5. ART OF WAR
“If instructions are not clear and commands not
explicit, it is the commander‟s fault. But when
they have been made clear, and are not carried
out in accordance with military law, it is a crime
on the part of officers”
Sun Tzu, The Art of War by Samuel Griffith P. 84
5
7. ART OF WAR
“Your servant has already received your
appointment as commander and when commander
is at the head of the army, he needs not accept all
the sovereign orders”
Sun Tzu, The Art of War by Samuel Griffith P. 115
7
13. ART OF WAR
Self
Excellence
Execution Strategy
13
14. AIM
To apprise the audience about Sun Tzu Art of
War & its applicability in 21st Century
14
15. SCHEME OF PRESENTATION
Background
Authorship of Art of War
Exposure of Sun Tzu Art of War
Salient of Art of War
Applicability in 21st Century
Asymmetric Warfare & Sun Tzu
Conclusion
15
16. BACKGROUND
Sun Tzu lived around 500 BC
Sun Tzu - “Master Sun” Chi
Born in state of Chi, China
Military doctrine in 510 BC
Worked for King Ho-Lu
King Ho - Lu
16
17. BACKGROUND
China divided in small states
Warring States Ch‟i
Yellow
Sea
Ch‟i & Wu most prominent Wu
South China Sea
17
18. BACKGROUND
“Bing-Fa” – “Art of War”
More than 2500 years
13 Chapters
Followed by great leaders
Reference book
18
19. AUTHORSHIP OF ART OF WAR
Analysis of classical period, era extending from
551 to 249 BC
Thirteen chapters were not composed around
500 BC, but belong to later stage
19
20. AUTHORSHIP OF ART OF WAR
100,000 armoured troops used in relation to
problems of war finances, supply &
replenishment
Armies of this size unknown in China
before 500 BC
20
21. AUTHORSHIP OF ART OF WAR
Strategic & tactical doctrine of „The Art of War‟
is based on
• Deception
• False Appearance
• Indirect Approach
• Adaptability
• Flexible & Coordinated Manoeuvre
• Speedy Concentration
21
22. AUTHORSHIP OF ART OF WAR
Application of such tactics required highly
mobile & well trained troops
Such formations were not common until
Warring States (453 – 221 BC)
Sun Tzu thirteen chapters be placed in category
of „Authorship Unsettled‟
22
23. EXPOSURE TO WORLD
Art of War” was introduced to Japan around
760 AD
Sun Tzu was first brought to attention of
western world by Father Amiot
Published in Paris – 1772
23
24. EXPOSURE TO WORLD
Sun Tzu Art was focused in beginning of 20th
Century
First English translation “The Art of Modern
Warfare” was published in 1905
24
25. EXPOSURE TO WORLD
Four translations in Russian language
Later translations in
German
Italian
Several other languages
25
27. ART OF WAR
US way of War – Denial of Sun Tzu principles
Trillion Dollar war in Iraq resulted
Loosing allies Fanatic enemies
27
28. ART OF WAR
“The Best victory is to
win without actual
fighting. Supreme
excellence consists in
breaking the enemy‟s
resistance without
fighting”
Sun Tzu, The Art of Modern Warfare by
Mark Mc Neilly P 5
28
29. ART OF WAR
US keen to start war
Little interest in winning without war
Cost of war – Irrelevant to US regimes
29
30. ART OF WAR
"Know yourself and know the enemy. If you know
the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear
the results of hundred battles. If you know
yourself but not the enemy, for every victory
gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know
neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb
in every battle“
Sun Tzu, The Art of War by Samuel Griffith P. 115
30
31. ART OF WAR
War – Easy game for US
US cared less about
Muslim culture
Religion
History
Tribalism
31
32. ART OF WAR
“The best thing is to take the enemy‟s country
whole and intact; to shatter and destroy it is not so
good”
Sun Tzu, The Art of War by Samuel Griffith P. 115
32
33. ART OF WAR
Iraq – Broken nation
Millions fled
Dysfunction electoral
system
Ethnic war
Terrorism & kidnapping
33
34. ART OF WAR
Ops DESERT STORM
Deceived Saddam
Hussain
Amphibious Assault in
East
Landed in West
Low Causalities
34
38. WIN ALL WITHOUT FIGHTING
“Generally in war the best policy is to take a
state intact; to ruin it is inferior to this”
“To capture the enemy‟s army is better than to
destroy; to take intact a battalion, a company
or a five-man squad is better to destroy them”
“To gain one hundred victories in one
hundred battles is not the highest excellence;
To defeat the enemy‟s army without doing
battle is the height of excellence”
Sun Tzu and Art of Modern Warfare by Mark McNeilly P 15,18
38
