Modern Crusaders?

The word “crusade” much like the word “tyrant” has come around in the modern age to mean something different than what it did in history. Many writers and journalists compare anti-Trump movements and wars on terrorism to crusades. I believe that this use of the word is unfair. The word’s initial meaning was nothing more than a name for the expeditions made by Europeans in order to reclaim the Holy Lands from the Muslims. Now, when we hear the word crusade, we think of it as a strong movement to change something or to fight a certain oppression that people are experiencing. Although the Europeans did feel extremely strong in their values to reclaim the Holy Lands, the use of the word in a modern context takes away from the true meaning. The crusades were a series of very intense battles, with loads of gore and violence. Using the word to describe things such as political movements seems relatively extreme.

In an article written by Selwyn Duke in The New American, the soldiers fighting ISIS are compared to the crusaders. I believe that this is an inaccurate comparison. The reason for fighting ISIS has nothing to do with religious beliefs or values. Also, the goal of the United States military is not to reclaim any land. It is a fight to squander the values that are associated with terrorism. Although some people believe the ongoing fight between various militaries around the world and ISIS is a religious expedition, the main reason for the fighting is to stop terrorism, and does not have anything to do with a religious grudge, essentially. This is quite different from the actual crusaders, as their goal was to reclaim the land from Muslims. Although there are parallels in the actual fighting, the reasons do not justify the battle against ISIS as being a crusade.  I believe that a more fitting word to describe the battle against ISIS would be something like “the just war”.

Disregarding the article by Duke, I believe that straying away from using crusade to describe peaceful movements would be beneficial in providing a more accurate meaning to the word and not taking away from the meaning. Just like the word tyrant, crusade has come to mean something different. Both of these words should be used conservatively by modern media in order to not take away from the meaning that is actually intended.

 

WC: 403

 

https://www.thenewamerican.com/world-news/europe/item/20163-modern-crusaders-fighting-isis

 

The War on Terror: The Modern Medieval

 

Many throughout the years have compared our current goal to eliminate terrorist organizations, specifically ISIS, as the modern-day crusade. This both misuses the word crusade and misuses the word medieval. In fact, I think the use of the word crusade brings about an unnecessary antisemitism in the US. Many politicians have referred to our involvement in the war against terrorism as a crusade and likewise, some of the terrorist organizations tie the same parallel in an attempt to gain momentum and draw a comparison to the crusades in order to be divisive and separate the world into jihadist and crusaders.

Most dangerously, far-right political groups use the term in an attempt to justify their calls for Islamophobia. Noticeably news organizations like Breitbart make the parallel to support their argument for the expulsion of Muslim foreigners and the general isolation of the religion. In the most modern context, the use of words like medieval brings a context to the terrorist and the general middle east that suggest that they are savages, less than, of a less than civilized era. Using the word medieval to describe terrorist organizations suggest that their religion is somehow innately evil and prone to violence. Many people have pointed to text in their sacred book to make this comparison and justify their fear of the religion. It is interesting that these terrorist organizations, at times, also point to text in Bible that do the same thing. Instead, these terrorist organizations use their text and the history of the crusade to justify their use of violence in defense of their people. Much like these terrorist organizations, a far-right organization like the Kansas Crusaders due the same. Think of the name crusades, it suggests that there is some divine power that has demanded that we fight terrorist also pointing to experts of violence. Is this not the same ideology of the terrorist organizations?

Using the word medieval suggest that these terrorist have technology that is insufficient and their societies are less than sufficient to survive. It paints them as savages and tying this terrorist with any person that is from the middle eastern region is a very dangerous thing to do. It underestimates the ability of ISIS., in fact, this organization is a result of the breakup of the Ottoman Empire in the 20th century. It uses some of the same modern communications and movement techniques and it is so modern that our military has had to change our tactics to account for their insurgency style fighting. The uses of the word medieval to describe this horrible organization are not accurate and we should be careful to compare the two if we want to defeat them. Moreover comparing this to a modern crusade is yet another dangerous precedent to set. If we want to end terrorism, we should be careful to stop fueling their base by assuming the middle easter equals violent terrorist.

