[March 10, 2022] With war raging in Ukraine, now is an excellent time to remind ourselves of the 5 essentials for victory. Sun Tzu, whom I’ve written about many times (see links here, here, and here), has condensed for us what is needed for victory in war.
In a future article, I will address whether the Russian military is adhering to these 5 essentials for victory.
From Sun Tzu’s Art of War, he writes, “Thus we may know that there are five essentials for victory:”1
- He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight.
- He will win who knows how to handle both superior and inferior forces.
- He will win whose army is animated by the same spirit throughout all its ranks.
- He will win who, prepared himself, waits to take the enemy unprepared.
- He will win who has military capacity and is not interfered with by the sovereign.
The first is about knowing when to fight and when not to fight is most appropriate for America. Often, we fail to take this into account. “Moral wars,” where we engage in a fight against evil, may seem at first to be the kind of war we should undertake. We are the world’s police force and a movement of good. Not! This is a poor way and surefire method of losing.
Sun Tzu is telling us to pick the right time to fight. Tactically, for example, fight in the early morning hours when the enemy is still asleep. Or in the Summer, when you will not be bogged down in the snow. Do not attack the enemy at his strongest point where he expects you to.
We can also apply Sun Tzu’s wisdom to strategic decisions as well. Nations often have a choice about war. Do they engage in war with a rival? What is to be gained from warfare? Are there better alternatives to war? Many nations run headlong into war without studying the long-term impact upon their fighting forces or nation. Prudence may come out on the side of not fighting a war by soldiers. Patience and deliberation are paramount.
Sun Tzu’s knowledge of warfare is an accumulation of ancient trial and error methods of battle. He learned about what works and what does not work. We should appreciate his advice.
Is Russia following the 5 essentials for victory?
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I think Russian Pres. Putin has not met these 5 essentials for victory and he never will. What will be the outcome? Senseless death and destruction. Thanks to Gen. Satterfield we have a little bit better understand of war and conflicts (an old human trait).
Excellent, thanks Gen. Satterfield for pointing out Sun Tzu’s 5 essentials for victory. Let’s not ever forget them. Also, apply these to the current Russian – Ukrainian War and see what we can get.
I was thinking along these same lines Gil. I also think Putin screwed this up.
Good one, Gen. Satterfield. This is exactly what I’m looking for when I read your blog. I would suggest you also take time to write more about each of the 5 essentials for victory.
Thanks Gen. Satterfield for another deeply meaningful article, this one on the 5 essentials for victory. Yes, I’m sure we all would like to see you apply these to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Good point, LM. Thanks. I too would like to read about this comparison.
Great list of the 5 essentials for victory. I had no idea. Thanks Gen. Satterfield for highlighting them for us. If you could, I would like to see a linkage of them to the current war in the Ukraine. That would be good info. A great time to compare what is happening in real time to ancient – and proven – essentials for victory.
Wow, this list of 5 essentials for victory are so appropriate. I can read them and say that the Ukraine is inline with them but it looks like Russia has stumbled. Or am I just getting propaganda. But, important to win the propaganda war as well. Gen. Satterfield has made some important points here. If you plan to think about and analyze the War in Ukraine being attacked by the Russians, you cannot forget these 5 things.
Gen. Satterfield asks in his last line, “Is Russia following these 5 essentials for victory?” That, my friends, is the 64-dollar question. I think not.
— we will find out soon enough. The final encirclement of Kyiv is about to happen.
Then, that is the beginning of the end of Ukraine. Whenever Zelenskyy falls, the nation will fall. Or, at least that is the common consensus. I think the nation will live on and killing or capturing him will work against the Russian invasion.
Gen. Satterfield, just for you as a resource, here’s a good link. Keep up the great work you are doing.
https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-march-9
Dog gone it !!!!!!!! That nutty Putin is at it again. Wish I was there to kick some butt.
We should kick meek Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin out on his butt and install you in his place. At least we would be entertained. That said, where is Lloyd Austin anyway. Haven’t seen his fat ass before the cameras recently. 😊
Gen. Satterfield, thank you once again for educating us on the “old ways” (that are proven right over and over) and connecting it to the fight in Ukraine. I think No. 3 is especially poignant. “He will win whose army is animated by the same spirit throughout all its ranks.” The Russians are not “animated.” We see this thru the lens of propaganda but much of it is undeniable.
What Happened to the Vaunted Russian Army?
https://pjmedia.com/news-and-politics/rick-moran/2022/03/09/what-happened-to-the-vaunted-russian-army-n1564995
Curious minds are asking!
This absence of the Russian Air Force has been on the minds of many as I listen to them talk about the war (mostly retired Generals on television shows). Maybe, they say, they are waiting for the right moment. Maybe, they say, Putin misjudged his own Air Force capability. But all these maybes and no action after two weeks. What’s up with that?
The US doesn’t know this one: #1. He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight.
How else can we explain the dithering of our president Biden and his cabinet?
Do they even know what they are doing. The Polish M-29 donation can’t even get them to make a hard clear decision.
That’s a big part of the problem, as many of us see it. What is the American role in this war with Ukraine and what is our objective? I don’t know. Anyone hear what our objective is? Let curious minds know.
I haven’t heard anything. Just a bunch of word salads from dimwits like K. Harris (yes, she is our VP) and SecState Blinken (moron). 👀
Good point Max. Thanks. I agree also that the Polish govt was trying to do something right here but made the mistake of involving an indecisive USA.
“Sun Tzu’s knowledge of warfare is an accumulation of ancient trial and error methods of battle. He learned about what works and what does not work. We should appreciate his advice.” Couldn’t have summed it up better.
Timely! These essentials for victory will never change because humans are humans and we will not be artificially changed.
But but but aren’t we morally superior to those of the past …. those stupid knuckledraggers. /sarc
He He He …… you got it Ronny. So many morality pumping nitwits out there who want to pump up their morality by hashtagging the Ukraine War and what ever the most recent leftist popular topic is. Must be hard to have no values and have to follow a daily changing narrative like our stupid leftists friends do.
Good one Ronny. made my day.
Just another reason to read the leadership forums. Gen. Satterfield has done us well with today’s article and why I keep coming back. I hope Gen. S continues with the updates on Ukraine but more importantly to show us the linkage to important leadership traits like he did today.