Von Clausewitz, perhaps of the greatest philosopher of the art of war, was deeply misunderstood by his students. Their reductive approach to his teachings actually had a deleterious effect he hadn’t at all intended. His famous line that "War is the continuation of policy with other means," ("Der Krieg ist eine bloße Fortsetzung der Politik mit anderen Mitteln"), while accurate as far as it goes, was not intended as a statement of fact. His followers didn’t tumble to the nuance. Von Clausewitz also gave us realpolitik, so beloved by Kissinger, and the fog of war, a notion easy to grasp even for civilians. I mention him for a grim purpose.
© 2024 John Oliver
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