Words: 485

Source: https://www.cnn.com/2016/10/16/opinions/nothing-medieval-about-isis-perry/index.htmlCrusader_Christ__warned_ISIS_about

Not a Crusade but a …

Molly Swiger

Tim Cook is fighting for Americans to increase the privacy used in technology. BBC News labeled his urging as a “privacy crusade.” It is not unusual that the technology industry is being accused of tampering with user security, but it is peculiar that the accusation is coming from Apple’s Chief Executive Officer. In medieval times, the crusades were a series of expeditions made by Europeans to recover the Holy Land from Muslims. It was a religious war, backed by a strong tension between Christians and non-Christians. Rory Cellan-Jones, the author of “Tech Tent: Tim Cook’s Privacy Crusade,” incorrectly categorizes Cook’s lobbying as a crusade. Instead, he should have used words such as campaign, promote, or work. The modern definition and usage of crusade differs from the actual Crusades.

Tim Cook explains the surveillance tactics being employed by companies online. User data is being stored and then traded and used against them “with military efficiency.” Companies take advantage of the lax security in order to increase their profits. Tim Cook favors Europe’s new privacy law: the GDPR. He believes that the United States should create something similar. Cook also acknowledges that some users will not be in favor of new regulations, as there is a trade-off between free service and advertisements. If users are going to see ads they might as well be relevant, right? However, Cook argues that Apple will not be able to reach its full potential without complete user trust. He is not the only big name in favor of the GDPR either. Mark Zuckerberg also believes GDPR-style regulation is not only necessary, but inevitable.

In contrast, the medieval Crusades included eight major military expeditions between 1096 and 1291. Both Christians and Muslims were jockeying for control of holy sites. The battles were extremely violent, bloody, and ruthless. They ultimately ended in the defeat of the Europeans but the reach of Christianity was extended far into the West, increasing the wealth and power of the Pope and Roman Catholic Church. Trade and transportation, and subsequently demand for supplies, also increased. Culturally, there are still remnants of hatred toward Christians for their actions during the Crusades.

Obviously, Cook’s urging for increased security carries a magnitude nowhere near that of the cause of the Crusades. Specifically, as there is no violence or religion involved in his technological campaign, it is not proper to refer to it as a crusade. One may argue that the cultural significance of changing privacy laws is enough for it is be labeled as a crusade. However, the privacy debate is focused more on the individual’s safety, rather than a difference between American and European culture. The GDPR is simply a model that Cook and Zuckerberg believe will benefit user safety. Tim Cook may strongly believe in privacy reform, but his struggle will never reach the ruthlessness or violence that occurred during the religious conflicts and therefore cannot be named a crusade.

 

Word Count: 486

 

Work Cited:

Cellan-Jones, Rory. “Tech Tent: Tim Cook’s Privacy Crusade.” BBC News, BBC, 26 Oct. 2018, http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-45993776.

“Crusades.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 7 June 2010, http://www.history.com/topics/middle-ages/crusades.

“Tim Cook.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 30 Oct. 2018, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Cook.

 

Master Sun

Molly Swiger

 

Sun Tzu’s Art of War has been regarded as one of the most influential military strategy texts in East Asian warfare since it was published in 5th century BCE. In Chinese culture, the sun is the epitome of ‘yang’ and represents heat vitality, Spring and East. It is important to note that Tzu was known as Master Sun: he represents goodness in Chinese culture and following his teachings will ensure success in battle. Sun Tzu’s over-arching philosophy focuses on victory through planning, with the strength of an army originating in its unity. Similarly, the Naval Academy aims to focus on the mental aspects of war and to “imbue them with the highest ideals of duty, honor, and loyalty.” While both philosophies are effective, the Naval Academy does not teach about military strategy, instead placing a greater focus on wholeness of the individual. Tzu emphasizes both the importance of strategy and character. Therefore, Tzu has a better philosophy.

