Fighting Economically

What is the Perfect-Economy strategy?

Although Defensiveness might sound like a sign of weakness, Defensive warfare is the height of strategic wisdom. Wasting neither energy nor time, like a cat with its economy of motion. Let the enemy make the first move and wait for them to hang themselves or their moment of exhaustion to launch a vicious counter-attack.

Defensive warfare

• Essentially leveraging our weaknesses and limitations into victory 
• Basics:
  • Resourcefulness – The economy of means
  • Lie low under aggressive attacks 
  • Counter attacks
  • Intimidation, and deterrence
  • Retreating skillfully – Luring the enemy into an imprudent attack
    • Must know when to accept losses and quit 
    • Know when to stop
• Engaging only in necessary battles

In 281 BC, war broke out between Rome and Tarentum(Italy’s east coast), Long story short, the strategist Pyrrhus made a terrible mistake during the war. Although Pyrrhus managed to win the battle with his elephants, his advisors told him: ” If we defeat the Romans in one more such battle, we shall be totally ruined” – and that’s what happened – Pyrrhus couldn’t recover from his victorious battle!
The term ” Pyrrhus Victories” was coined – a triumph that is as good as victory, but that comes at a great cost.  We unconsciously see what we want to see, more possible gains and fewer difficulties ahead.

In the utilization of a theater of war, as in everything else, the strategy calls for an economy of strength. The less one can manage with, the better; but manage one must, and here, as in commerce, there is more to it than mere stinginess – CARL VON CALUSEWITZ

Perfect-Economy Strategy:

• Acknowledging our Limits -Over-extending is dangerous and exhausting 
  • Knowing our limits will expand them
• Making the war expensive for the enemy, and cheap for us 
• The level at which your blows count but do not wear you out 
• Calculating costs of warfare 
  • Time
  • Political goodwill squandered
  • Embittered enemy on revenge 
  • Exhaustion – leads to more mistakes 
  • New unforeseen problems 
  • Meaningless victories along the way 
  • Debt to allies 
• Fighting on our terms – especially if the battle is inevitable 
• Aiming at the enemy’s Weaknesses – Hit their Achilles heel over and over 
  • A place left unprotected or undeveloped 
  • Big Size itself 
  • Low morale 
  • Internal political problems 
  • Shaky finances 
  • Overly Centralized control
  • Leaders Megalomania 
• Patience 
  • Covertly undermine the enemy
  • Always be ready for the next inevitable battle.
  • Wait for a better time 
• First steps
  • 1. Deception – Low cost with powerful results 
    • Propaganda 
    • Information gathering 
    • Spread of misinformation
  • 2. Look for beatable corners – Avoid enemies with nothing to lose as they will work to bring you down at all costs 

Over-economizing will wear you out more, you must spend on the growing costs of war, and deliver the knockout punch.

The value of a thing sometimes lies in what one attains with it but in what one pays for it – what it costs us – Nietzche 

Inspired by The 33 Strategies of War