tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3841671.post-920776572003-04-06T01:52:00.000-05:002003-04-06T03:26:29.000-04:00The Clausewitzian View. In Vom Kriege, Clausewitz discusses the point at which victory arrives--which he says "results from the superiority of one side," physically and psychologically. During war, various factors enter the equation, adding or decreasing strength. If Clausewitz's criteria are any judge, we seem to be accruing strength as the war progresses. He lists seven causes of additional strength:<blockquote>1. The losses suffered by the defending forces are usually heavier than those of the attacker. 2. The defender's loss of fixed assets such as magazines, depots, bridges, and the like, is not experienced by the attacker. 3. The defender's loss of ground, and therefore of resources, from the time we enter his territory. 4. The attacker benefits from the use of some of these resources; in other words, he can live at the enemy's expense. 5. The enemy loses his inner cohesion and the smooth functioning of all components of his force. 6. Some allies are lost to the defender, others turn to the invader. 7. Finally, the defender is discouraged, and so to some extent disarmed.</blockquote>Of course, certain factors work to decrease strength. To that end, Clausewitz also names five causes of loss of strength for an invading army:<blockquote>1. The invader has to besiege, assault or observe the enemy's fortresses; while the defender, if he has previously been doing the same, will now add the units so employed to his main force. 2. The moment an invader enters enemy territory, the nature of the operational theater changes. It becomes hostile. It must be garrisoned, for the invader can control it only to the extent he has done so; but this creates difficulties for the entire machine, which will inevitably weaken its effectiveness. 3. The invader moves away from his sources of supply, while the defender moves closer to his own. This causes delay in the replacement of his forces. 4. The danger threatening the defender will bring allies to his aid. 5. Finally, the defender, being in real danger, makes the greater effort, whereas the efforts of the victor slacken off.</blockquote>Some food for thought from the master, as victory seems to near.Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09469631120776212711noreply@blogger.com