes, and attack unguarded
spots.
20. The following are the principles to be observed by an
invading force: The further you penetrate into a country, the greater
will be the solidarity of your troops, and thus the defenders will not
prevail against you.
21. Make forays in fertile country in order to supply your
army with food.
22. Carefully study the well-being of your men, and do not
overtax them. Concentrate your energy and hoard your strength. Keep your
army continually on the move, and devise unfathomable
plans.
23. Throw your soldiers into positions whence there is no
escape, and they will prefer death to flight. If they will face death,
there is nothing they may not achieve. Officers and men alike will put
forth their uttermost strength.
24. Soldiers when in desperate straits lose the sense of
fear. If there is no place of refuge, they will stand firm. If they are
in hostile country, they will show a stubborn front. If there is no help
for it, they will fight hard.
25. Thus, without waiting to be marshaled, the soldiers
will be constantly on the qui vive; without waiting to be asked, they will
do your will; without restrictions, they will be faithful; without giving
orders, they can be trusted.
26. Prohibit the taking of omens, and do away with superstitious
doubts. Then, until death itself comes, no calamity need be
feared.
27. If our soldiers are not overburdened with money, it
is not because they have a distaste for riches; if their lives are not
unduly long, it is not because they are disinclined to
longevity.
28. On the day they are ordered out to battle, your soldiers
may weep, those sitting up bedewing their garments, and those lying down
letting the tears run down their cheeks. But let them once be brought
to bay, and they will display the courage of a Chu or a
Kuei.
29. The skillful tactician may be likened to the shuai-jan.
Now the shuai-jan is a snake that is found in the ChUng mountains. Strike
at its head, and you will be attacked by its tail; strike at its tail,
and you will be attacked by its head; strike at its middle, and you will
be attacked by head and tail both.
30. Asked if an army can be made to imitate the shuai-jan,
I should answer, Yes. For the men of Wu and the men of Yueh are enemies;
yet if they are crossing a river in the same boat and are caught by a storm,
they will come to each other's assistance just as the left hand helps the
right.
31. Hence it is not enough to put one's trust in the tethering
of horses, and the burying of chariot wheels in the
ground
32. The principle on which to manage an army is to set up
one standard of courage which all must reach.
33. How to make the best of both strong and weak--that is
a question involving the proper use of ground.
34. Thus the skillful general conducts his army just as
though he were leading a single man, willy-nilly, by the
hand.
35. It is the business of a general to be quiet and thus
ensure secrecy; upright and just, and thus maintain
order.
36. He must be able to mystify his officers and men by false
reports and appearances, and thus keep them in total
ignorance.
37. By altering his arrangements and changing his plans,
he keeps the enemy without definite knowledge. By shifting his camp and
taking circuitous routes, he prevents the enemy from anticipating his
purpose.
38. At the critical moment, the leader of an army acts like
one who has climbed up a height and then kicks away the ladder behind him.
He carries his men deep into hostile territory before he shows his
hand.
39. He burns his boats and breaks his cooking-pots; like
a shepherd driving a flock of sheep, he drives his men this way and that,
and nothing knows whither he is going.
40. To muster his host and bring it into danger:--this may
be termed the business of the general.
41. The different measures suited to the nine varieties
of ground; the expediency of aggressive or defensive tactics; and the fundamental
laws of human nature: these are things that must most certainly be
studied.
42. When invading hostile territory, the general principle
is, that penetrating deeply brings cohesion; penetrating but a short way
means dispersion.
43. When you leave your own country behind, and take your
army across neighborhood territory, you find yourself on critical ground.
When there are means of communication on all four sides, the ground is
one of intersecting highways.
44. When you penetrate deeply into a country, it is serious
ground. When you penetrate but a little way, it is facile
ground.
45. When you have the enemy's strongholds on your rear,
and narrow passes in front, it is hemmed-in ground. When there is no place
of refuge at all, it is desperate ground.
46. Therefore, on dispersive ground, I would inspire my
men with unity of purpose. On facile ground, I would see that there is
close connection between all parts of my army.
47. On contentious ground, I would hurry up my
rear.
48. On open ground, I would keep a vigilant eye on my defenses.
On ground of intersecting highways, I would consolidate my
alliances.
49. On serious ground, I would try to ensure a continuous
stream of supplies. On difficult ground, I would keep pushing on along
the road.
50. On hemmed-in ground, I would block any way of retreat.
On desperate ground, I would proclaim to my soldiers the hopelessness
of saving their lives.
51. For it is the soldier's disposition to offer an obstinate
resistance when surrounded, to fight hard when he cannot help himself,
and to obey promptly when he has fallen into danger.
52. We cannot enter into alliance with neighboring princes
until we are acquainted with their designs. We are not fit to lead an
army on the march unless we are familiar with the face of the country--its
mountains and forests, its pitfalls and precipices, its marshes and swamps.
We shall be unable to turn natural advantages to account unless we make
use of local guides.
53. To be ignored of any one of the following four or five
principles does not befit a warlike prince.
54. When a warlike prince attacks a powerful state, his
generalship shows itself in preventing the concentration of the enemy's
forces. He overawes his opponents, and their allies are prevented from
joining against him.
55. Hence he does not strive to ally himself with all and
sundry, nor does he foster the power of other states. He carries out his
own secret designs, keeping his antagonists in awe. Thus he is able to
capture their cities and overthrow their kingdoms.
56. Bestow rewards without regard to rule, issue orders
without regard to previous arrangements; and you will be able to handle
a whole army as though you had to do with but a single
man.
57. Confront your soldiers with the deed itself; never let
them know your design. When the outlook is bright, bring it before their
eyes; but tell them nothing when the situation is gloomy.
58. Place your army in deadly peril, and it will survive;
plunge it into desperate straits, and it will come off in
safety.
59. For it is precisely when a force has fallen into harm's
way that is capable of striking a blow for victory.
60. Success in warfare is gained by carefully accommodating
ourselves to the enemy's purpose.
61. By persistently hanging on the enemy's flank, we shall
succeed in the long run in killing the commander-in-chief.
62. This is called ability to accomplish a thing by sheer
cunning.
63. On the day that you take up your command, block the
frontier passes, destroy the official tallies, and stop the passage of
all emissaries.
64. Be stern in the council-chamber, so that you may control
the situation.
65. If the enemy leaves a door open, you must rush
in.
66. Forestall your opponent by seizing what he holds dear,
and subtly contrive to time his arrival on the ground.
67. Walk in the path defined by rule, and accommodate yourself
to the enemy until you can fight a decisive battle.
68. At first, then, exhibit the coyness of a maiden, until
the enemy gives you an opening; afterwards emulate the rapidity of a running
hare, and it will be too late for the enemy to oppose
you.
Read... And understand...
Understand... My friends... Act accordingly... And the TOTAL VICTORY YOU MUST HAVE, WILL BE YOURS...
Update [2006-10-7 13:16:29 by kraant]: Now also frontpaged at NION...