The first chapter of The Art of War explains the making of plans. Tzu emphasizes the severity of war: “War is a grave affair of state; it is a place of life and death.” Without proper planning, a commander will not be prosperous. Understanding the fundamentals of war is a necessary step. Tzu states these essentials as: The Way, Heaven, Earth, Command, and Discipline. Because of how momentous war is, due consideration must be given to strategy. Plainly, Tzu declares “victory belongs to the side that scores most in the temple calculations before battle.” The Naval Academy puts Midshipmen through classes like Ethics, Leadership, Law, and History in order to foster this understanding of the gravity of war and the consequences of the decisions of officers. The mission statement is not singly focused; officers must be well versed in all aspects of war.

The third chapter of The Art of War describes the origins of strength. In battle, unity is congruent with strength. A focused, unified force will be stronger than a large, distracted army. This unity is developed through strategy. A commander who plans will conserve his troops and resources. In addition, he has to know his people and those who he is fighting against. Midshipmen, too, are taught to stress honor and loyalty. This loyalty refers to loyalty within a command and loyalty to the Constitution.

The seventh chapter of The Art of War discusses the risks of direct combat and exposes the greatest difference between Tzu’s principles and those taught at the Academy. Tzu discusses the drawbacks of pursuing an enemy in different terrain and the stresses it places on soldiers. He draws on the principles taught in previous chapters, as strategy is integral to find the balance of when to go and when to stay. Furthermore, war will favor a focused army because “the brave will not advance alone, nor will the fearful retreat alone.” It is the refusal of an army to lose its spirit that will lead to victory. Tzu argues a skillful warrior will possess mastery of spirit, mind, strength, and change. The Academy does not have classes that teach about military strategy or war planning. Thus, officers have to go to extra schooling to receive this knowledge.

Master Sun’s military strategy maintains a profound influence on both Eastern and Western philosophy with implications beyond the scope of war. Tzu describes what is required to be successful in battle and as a leader.

 

Word Count: 571

 

Work Cited:

“Nature Symbolism in Chinese Art.” Chinese Symbolism of Nature Elements, http://www.chinasage.info/symbols/nature.htm#XLXLSymSun.

“Plebe Summer Home.” The U.S. Naval Academy, http://www.usna.edu/PlebeSummer/index.php.

Sun-tzu, The Art of War. Trans. John Minford. London: Penguin, 2009.

Sun Tzu and the Naval Academy

In The Art of War, Sun Tzu explains the various ways an officer attains success in the military. The way Sun Tzu presents the topic of war, the reader gets the sense that Sun Tzu does not think of war as a violent or sought out engagement. In fact, Sun Tzu state that “better take an army…intact than destroy them”, suggesting that direct battle is not what we should strive for.  Instead, Sun Tzu speaks about strategy and deception. One common theme that could be found in each of Sun Tzu’s chapters is knowledge-knowledge of self and of the enemy. Sun Tzu places a general’s ability to succeed based on his awareness of his own strengths, the strengths of his men, the strengths of the enemy, and the awareness of how the surrounding environment can enhance or hinder each of these strengths.

Similarly, one technique we are taught at the Naval Academy is our ability to manage time. We must know where we exceed and where we struggle in order to know how to prioritize the tasks we are given with the limited time we have. For example, a midshipman who is already fit and can pass the PRT but struggles with academics will most likely put more time into their studies than in working because that is where they are weak.

I think both Sun Tzu and the Naval Academy teach a necessary and effective technique. As military officers we must be able to evaluate ourselves and our men, constantly seeking improvement. If we neglect to do this then we run the risk of remaining complacent. This lack of awareness also keeps us from either not using the combined talents of our forces to their fullest potential, or stretching ourselves too far to the point of breaking. I also think that knowing the enemy and understanding where their strengths and weaknesses lie allow us to strategize effectively.

