#strategyexpert2

#strategicexpert #strategyexpert2 #potsdam #cecilienhof #defence Colin S. Gray is one of the most remarkable strategists of our time. In his book National Security Dilemmas, he depicts the problems within American strategic decision making or rather the lack of. Gray depicts the western military circles as having “put their faith in systems engineering methods and technological means” with a disregard for the appreciation of military history. Central to western military thought is the will to quantify and rationalize everything. Clausewitz already stated though that war is a clash of wills. If that holds true, it surely cannot be rational. Thus, in Grays opinion strategy is partly an art with eternal rules. The book Security Dilemmas, written in 2009, already deals with Irregular warfare in a separate chapter. His opinion on the matter is rather straight forward: War is war and strategy is strategy. He makes a brilliant argument that war in whatever shape or form abides by eternal rules which disregard the current military means and stay the same. He brings back the very important aspect which many strategists and military leaders alike have forgotten: Tactical and operational excellence is always desirable, even if not always necessary to achieve strategic success. This is clear recommendation for anyone who wants to challenge themselves about their thinking on strategy. https://www.instagram.com/p/B8a4K4Pog4f/?igshid=3moru3surjzg

#strategictuesdays #strategicexpert #strategyexpert2 #gerasimanov #strategy #cecilienhof #potsdamconference1945 Current Russian operational thought is the product of nearly 100 years of consecutive military operations. Originating in the years of the Russian civil war, operational art is the centre piece of the understanding of war. Different to the western focus on Clausewitz and his book which leaves more then enough room for any kind of interpretation, Russian operational thought builds on thinkers such as Svechin or Yegorov. The Decisive Point is not attributed the same importance as within western military thought; rather the focus of operational art is not only the battle itself but also the built up before outbreak of a potential war. Svechin is often referred to as the Russian Clausewitz. His writings probably ensured soviet victory during the Second World War. He created the idea of a deep battle. One which has a fluctuating front line and adopts a more dynamic approach to dominating the battlefield. While his ideas were ultimately successful, Svechin himself found an early death, before the war, in Stalin’s purges. The book with primary translated sources offers a great insight into the Russian military science approach to warfare. https://www.instagram.com/p/B7S3dXeIgKl/?igshid=k0gu9uvh5r9n