39. WIN ALL WITHOUT FIGHTING
Five principles provide means to achieve
To accomplish nation‟s objective battles are not
necessarily proper means
Better to win “without fighting”
39
40. WIN ALL WITHOUT FIGHTING
Destroying target without firing bullet
More valuable thinking & workable options to
decision makers
1962, Cuban Missile Crisis
1994, Haiti Crisis
1996, Taiwan Strait Missile Crisis
40
41. WIN ALL WITHOUT FIGHTING
“War is a matter of vital importance to the
state; the province of life or death; the road
to survival or ruin. It is mandatory that it be
thoroughly studied”
Sun Tzu, The Art of War by Samuel Griffith, P. 91
41
42. WIN ALL WITHOUT FIGHTING
Calculations/estimates essential before war
Avoid actions if risks not properly deliberated
If not, force will be in jeopardy & nation be
ruined
German invasion of USSR in 1941
Hitler‟s illogical determination resulted in failure
of Ops Barbarossa
42
44. WIN ALL WITHOUT FIGHTING
“What is of supreme importance in war is to
attack the enemy‟s strategy. Next best is to
disrupt his alliances. The next best is to attack
his army”
Sun Tzu and Art of Modern Warfare by Mark McNeilly P 21
44
45. WIN ALL WITHOUT FIGHTING
Strategies with no significant benefits over
opponent, may win a battle but will
eventually lose war
Doolittle‟s bombing had no significant
tactical effect
Disrupt Japan‟s national military strategy &
war plans
Led to Japan‟s total defeat
45
47. DECEPTION & HUMAN INTELLIGENCE
“Know the enemy and know yourself; in
hundred battles you will never be in peril.
When you are ignorant of the enemy but know
yourself, your chances of winning or losing
are equal. If ignorant both of your enemy and
of yourself, you are certain in every battle to
be in peril”
Sun Tzu, The Art of War P. 5
47
48. DECEPTION & HUMAN INTELLIGENCE
Capable, make enemy believe that we are
incapable
Active, demonstrate that we are inactive
Leaving, mislead to think that we are
approaching
Employ “Chi” (extraordinary force) & “Cheng”
(normal force)
48
49. DECEPTION & HUMAN INTELLIGENCE
Deceived Iraqi ground forces
Deploying several U.S Navy SEAL along Kuwaiti
coast
Prevented huge human loss in 100 hrs battle
49
51. DECEPTION & HUMAN INTELLIGENCE
Local agents
Local inhabitants of area
Inward agents
Grieved or rejected enemy officials
Converted agents
Enemy agents used by giving bribes
Doomed agents
Own agents used to leak fabricated information
Surviving agents
Own clever, talented & loyal agents
51
52. DECEPTION & HUMAN INTELLIGENCE
Utilizing secret agents & preventing enemy
from using them, will stand much better
chance of victory
Afghanistan & Iraq – coalition forces relied
on intelligence for success
52
54. LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
“There are five qualities which are dangerous in a
General
If reckless, can be killed
If cowardly, can be captured
If quick-tempered can be made fool
Too delicate sense of honor can calumniate him
Compassionate nature can be harassed”
Sun Tzu and Art of Modern Warfare by Mark McNeilly P 210
54
55. LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
Military leaders are highest level thinkers &
political military experts
Think in multiple domains & operate flexibly
to manage change
Elements of national power as well as
interrelationship among them
55
57. LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
“Before going for the battle, one who calculates
will win. Many calculations mean victory but with
few calculations, no victory”
“If a general who heeds my strategy is employed
he is certain to win. Retain him! When one who
refuses to listen to my strategy is employed, he is
certain to be defeated. Dismiss him”
Sun Tzu, The Art of War by Samuel Griffith P. 96
57
59. LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
“He whose generals are able and not interfered
with by the sovereign will be victorious”
Sun Tzu, The Art of War by Samuel Griffith P. 96
59
60. LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
Political leaders should not interfere with
military leaders during conduct of war
Political leaders should delegate authority to
commander to accomplish mission
Affected morale, destroyed trust &
complicated relationship between civilians &
military
60
61. LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
“General who regards his men as infants, they
will march with him into the deepest valleys.
