Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Iraq, China and Sun Tzu

Well, looks like George is having a good month - only 28 Americans dead so far this month. In preparation for my trip to China, I've been doing a little reading, and dragged out my old copy of Chinese General Sun Tzu and the Art of War. This famous tome is still being used by military schools around the world to teach basic strategy - there is nothing earth shattering about the ideas in the book, except perhaps their timelesseness. I noted Chapter 2 of the book - on invading a nation far away, and that one best do it quickly - which somewhat has contrasted with out little excursion in Iraq. Here it is - and it makes great reading in comparison with the reality of what we have seen these last 4 and one-half years in western Asia . . .

Generally, the requirements of warfare are this way:

One thousand quick four-horse chariots,
one thousand leather rideable chariots,
one hundred thousand belted armor,
transporting provisions one thousand li,
the distribution of internal and on the field spending,
the efforts of having guests, materials such as glue and lacquer,
tributes in chariots and armor,
will amount to expenses of a thousand gold pieces a day.
Only then can one hundred thousand troops be raised.

When doing battle, seek a quick victory.
A protracted battle will blunt weapons and dampen ardor.
If troops lay siege to a walled city, their strength will be exhausted.
If the army is exposed to a prolonged campaign, the nation's resources will not suffice.
When weapons are blunted, and ardor dampened, strength exhausted, and resources depleted, the neighboring rulers will take advantage of these complications.

Then even the wisest of counsels would not be able to avert the consequences that must ensue.
Therefore, I have heard of military campaigns that were clumsy but swift, but I have never seen military campaigns that were skilled but protracted.
No nation has ever benefited from protracted warfare.
Therefore, if one is not fully cognizant of the dangers inherent in doing battle, one cannot fully know the benefits of doing battle.
Those skilled in doing battle do not raise troops twice, or transport provisions three times.
Take equipment from home but take provisions from the enemy.
Then the army will be sufficient in both equipment and provisions.

A nation can be impoverished by the army when it has to supply the army at great distances.
When provisions are transported at great distances, the citizens will be impoverished.
Those in proximity to the army will sell goods at high prices.
When goods are expensive, the citizens' wealth will be exhausted.
When their wealth is exhausted, the peasantry will be afflicted with increased taxes.
When all strength has been exhausted and resources depleted, all houses in the central plains utterly impoverished, seven-tenths of the citizens' wealth dissipated,
the government's expenses from damaged chariots, worn-out horses, armor, helmets, arrows and crossbows, halberds and shields, draft oxen, and heavy supply wagons,
will be six-tenths of its reserves.

Therefore, a wise general will strive to feed off the enemy.
One bushel of the enemy's provisions is worth twenty of our own, one picul of fodder is worth twenty of our own.
Killing the enemy is a matter of arousing anger in men;
taking the enemy's wealth is a matter of reward.
Therefore, in chariot battles, reward the first to capture at least ten chariots.
Replace the enemy's flags and standards with our own.
Mix the captured chariots with our own, treat the captured soldiers well.
This is called defeating the enemy and increasing our strength.
Therefore, the important thing in doing battle is victory, not protracted warfare.
Therefore, a general who understands warfare is the guardian of people's lives, and the ruler of the nation's security.

Truer words were never spoken. . . .

Monday, October 8, 2007

Slow Boat to China

I'm going to China. 3 weeks. For 12 days. Official State of CT education trip. As a Board member, off I go. The Chinese want to learn essentially how to set up Western style locals board - not for control - they'll never give up state control - but for input and discussion. This ought to be interesting.

First, I'm spending about 13 hours in Tokyo - I'll be at the airport hotel right there - no reason to leave the area - Tokyo is too far away but i'm gonna take a taxi to a local town and sample the cuisine and meet some people as the Gaijin wandering over from the airport. See if I have the same good time I had in Cozumel. When I was on a cruise I walked into town looking for cheap tequila - I found it - so cheap I never in a million years ever though of buying it - but I did stop in at a bar. At lunch time I sat with a bunch of workers for a couple of hours, having Corona beers [at 50 cents each] and lunch [some kind of pastry with very tasty and spicy meet and vegetables]. I bought the house a round of beers [there were 8 guys there] and got to see picutures of their families in wallets- showed them mine - and we hooted and hollered over [now get this] not sports but 1970's reruns of the Dating Game and the Newlywed Game in voiced over in Spanish with english subtitles. This was hilarious. Between my LA bus spanish and their 6th grade english, we all got by. I was sad to go - but - the boat was leaving and they dropped me off at the dock in a rattrap old pickup. The tender security did want to let me on the pier - there I was - shorts, t-shirt, flops, very tan, coming off a locals 25 year Ford pickup. I literally had to go to the ship with the tender and a security card to prove who I was - since they take embarkation photos now - my room card scanned my picture. Juan the security guard was just dying to stay on the boat but I shrugged and said buenos dias.

Anyway, Japan, and then China for 12 days. I am fascinated but kinda scared at the same time. I am flying in separately from the rest of the crew - I'm using miles to go business class - imagine 14 hours in a coach seat? The plane is booked almost full, too, for the other members of my group who are getting to Beijing only an hour later than me.

The Great Wall. Monogolia through the gate - they say the desert starts literally on the other side of the gate. One side lush and oriental, the other side dry as Mongolian beef. Terra Cotta Warriors. Tien an Mein Square. A 6 hour bus ride to Jinan, near the Home of Tsing Tao beer and Confucius. Working with senior officials of government of 230 million people - who look forward to learning from those of us who are successful in a town of 6000.