More on War by van Creveld Martin;

Author:van Creveld, Martin;
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Published: 2016-11-16T00:00:00+00:00

3. The Ordinary and the Extraordinary

Maintenance of aim and flexibility; husbanding force and sacrificing it; concentration and dispersion; battle and maneuver; direct and indirect approach; advance and retreat; breakthrough and envelopment; strength versus weakness; advance versus retreat; these are just a few of the many pairs of opposites that characterize strategy. Inside each pair, each method relates to the other as light does to darkness, the ordinary to the extraordinary. They complement each other, but can only exist at the expense of the other. Other things being equal, the forces sent to create a diversion will be unable to participate in the main push. Those used to envelop the enemy will not be able to assault his front or form part of the reserve. In other words, to any given course of action there is always a cost. As a struggle unfolds, its character will be governed by the way both sides navigate between these opposites.

Aristotle believed that people and groups going through life should find the golden mean between such opposites. Neither too much nor too little was his motto. His approach makes a lot of sense, all the more so because we are unable to forecast the future. As a result, it is best to take a balanced approach while preparing for every contingency.

Applied to military strategy, the advice is problematic. To repeat, a good strategist uses rocks to break eggs, and eggs—to camouflage or neutralize rocks. Following the golden mean implies going for a frontal clash, face to face, without any attempt to deceive the opponent, or circumvent him, or leverage him, or maneuver him into an untenable position. Applying this approach against a mediocre opponent, the result is apt to be equally mediocre. Applying it against one who is more than mediocre, the outcome is likely to be defeat.

Thus the correct conduct of strategy requires not just the ability to foresee, and cope with, all possible threats. It also requires the willingness to create asymmetric situations. Now the situation calls for one method, now for its opposite. They should take each other’s place according to a well-defined plan, yet without any obvious order that the enemy can discern and exploit. Following such a course of action can be risky. A commander who, having taken such a risk, fails in his endeavor is almost certain to be deposed. Under some regimes he may be executed. However, unless the odds are greatly stacked in his favor to begin with, risk-taking alone can lead to good results.

Again, this is easier said than done. Any successful strategy must start by studying the opponent, getting to know him, and adapting one’s methods to fit his modus operandi, even his nature. Since the effort is mutual, the more time passes the more both sides will change, adapt themselves to fighting the specific opponent at hand, and become alike.

Therefore, given enough time, an asymmetric contest will become symmetric. As the process unfolds, the weak may become strong and the strong, weak. A football team that is only allowed to play a much weaker opponent will lose its edge.

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