Colin Gray’s 40 maxims on strategy: 3 big reasons the Americans screwed up in Iraq

40 Maxims on Strategy would be a much better title for Gray’s book than the actual one, which is Fighting Talk: Forty Maxims on War, Peace and Strategy. I was put off by that title but bought the book after I saw Gen. Mattis recommend it.

It is good stuff. Here are some of the things I underlined:

The socio-cultural context has been emphasized here because it has been, and remains, the prime area of strategic weakness in the behavior of the U.S. superpower.
(p. 5)

… strategy must convert one currency (military behavior) into another (political effect).
(p. 11)

Competent strategy is all but impossible in the absence of a continuous dialogue between policymakers and soldiers.
(p. 12)

Tom again: These aren’t the only reasons, of course. But they are a good start.

Gray also made me think I should go back and read Thucydides again. Last time I used a tiny print Penguin Classic edition because I was reading it on my commute on the Metro. This time I think I will try the big fat Landmark edition with all the maps, which I have lying around somewhere.