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July 17, 2004
Ronin Thought of the Day
Posted by Frank J. at 02:50 PM | View blog reactions | Comments (18)

Let us once again consult Sun Tzu:

Whoever is first in the field and awaits the coming of the enemy, will be fresh for the fight; whoever is second in the field and has to hasten to battle will arrive exhausted.

Therefore the clever combatant imposes his will on the enemy, but does not allow the enemy's will to be imposed on him.

We must hold the offensive to succeed.

18 Responses To "Ronin Thought of the Day"

A bit of a contradiction, here.

#1 - Posted by: Walter E. Wallis on July 17, 2004 02:59 PM

We must hold the offensive to succeed.

Ummm...that's not quite what the venerable warmaster is saying, Frank. More like "make your enemy play by your rules" than anything else. True, that sometimes means taking and holding the offensive - but it can also mean choosing your battles, and battlegrounds, so as to gain the greatest advantage (ie. defending wisely).

#2 - Posted by: Austin on July 17, 2004 03:31 PM

i think this is especially appropriate in light of Michell Malkin's post about the GOP convention

#3 - Posted by: unkonwn on July 17, 2004 03:43 PM

Sun Tzu is saying that we meet the enemy on our terms not his.

This happened by accident at Gettyburg. Think how John Buford set up the situation and with Reynolds' Corps stopped the Army of Northern Virgina from digging in on the heights overlooking the town.

Sun Tzu is much more insightful and easier to read than Clausewitz. Read his book, there are several translations available, some with execellent commentaries.

Meanwhile, continue to gather weapons and ammunition in military calibers.

#4 - Posted by: MAJ Mike on July 17, 2004 04:05 PM

"We must hold the offensive to succeed." Well, the Japanese attacked first (Pearl Harbor), yet they
lost the war. Napoleon attacked first, and he lost the war(s). Dubya's attack on Iraq has made us a loss less safe than before -- at least to judge from all the Administration's
warnings of impending attacks. (Unless of course these warnings are just meant to keep up the level of hysteria.)

As for Sun Tzu... It's always amusing to see
ideologues putting a veneer of respectability on their bankrupt ideas by attributing them to dead people who can't defend themselves -- Sun Tzu, the Founding Fathers,
the Bible, what have you.

#5 - Posted by: Silvio Levy on July 17, 2004 04:55 PM

When engaging the enemy in combat,
fight on your own terms.

#6 - Posted by: Rob on July 17, 2004 06:44 PM

When the enemy engages you in combat,
fight on your own terms.

#7 - Posted by: Rob on July 17, 2004 06:48 PM

Hey, I took my shot at it. Maybe I missed; I was groggy :)

#8 - Posted by: Frank J. on July 17, 2004 07:20 PM

Everytime I read or hear "bankrupt" applied to an abstract noun, I think of Hans Gruber from Die Hard.

This is where I'm supposed to compare you to a terrorists, but they weren't terrorists, just thieves. EXCELLENT thieves.

#9 - Posted by: W.R.X. on July 17, 2004 08:07 PM

Sure, W.R.X. Compare me to "a terrorists"
if you like. Doesn't change reality an iota. Reality is this: you call yourself a conservative, but support the destruction of everything that conservatives have stood for -- fiscal responsibility, small government, states rights, individual freedoms, you name it. All because you can't let go from the fantasy that the puppet in the White House is the savior of mankind.

Silvio Levy

#10 - Posted by: Silvio Levy on July 17, 2004 10:41 PM

Sun Tzu also speaks of the financial needs for warfare, and "sustained" warfare where occupation is the order of the day.

In these issues we are m essing up terribly.

Sun Tzu also speaks of attacking the enemy in it's heart. Since we are in a war with Islam we either strike Mecca and be done with, or we strike the families of terrorist to send a very cruel but well understood message.

Instead we are being politiced to death.

#11 - Posted by: IXLNXS on July 17, 2004 10:49 PM

I try to make a joke and you focus on the typo.

#12 - Posted by: W.R.X. on July 18, 2004 06:57 AM

actually, i think it means something like "get to the rock concert early so you can nap during the opening act."

#13 - Posted by: sarahk on July 18, 2004 09:40 AM

Looks like our often 'Misunderestimated' President is a scholar of Sun Tzu.

As long as President Bush sticks to his guns on killing the Clinton Gun Ban and Stem Cell Research. The Conservatives will cast their votes for him in droves.

#14 - Posted by: Imperial Lamplighter: LC Jack Deth on July 18, 2004 12:57 PM

Silvio is projecting a bit.

#15 - Posted by: Dave in Texas on July 18, 2004 01:09 PM

Silvio says you call yourself a conservative, but support the destruction of everything that conservatives have stood for -- fiscal responsibility, small government, states rights, individual freedoms, you name it.

Good gawd, can you read minds? That's amazing!

#16 - Posted by: A Recovering Liberal on July 19, 2004 02:48 PM

American Translation: Hit 'em where thay ain't.

#17 - Posted by: Connecticut Yankee on July 19, 2004 04:41 PM

The best bitches on the web

#18 - Posted by: weak sister bitch on November 12, 2004 02:38 PM
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