In the beginning of Chapter One, Sun Tzu states that there are Five Fundamentals when thinking about war. One of these fundamentals is what Sun Tzu calls Command, described as “Wisdom; Integrity; Compassion; Courage; Severity.” Reading this I immediately thought of the ethics and leadership classes we are required to take, and the discussion of virtues in both of these classes. One thing that is stressed to us as midshipmen and future naval officers is the importance of virtues, and how knowing what our own virtues help us develop our leadership skills as well how we are influenced when making decisions as an officer in charge of Sailors and Marines. This another example of how the teachings of both Sun Tzu and the Naval Academy are in alignment with their view on what is most important when serving in the military and in war.  I do not think it is a coincidence that the teachings of the Naval Academy and those of Sun Tzu overlap, and both are effective in helping the officer comprehend the complete magnitude of war and the full impact the consequences of our actions can make.

Word Count: 508

Sun Tzu: The Art of Midshipmenry

By; Quinton CooperThe-Art-of-the-Deal-Vs.-The-Art-of-War-650x360

The art of war is one of the most heavily studied passages for military leadership in the world. It has earned its title as the premier guide to the concept of war and is timeless. If it is so essentially and has proved its efficacy: Why isn’t it a required reading for midshipmen. By required reading, I mean a plebe summer reading. If midshipmen read The Art of War I think we would be enlightened by many of the shocking yet effective tactics that Sun Tzu notes.

From the very beginning of the work, Sun Tzu notes something that I think many midshipmen are confused and mostly ignorant of. Walking through Bancroft, the “warheads on foreheads”, and “Let’s just go to war” comments are common. If midshipmen were required to read The Art of War I think that this immature and underdeveloped view of our role as a military would go away. The very first point made in  The Art of War is ” War is a grave affair of state; It is a place of life and death, a road to survival and extension, matters to be pondered carefully” (Sun Tzu 1). Contrary to the motivations here at USNA from students and military staff alike, we should be more careful of our rhetoric when it comes to going to war. We often forget that yes we may be defending our nation, but in that effort, we lose lives and take lives. To that point, we should ponder even the thought of violence more carefully instead of throwing comments like “let’s just blow them up”.

I think a more holistic view of the concepts and practice that make up our very profession would be useful. We often talk about learning from the past and there is no better way than to learn from a piece of literature that has proven to be beneficial to many practitioners of war. USNA may teach of the loose ethics of war and teach of leadership, but its convoluted way of teaching is not nearly as plain put as it should be. Instead, we sit in classes learning about how to lead instead of just leading. Making the Art of War a required reading, I think would be the best step we could take towards learning the very basics of our trade. Maybe then we could branch out to more broad topics of leadership and ethics.

 

Source: The Art of War

Word Count: 402

 

 

Sun Tzu and USNA training hooyah

Sun Tzu’s over-arching principle in Art of War is to defeat your enemy with tactics and not just brute force.  Strategy is the most important part of war.  This sentence from the reading sums it up well, “Victory belongs to the side that scores the most in the temple calculations before battle” (Sun Tzu 8).  Here at USNA, the main focus is mentally preparing us to become officers.  We are not necessarily learning how to kill people or win wars just yet.  However, the education we receive is setting a foundation for us to become military leaders.  Sun Tzu would agree with this based on the emphasis he describes on the strategy and tactics party of war and not the physical act of killing the enemy.

One of Sun Tzu’s five fundamentals in the Art of War is discipline.  The practice of discipline is one that is very prominent here at USNA.  Between marching, drill, maintaining proper uniforms, and staying on top of homework, discipline never goes away.  That is because just like Sun Tzu says, it translates to war.  Sun Tzu says that discipline is chain of command, a concept we encounter everyday within our companies.  We also practice discipline by having unpleasant punishments for breaking the rules such as restriction.  Another one of these fundamentals is command, which Tzu describes as integrity and compassion.  Integrity is probably the most important thing for a midshipman to have.

