On War

Rating:
Summary: A true Classic
Review: This is one of the most reference yet least cited books I know. Over and over again it is mentioned that Von Cluasewitz's theme is that war and political objectives must be combined. Very much like the image of Toqueville today, through the ages those who cite this hit upon only one point. To summarize Von Cluasewitz as only saying that war is the extention of diplomatic means is a mass understatement. Like his predecessor Jomini, in his life Von Cluasewitz was truely to trying to clear the smokey halls of militay theory. Both authors emphasize above all else there are few if any absolute maxims. In Reference after Reference, both of these authors note the fact that every situation is different and that there are many facets working simultaneously. What Von Cluasewitz and Jomini both attempt have as much to do with the approach to any science as they do to war. The authors simply try to shift through the noise and filter out the complications to find basic elements that can be studied and expanded. For this reasons the works are great not only for an understanding of war but also how a scientific approach to any subject should work. I do recommended having some working knowledge of the wars of the late 18th century and the early 19th century though. Without having read Chandler's work on the Napeoleonic wars I believe I would have been lost in many of the examples. Cluasewitz often referrs to Napeleon and Fredrick the Great. I think the main points can still be seen withot much knowledge of the campaigns of the two great commanders, yet a working knowledge greatly enriches the experience.

Rating:
Summary: Clearly the most important book about War ever written.
Review: Very extensive information regarding Clausewitz and his famous book On War can be found on the Clausewitz Homepage, at URL: http://www.mnsinc.com/cbassfrd/CWZHOME/CWZBASE.htm

Rating:
Summary: War as it is (Princeton University Press edition)
Review: We can compare Clausewitz with Sun-Tzu, the other great military thinker. Clausewitz reads more like a typical western school book. Sun-Tzu is more akin to Buddhist thinkers - he gives you the ideas and the basics, but you are left to work out the details. They complement each other very well. What Clausewitz understood, and it is still so difficult for certain presidents to grasp, is that war is a last resort; it must have a definite, and achievable goal; the the way to achieve that goal is by decisively defeating the enemy!
Clausewitz stress land battle as the way to defeat an enemy. Even with the advent of trade embargoes, naval blockades, and strategic bombing, the land battle has proved to be the decisive factor.
Clausewitz only managed to edit the first book of On War before he died. The others were just compiled and published by his widow, and I am afraid it shows. That is why so many editions just feature the first book. The others are a drag to read! Still, there are so much wisdom here! A few highlights include:
- the passage describing the recruits first exposure to battle, which is chillingly detailed and gruesome.
- the statement that it is not the attacking nation that wants the war, it is the defending nation! The aggressor would be just as happy annexing the defendor quietly! The corollaries here are mindboggling.
- poloticians must start the war, but it is the generals that must end it (negotiated peace is not an option)
In some ways Clausewitz is a bit dated. He concentrates on land war, and, I assume, he could not predict the cold war and the rise of the military-industrial complex, which desires a permanent state of almost war. Something that would have abhorred the noble old Prussian general.
Still, no one has lost a war by following the advice of Clausewitz.

Rating:
Summary: A great book for Microsoft Reader
Review: yes yes On War is a difficult book to read and I my self have had to read it several times to gleam the basic understanding I have of it now, but more importantly is how wonderful it was reading it on my Pocket PC. I own a Jornada 548 Pocket PC, which I recommend to all Pocket PC buyers. It was very clear and the ability to go to annotated text easily and my highlights made it very easy to refer back to text I needed when writing a paper on the book. I own the paperback as well, but I feel that the E-book format is far superior and suggest all those who can to get for their Portable Handheld, Desktop, or Laptop.