He treats them as his own beloved sons and
they will die with him”
Sun Tzu, The Art of War by Samuel Griffith P. 203
61
63. AVOID STRENGTH ATTACK WEAKNESS
“Now an army may be likened to water, for just
as flowing water avoids the heights and
hastens to the lowlands, so an army avoids
strength and strike weakness”
Sun Tzu and Art of Modern Warfare by Mark McNeilly P 33
63
64. AVOID STRENGTH ATTACK WEAKNESS
Enabled forces in Gulf War to defeat Iraqis in
four days suffering almost no casualties
Avoid strength & attack weakness is key to
achieve goal
Focusing resources against enemy's critical
weak point, success more easily achieved
Attacking weakness by selecting key
resource
Create weakness through preemptive strike
64
65. AVOID STRENGTH ATTACK WEAKNESS
Attacking Weakness by Selecting Key Resource
“That you may march a thousand li without
wearying yourself is because you travel where there
is no enemy. Go into emptiness, strike voids,
bypass what he defends, hit him where he does not
expect you”
Sun Tzu and Art of Modern Warfare by Mark McNeilly P 47
65
66. AVOID STRENGTH ATTACK WEAKNESS
Attacking Weakness by Selecting Key Resource
Attack weakest part of enemy defence by
selecting key resource
Submarine campaign in Pacific theatre by United
States against Japan
WW-II, US Submarines were able to cut off island
of Japan
Extreme shortage of logistics required to
continue war
66
67. AVOID STRENGTH ATTACK WEAKNESS
Creating Weakness Through Preemptive Strike
“The potential of troops skillfully commanded in
battle may be compared to that of round boulders
which roll down from mountain heights. Thus one
need to use but little strength to achieve much”
Sun Tzu and Art of Modern Warfare by Mark McNeilly P 51
67
68. AVOID STRENGTH ATTACK WEAKNESS
Creating Weakness Through Pre Emptive Strike
Weakness may be created through preemptive
strikes
Strategy employed by Israelis at beginning of Six
Day War in 1967
Preemptive strikes gave advantage to negotiate
Israel made no serious effort to come to terms
with Arabs
68
70. SPEED & PREPARATION
“Speed is the essence of war. Take advantage
of the enemy's un-preparedness; travel by
unexpected routes and strike him where he has
taken no precautions”
Sun Tzu and Art of Modern Warfare by Mark McNeilly P 96
70
71. SPEED & PREPARATION
Forces must move rapidly to secure ground
Substitute for resources
Shocks & surprises enemy
Critical to exploit weakness
Builds momentum
71
73. SPEED & PREPARATION
“War is a matter of vital importance to the state;
the province of life or death; the road to survival
or ruin. It is mandatory that it be thoroughly
studied. Therefore, appraise it in terms of five
fundamental factors and make comparison of the
seven elements later named, so you may assess
its essentials”
Sun Tzu The Art of War by Samuel Griffith P. 91
73
75. SPEED & PREPARATION
Morale
“Regard your soldiers as your children and they
will advance to the deepest valley and will die
with you”
Sun Tzu, The Art of War by Samuel Griffith P 95
75
76. SPEED & PREPARATION
Weather
Weather was a key factor for selecting D Day for
Normandy landing
Allied forces exploited uncertainty of weather
as factor of surprise
76
77. SPEED & PREPARATION
Terrain
“Know the ground, Know the
weather, your victory will be
total”
Sun Tzu, The Art of War by Samuel Griffith P. 96
77
