Reducing the myriad experiences of the fog of war to a few memorable principles is often grounds for criticisms of overgeneralization and subjectiveness. However difficult, incomplete or impossible, it remains an important task of doctrine writers.
The Canadian Chiefs of Staff Committee has adopted ten Principles of War to guide the Canadian Forces in operations. These principles are considered timeless, and applicable at all levels of command from Section to Army Group. Such principles do not by any means guarantee victory. They are not laws of nature but simply terms for guidance.
Over the next month I will post each one of these principles so that we may discuss them, and possibly challenge them. They were collected and formed with the experiences of the first and second world wars close at heart. Often you will see references to “modern war.” Through our discussions I hope to see whether or not this label remains applicable to the conflicts we see today, or if we have seen the dawn of “post-modern war.” Specifically I am referring to all our collaborations on xGW.
So stay tuned for the next few weeks, as we explore the lessons learned from the fog of war.

Comments to this entry
Dan tdaxp
May 19, 2008
10:11 pm
IJ
May 20, 2008
8:54 am
Moreover public support for the aim is crucial - a government might want its military to pursue a risky and expensive foreign policy but that can only continue surely in the short-term.
Bottom line? The military is the handmaiden of foreign policy. A comparison of the foreign policy of nations would also be useful - for starters, which nations support the United Nations as head of the world's political order? Territorial disputes and peacekeeping statistics mentioned here in the past suggest the UN has little support from many quarters.
Chirol
May 20, 2008
10:34 am
Ralph Hitchens
May 20, 2008
2:54 pm
Benjamin Walthrop
May 20, 2008
4:36 pm
Younghusband
May 20, 2008
4:44 pm
von Kaufman-Turkstansky
May 20, 2008
8:47 pm
Don't mind me. I am looking forward to YH's posts too.
zenpundit
May 21, 2008
2:57 am
IJ
May 21, 2008
8:36 am
Aircraft carriers may become the catalyst for effective defence policy in Europe. Sharing is on the cards. It is reported that, in general, Britain and France are worried about the cost of independent defence, lack of public support and European ineffectiveness in the present arrangements. But no word yet on merging hugely expensive nuclear forces.
ComingAnarchy.com » Blog Archive » The Principles of War: 1. Selection and Maintenance of the Aim
May 21, 2008
10:06 pm
ComingAnarchy.com » Blog Archive » The Principles of War: 2. Maintenance of Morale
May 23, 2008
6:22 am
ComingAnarchy.com » Blog Archive » The Principles of War: 3. Offensive Action
May 25, 2008
12:14 pm
ComingAnarchy.com » Blog Archive » The Principles of War: 4. Security
June 1, 2008
1:27 am
ComingAnarchy.com » Blog Archive » The Principles of War: 5. Surprise
June 11, 2008
2:05 am
ComingAnarchy.com » Blog Archive » The Principles of War: 6. Concentration of force
June 13, 2008
1:05 am
ComingAnarchy.com » Blog Archive » The Principles of War: 7. Economy of Effort
June 22, 2008
5:40 am
ComingAnarchy.com » Blog Archive » The Principles of War: 8. Flexibility
June 28, 2008
1:15 am
ComingAnarchy.com » Blog Archive » The Principles of War: 9. Co-operation
July 2, 2008
2:35 pm
ComingAnarchy.com » Blog Archive » The Principles of War: 10. Administration
July 6, 2008
9:02 am