Control people’s perceptions of reality to control them. Hitler knew that the allies were deceptive, and he was alert to their covert tactics, but the Allies, in a masterclass of deception, managed to fool him. In war-time, truth is so precious that she should always be attended by a bodyguard of lies. WINSTON CHURCHILL, 1874-1965 … Read more
The Soviets needed control Afghanistan for strategic geopolitical reasons, they installed a puppet dictator, and tried to counter the rise of the Islamic fundamentalists. But the U.S backed the Islamists, and ultimately, the Russian ploy to get the Afghans to accept socialism failed. The Afghans fought the Soviets with tens of thousands of men and … Read more
What people failed to take from you through direct battle, they will try to take from you under the guise of morality and fairness. Do not be taken in, negotiation is about moving for power, always put yourself in a position of strength. Make the other side settle on your terms. The more you take, … Read more
Fighting endless battles is costly, it is much wiser to master the art of maneuver. Bait your enemies into positions that seem alluring but at really traps and blind alleys. Give them dilemmas – if you give them problems, they might solve them, but if you give them a dilemma, they will get stuck. So … Read more
The Zulu The Zulus defeated the British, even though their technology was inferior. They managed to instill fear in the British by appearing to emerge out of nowhere, and by gaining a psychological advantage. Not only were they highly disciplined, but when a British soldier was killed by the Zulu spears, a disturbing sucking sound … Read more
Attacking directly is rarely a good idea. Napoleon had a name for the opposite strategy, the ‘manoeuvre sur les derrieres’ – it would become a favorite of his. It worked because generals liked to place their armies in strong frontal positions and second, an army that is attacked from the flank must turn to defend … Read more
The Center of Gravity Strategy Man depends on his throat to survive. If his throat is strangled, his give sense organs will become useless. When you are faced with an enemy, know how to locate their throat. Crush your enemy not through brute force, but through intelligent force. Every person has a center of gravity, … Read more
Forcing Strategies In 1833, Mr. Thomas Auld, a slave owner of a plantation in Maryland, called back his slave Frederick Douglass, who was 15 at the time, from Baltimore. Douglass had spent several years in the city, serving Auld’s brother. But in life in the city has changed him, he taught himself to read and … Read more
The Blitzkrieg Strategy You must be slow in deliberation and swift in execution. Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821) In 1218, Muhammad II, the shah of Khwarazm, received a delegation from the Mongol Empire to the east. Genghis Khan had sent the shah three ambassadors who offered gifts, and a treaty that recognized the shah as the superior … Read more
The Intelligence Strategy The key to success in battle is to know the mind of your opponent. If you understand their psychology, then you will know how to deceive and control them, while avoiding being preyed upon yourself. Pick up their unconscious signals and note what they imply about their hidden motives. Act friendly to … Read more