\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Dr. Martin Percy and the Kursk, Ukraine offensive<\/strong><\/p>\n In Oxford, Dr. Martyn Percy described the plethora of leadership books and asked us to name one from antiquity. I mentioned The Art of War,<\/em> Sun Tzu[1]<\/a> and he asked for something that Sun Tzu This flashback came to mind as I watch the Ukrainian Army push into Kursk, Russia.\u00a0 In Chapter 6, Weak and Strong Points, #7 of The Art of War, Sun Tzu writes, \u201cYou can be sure of succeeding in your attacks if you only attack places which are undefended\u201d (Kindle location 117).<\/p>\n While the long term impact of the offensive is currently being debated, some believe,\u201d The Ukrainian military’s incursion into Russia’s Kursk region has had a significant impact on the entire theater of operations and will influence both Russian offensive and defensive capabilities even after the current advance on Pokrovsk is concluded, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). https:\/\/newsukraine.rbc.ua\/news\/ukrainian-forces-invasion-of-kursk-region-1725596338.html<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Go where the enemy is not.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Kursk 1943<\/strong><\/p>\n Lost to many, is the place of Kursk as a significant battle in WWII.<\/p>\n The Strategic Kursk Salient – According to an article in ARMOR, Germany and Russia had reached an impasse by the winter of 1943 from Leningrad to the Black Sea. And at the center of the disputed area, a year\u2019s worth of fighting had created a massive salient (an outward-protruding bulge of land on a battle line) approximately 150 miles from north to south and 100 miles from east to west. At the center of the salient lay the Russian city of Kursk. (https:\/\/www.history.com\/topics\/world-war-ii\/battle-of-kursk#the-strategic-kursk-salient)<\/p>\n The west has perhaps long forgotten this battle, but for both the Ukrainians and the Russians, this 81-year-old battle is probably still fresh. \u00a0Hitlers last effort into Russia AND during this battle, he had to shift forces to address the Allies attack in Cicily. \u00a0Aspects of history begin to repeat themselves.<\/p>\n Some Sun Tzu principles evident in the Kursk offensive, Surprise and Deception<\/strong>, Attacking the Enemy\u2019s weakness, Diverting Enemy Resources, Morale and Psychological Impact.<\/p>\n In the current conflict, attack him (Russia) where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected (Kursk), these military decisions, leading to victory, must not be divulged beforehand (inform your \u201callies\u201d at the last minute and give the gift of surprise to the Russians<\/p>\n Sun Tzu\u2019s impact on modern leaders<\/strong><\/p>\n It is hard to state where Sun Tzu has impacted other modern leaders unless it has been specifically stated, but writing his book in the 5\/6th<\/sup> B.C. Sun Tzu has a certain copyright claim to the ideas he presented. To name a few\u2026<\/p>\n Mao Zedong, On Guerilla Warfare (1937) specifically mentions The Art of War when fighting Japan.<\/p>\n Napoleon Bonaparte, J. Christopher Herold, The Age of Napoleon (1963): Describes Napoleon\u2019s military tactics and strategy, some of which align with Sun Tzu\u2019s teachings on surprise, speed, and strategic deception.<\/p>\n Norman Schwarzkopf, It Doesn’t Take a Hero (1992): Schwarzkopf references The Art of War in discussing his strategy during Operation Desert Storm, especially deception tactics.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n A ChatGPT break<\/strong><\/p>\n In a fit of inquiry, I asked ChatGPT to compare The Art of War<\/em> to the Christian spiritual battle.\u00a0 I cannot claim its response, but the AI writes, seeing spiritual warfare in a strategic, disciplined way, much like a general would approach a physical war. See footnote on how some key principles of Sun Tzu’s The Art of War<\/em> could be applied. [2]<\/a><\/p>\n Epilogue:<\/strong><\/p>\n As a quick review of Sun Tzu\u2019s 64 page book, (free on Amazon.com Kindle), here are the 13 categories he addresses: 1. Laying Plans, 2. Waging War, 3. Attack by stratagem, 4. Tactical dispositions, 5. Energy, 6. Weak points and strong, 7. Maneuvering, 8. Variations in Tactics, 9. The Army on the March, 10. Terrain, 11. The Nine Situations, 12. The Attack By Fire, 13. The Use of Spies.<\/p>\n Clearly, these are points given for martial situations and yet we see these principles creep into modern leadership guidelines.<\/p>\n Michaelson, Gerald A. The Art of War for Managers: 50 Strategic Rules<\/em>. Adams Media, 2001.<\/p>\n Krause, Donald G. The Art of War for Executives<\/em>. Perigee Books, 1995.<\/p>\n Chu, Chin-Ning. The Art of War for Women: Sun Tzu’s Ancient Strategies and Wisdom for Winning at Work<\/em>. Currency, 2007.<\/p>\n And then the play on words with Pressfield and Steven. The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles<\/em>. New York: Black Irish Entertainment, 2012.<\/p>\n Sun Tsu is clearly speaking across the span of years to leadership writers and scholars.<\/p>\n As a young Christian, raised in a loosely catholic background the battle between angels and devils was discussed.\u00a0 Saints in Catholicism seemed to be generals in the spiritual battle. So, the idea of spiritual warfare was not an intellectual leap for me when I turned Protestant.\u00a0 Twenty-three years, 6 months and 11 days (but who\u2019s counting) in the U.S. Army ingrained in me this military perspective that embraces the spiritual armor in Ephesians 6.<\/p>\n While the bible is our spiritual \u201cwar manual\u201d it is interesting to see how a 5th<\/sup> Century Chinese General has impacted leaders in pursuit of war and in 2024’s business world.\u00a0 While Ukraine and Israel give us ample opportunities to observe how the principles of Sun Tzu will play out, it is the bible that will see us to the \u201cend of times.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Sun-Tzu.png\")
<\/a> taught.\u00a0 \u201cGo where the enemy is not,\u201d I replied.<\/p>\n