Politics

“small towns with major universities (Moscow & Pullman, say) are both”

In the 60s, my father wrote a small but enormously influential book called The Principles of War. In it, he applied the principles of physical warfare to what he called strategic evangelism. This idea of warfare is necessary in order to understand a central part of what is happening here, and by this I mean the concept of the decisive point. A decisive point is one which is simultaneously strategic and feasible. Strategic means that it would be a significant loss to the enemy if taken. Feasible means that it is possible to take. New York City is strategic but not feasible. Bovill is feasible but not strategic. But small towns with major universities (Moscow and Pullman, say) are both.
Douglas Wilson

“unless we recover an understanding of these principles, and learn to apply them to the conflicts we are in, then such a win will be impossible”

This section provides an overview of the principles of war. They were developed on the field of battle, but they apply to any situation where conflict or competition is occurring. Reformers are concerned to win what have come to be called the “culture wars,” and unless we recover an understanding of these principles, and learn to apply them to the conflicts we are in, then such a win will be impossible.

The principles of war are:

  1. Objective
  2. Offensive
  3. Concentration
  4. Mobility
  5. Security
  6. Surprise
  7. Cooperation
  8. Communication
  9. Economy of Force
  10. Pursuit


Douglas Wilson

Rules for Reformers by Douglas Wilson, pages 195–96

Following Sun Tzu, our first responsibility is to attack the enemy’s plan. In the second place, we attack his alliances. In the third place, we attack his forces. . . .

To prevail in conflict is not possible without deception. Where you are weak, he should think you are strong. Where you are strong, he should believe you are weak.

Where you are present, he should believe you to be absent. Where you are absent, he should believe you to be present. When you are distant, he should believe you to be near. When you are near, he should believe you are distant.

When you have no plan, he should believe you do. When you are executing a plan, he should believe you are doing nothing.

Your strength is not measured by how strong you are. Your strength is measured by how strong your adversary believes you are.

Weapons are no substitute for a strategy.

Superior weapons do not make up for an inferior strategy. Superior weapons do not make up for inferior men.

The phrase “culture wars” should not be applied to mere policy differences. If one party wants to go left and the other wants to go right, there should be no culture war. If one faction wants to hollow the nation out from within, then we engage.
Douglas Wilson

Wednesday, May 3, 2017 |