79. SPEED & PREPARATION
Command
Recklessness
Cowardly
Quick tempered
Delicate of honor
Over concerned for his
men
79
80. SPEED & PREPARATION
Doctrine
“By Doctrine I mean organisation, control and
assignment of appropriate ranks to officers,
regulation of supply routes, and the provision of
principle items used by the army”
Sun Tzu, The Art of War by Samuel Griffith P. 95
80
81. SPEED & PREPARATION
Wiseness of ruler
Ability of commander
Advantage of nature & terrain
Discipline enforcement
Strength of army
Training of officers & men
Rewards & punishments
81
82. SPEED & PREPARATION
Operations Desert Storm – Success
Movement of thousand of troops,
equipment, food, fuel, bullets & bombs was
a feat unprecedented after WW-II
Ensured victory within 100 hrs of ground
battle with minimum causalities
82
84. SHAPING THE ENEMY
“Therefore, those skills in war bring the enemy
to the field of battle and are not brought there by
him”
Sun Tzu and Art of Modern Warfare by Mark McNeilly P. 125
84
85. SHAPING THE ENEMY
Leader must first make opponent conform to
his
Strategy
Rules
Will
Make enemy meet at time & place of his
choice
Strategy must utilize direct & indirect
approaches
85
86. SHAPING THE ENEMY
“He who knows the art of the direct; "Cheng;" and
the indirect; "Ch'i;" approach will be victorious.
Such is the art of maneuvering”
Sun Tzu and Art of Modern Warfare by Mark McNeilly P. 29
86
87. SHAPING THE ENEMY
Possible to misdirect attention of enemy
leaders
Take them by surprise
Put them off balance
Exploit the resulting advantage
87
88. SHAPING THE ENEMY
Holding Strategic Position
Attacking Enemy‟s Strategy
Use of Alliances Against Enemy
88
89. SHAPING THE ENEMY
Holding Strategic Positions
Raw materials such as oil have caused
countries to go to war
Strategic advantage through
Technology
Nuclear weapons
Diplomatic positions
89
90. SHAPING THE ENEMY
Attacking Enemy‟s Strategy
Supreme excellence is to attack an enemy‟s
plan
Attack was delayed and USSR attacked their
strategy
Resulted in successful destruction of German
forces at Kursk
90
91. SHAPING THE ENEMY
Use of Alliance Against Enemy
Prevent enemies from combining
Avoid attacking powerful alliance
Separate main enemy from allies before
attacking
Skilful use of allies
Do not choose wrong allies
Know how to maintain an alliance & when to end
91
92. ASYMMETRIC WARFARE
Conflict deviating from norm, or indirect
approach
No specific tactics
Deception, indirect approach, avoiding strength
& attacking weakness
Avoid confrontation with enemy's strength
Prevent larger enemy from effectively utilizing
larger force in effective manner
92
93. ASYMMETRIC WARFARE
“As flowing water avoids the heights and hastens
to the lowlands, so an army avoids strength and
strikes weakness”
“All warfare is based on deception”
Sun Tzu and Art of Modern Warfare by Mark McNeilly P. 29
93
94. ASYMMETRIC WARFARE
Israel & Palestinian organizations is classic
case of asymmetric warfare
Utilized asymmetric tactics i.e small gunfights,
cross border sniping, rocket attacks & suicide
bombing
Sri Lankan government & Liberation Tigers of
Tamil saw large scale asymmetric warfare
94
95. CONCLUSION
Study the past, understand the future
Guide to all types of warfare
World‟s most enduring strategic thinker
Perspective of war Element of strength
Strategy Leadership
Use of Intelligence
95