The passage emphasizes the importance of good military leaders.  Here at USNA, everything we do is supposed to help us with becoming a better military leader one day.  Some of Sun Tzu’s advice is to be ready for the unexpected, and know yourself.  These are two things we certainly learn here at Navy.  We really get to know ourselves after becoming a midshipman.  We face serious challenges through a combination of academics, athletics, and military training.  We fail, learn why we failed, and become better from it.  We learn what we ourselves are capable of and what our limits are.  This constant learning about ourselves is in my opinion, probably the most effective in becoming a better future leader because we really get to know our flaws.  Sun Tzu says that before we know the enemy, we must know ourselves.  In order for militaries to be great, they have to have good leaders.  Not every one of them can be strictly an excellent warfighter.  They will need people to be able to lead them.  Teaching us how to think as leaders first here at USNA, is more effective than sending us directly into military war fighting training.

Word count: 435

Sun Tzu’s Philosophy Versus The US Military

In ancient China, a timeless work was written by Sun Tzu during the warring states period. Tzu’s The Art of War redefined unconventional warfare through mental strategy, and is still analyzed today by businesses and military schools including the Naval Academy. While Sun Tzu’s writings seem to stress the importance of using strategy over physical strength, modern teachings at military institutions like the Naval Academy believe that the best way to obtain peace is to prepare for war.

Sun Tzu was unique for his time and continues to have a presence in military teachings because of the bizarre ideas but exceptional leadership that he brought to the battlefield (1). For example, he mentions that in order to defeat your enemy “you must become your enemy” (2). This defies the idea that conquering your enemy means having a stronger army, and he reasons that a weaker army can still win. Tzu is also saying that the best way to ensure victory is to analyze the enemy and attack the weak points, similar to the way David defeated Goliath. This specialized form of battle strategy is why Sun Tzu was one of the most legendary Chinese generals- he recognized the importance of strategy over brute force.

At the Naval Academy, midshipmen are convinced from the very beginning of their careers that the strength of the Navy is the reason for our nation’s success. With an annual defense budget of over six hundred billion dollars (3), the United States spends more money on the military than the next seven countries combined. Compared to the rest of the world, America is Goliath. This being said, the US military does employ strategic deterrence through our nuclear weapons and this does align more with Sun Tzu’s teachings.

In my opinion, I believe that the strategy currently employed by the United States and taught at all of the service academies is the superior philosophy. While Sun Tzu’s The Art of War is important to consider with any military, his strategy is based on the conservation of resources- the most important being his men. However, the advancement of technology in warfighting capabilities and the lack of intense conflict in the world allows for soldiers’ life expectancy to increase dramatically. In addition, the virtually unlimited resources and funding of our military today is vastly larger than what Sun Tzu had access to, and therefore it can afford to focus on both unconventional warfare (in new areas like cyber defense) and power projection. With all of these factors considered, this is why the US hybrid philosophy that combines strength with deterrence is more effective.

 

Sources:

1.http://time.com/2801517/sun-tzus-art-of-war-how-ancient-strategy-can-lead-to-modern-success/

2.https://www.pgpf.org/chart-archive/0053_defense-comparison

3. Sun Tzu’s The Art of War

 

Word Count: 432

 

