Is Clausewitz’s On War still relevant regarding modern warfare and military strategy?
WRS
Sort of like Freud. any things he said were wrong, but he was the first person to think (and write) about the subject in a serious way.
VonC rejected old-fashioned notions like “The Key to the Country” and pointed us toward (but did not specifically articulate) the modern force-oriented strategy. He noted for the first time the tendency of war towards totality. He did this noting the effect tents (of all things) had on early-modern European warfare.
He did not comment too heavily upon the increase of mobility that marked the post-Napoleonic period (although he certainly saw the first clues in is own lifetime.
So, a smart cookie, he set us on the path to clear (or at least clearer) thinking on the subject, but not an all-seeing prophet.
If I wanted to read about modern military strategy, tactics - to learn about modern warfare, in general - what book would be best? Wars fought today are very different from how they were fought decades ago. What are today’s concerns, expectations, and methods?
I should state that it should be a non-biased book, neither pro-war nor anti-war.
WRS
Gee that is a tough one.
VonC is a tough read (he died before publication and so he was never able to edit the manuscript.)
The standard U.S. Army Publication is FM 100-1 Operations (1996 version) is an excellent primer. However (and oddly) I have been unable to find it online. MCWP 3-1 Ground Combat Operations is a lower-level book, and in truth I have not read it.
On the other hand, you can download it at
Damn, that’s a great link.
My pleasure. I still like FM100-1 better.
I believe I may have a copy. It used to be online, but… since 9/11 it vanished. I have a decent stash of FMs, actually.