What's your opinion about Sun Tzu's "The Art of War" ?

Question

from Sun Tzu's The Art of War: "Spies are a most important element in war because upon them depends an army's ability to move."

孫子

Answer 1

The revelations in the book are incredible.....it fully describes the interaction of all people.....

Answer 2

Sure?

Look in the real world.

Is it successful in idol worshiping the dead Mummy of failures and horrors of the past that is only good in his own time?

If it's so successful.

Then where did all the cave-men from the twilight zone came from in different time zone?

With spies from the twilight zone in different time zones?

Will it work?

Even the dead Mummy who was dead and buried was long gone with time.

Got themselves caught with the best kept dirty little secrets hidden in the graves for centuries was caught with pants down and two empty hands.

Luke 6.39-40,41-45,46-49

What do you think?

Answer 3

I am sure all of the nations top dogs have read with care The Art of War.

Another thing that it says is "Never tell your enemies your plans".  That means DON'T GIVE A TIMELINE FOR ENDING A WAR.

Answer 4

It should be required reading for EVERYONE in the military, regardless of rank. It should also be required reading for our Senators, Congressmen, Pres., Veep, and all the Cabinet members.

'Nuff said?

Answer 5

Know your enemy, know yourself, then victory is assured. SunTzu.

Answer 6

Whenever I see somebody quoting Sun Tzu I think: "Amateur."

The Sun Tzu is the equivalent to 'Strategy For Dummies.'

If those people had really studied strategy they would have read:

Thuddiclies

Jomil

Machiavelli

Clausewitz

Summers

etc.

Answer 7

Concise and accurate--as Sun Tzu always is.

In this case, you'd want to update and expand it a bit to put the advice in a useful modern context:

In any military engagement, good intelligence about the enemy's disposition and resources is essential. Without it you cannot know where to attack or what you need to defend.  You also need to know about your enemy because otherwise you may walk into a trap, commit forces unwisely, or leave yourself open to a surprise attack.

You cannot make a wise choice of action (the army cannot move) until you have that kind of information.