Blog 4

The over-arching philosophy of Sun Tzu’s Art of War is to use intellect rather than force. “Ultimate excellence lies/ Not in winning/Every battle/But in defeating the enemy/ Without ever fighting. / The highest form of warfare/ Is to attack/ Strategy itself”. Tzu’s believes mental intelligence is a more vital skill than physical strength in war. In fact, a physical fight should not be the first resort, or to be resorted to at all. The philosophy of this book understands and respects that to win a war is more than death. Instead, it is careful strategic planning with consideration for the enemy.
The Naval Academy emulates Sun Tzu’s ideas presented in the book. As future leaders of our Nation’s sailors and marines, intellect is highly valued. We focus on building our intelligence to be capable war-fighters in all scenarios. Our strength relies on our preparedness and allows us to become better officers. We are forced to think about all scenarios and think of how we can best defeat the enemy. We also do not forget about the physical mission. At the academy, we do our best to prepare for the challenges that lay ahead. We are taught to not control our emotions. A leader has control over the welfare of his troops. “Victory belongs to the side/ That scores most/ In the temple calculations/ Before battle.” While defeat is those who score lower in calculations. Tzu does not allow pride to weaken troops. “If equally matched, / Fight it out; / If fewer in number, / Lie low;/ If weaker, / Escape.” Though escaping is usually recognized as a sign of weakness, the author points out that it is ok. It is smarter to evade the enemy when one recognizes itself as weak. It is better to gather troops and organize a fair fight. It is recognized that having a fair fight was highly values, today it is not like that. Our enemies do not hold the same values we do, but that does not mean we need to stoop to their level. The U.S. military continues to follow a high ethical code.
I think between the different service communities they are all well balanced in our readiness for the future. Though the emphasis between communities differs, intellect is held in high regard. The Naval Academy follows Sun Tzu’s Art of War through our careful, well thought out curriculum and leadership opportunities.

WC: 401

Sun Tzu vs. USNA

The philosophy laid out by Sun Tzu demands much of a military leader. He claims that the best way to defeat your enemy is to capture them without fighting. It is a peaceful strategy focused on leaving the opponent’s army and nation intact rather than recklessly obliterating them. He describes is as “the method of attacking by stratagem of using the sheathed sword.” Ideally, a general would prevent an enemy’s plans from occurring entirely and at very worst, a general would besiege a city with a lengthy operation. Sun Tzu does, however, describe certain scenarios where it is reasonable to attack the enemy, such as when their army is anything less than five times as large as the enemy’s. When their army is inferior in numbers to that of the enemy, he claims that the enemy’s army must be avoided, and if inferior in every way, they should flee.

At the Naval Academy, we learn in courses such as ethics, the meaning of just war and proportionality. Ideally, we use only enough force as is required to accomplish the mission. Excessive force leads to unnecessary destruction and, potentially, to loss of life. This teaching is in accordance with Sun Tzu’s philosophy. Where our philosophy differs is in the notion of being outnumbered. Whereas Sun Tzu recommends fleeing from the enemy, we are taught to fight against all odds to defeat the enemy. This can be done through superior planning, training, and determination. This actually agrees with Tzu’s statement “he will win who, prepared himself, waits to take the enemy unprepared.” The Navy, as a whole, takes preparation very seriously, so as not to be outwitted by the enemy.

If the assumption were made that the United States military was actually inferior in every way to the force of one of our enemy’s, I believe our military would show courage and face the enemy against the odds. Such was the case during the Revolutionary War. There are examples in the modern age, however, where it is wise to negotiate with an enemy instead of attacking them, even if U.S. forces appear to be superior. For example, it would be dangerous to attack a country that possesses nuclear weapons. If the entirety of their nuclear arsenal is not destroyed, they could potentially use such a weapon in retaliation. This scenario, called mutually assured destruction, is a limiting factor on how the United States can use its force, and was not a relevant factor during the time of Sun Tzu. Sun Tzu’s statement “he will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight” holds relevant with this case.

Much of what Sun Tzu states in “The Art of War” holds true to what we are taught at the Naval Academy. The one major difference lies in being outnumbered. We are taught to be courageous, striving for tactical superiority, when the odds are against us, yet wise in recognizing when our force could spark worldwide destruction.

Matt Malone

Sources: Sun Tzu’s The Art of War

Word count: 495