by Jake Sanders, Editor ( 杰克·桑德斯，编辑 )
Chinese translation below ( 中文翻譯在下方)
In a world where the United States holds significant influence, theorists suggest that future conflicts will likely feature unbalanced or asymmetrical warfare due to the overwhelming military power involved. If current and future opponents engage in unconventional tactics, it is essential to reassess our understanding of war, as theories shape military operations. These theories also offer frameworks for analyzing issues and solving problems related to warfare and military engagement.
Sun Tzu’s strategy of indirect engagement or avoiding direct conflict remains relevant in today’s military landscape. His insights are crucial for modern strategists addressing contemporary national security challenges, as his writings still hold value centuries later. The intelligence community’s reliance on technology has replaced much of the human intelligence that was once vital. However, a lack of credible intelligence can jeopardize national security and endanger both military personnel and civilians, as demonstrated by Al-Qaeda’s attacks on the U.S.
Sun Tzu emphasizes the importance of understanding the enemy’s capabilities, potential, and intentions, underscoring the need for detailed inquiries into these aspects. This involves deploying spies to gather human intelligence. He strongly links intelligence to the concept of foreknowledge, asserting that such knowledge is essential for overcoming adversaries and achieving national goals. According to Sun Tzu, foreknowledge cannot be derived from supernatural means or past experiences; it must come from individuals familiar with the enemy’s situation.
To attain true foreknowledge, strategists must thoroughly comprehend the enemy, their own strengths, and the surrounding environment. This level of understanding can be likened to Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield, a proven approach for anticipating enemy actions. Furthermore, the gathering of human intelligence is crucial, but equally important is Sun Tzu’s emphasis on deception. Nations must not only collect information about their adversaries but also secure their own intelligence to prevent it from being accessed by the enemy. Sun Tzu insists that nations must safeguard their true intentions from adversaries at all costs.
在一個美國擁有重大影響力的世界中，理論家們認為未來的衝突可能會出現不平衡或不對稱的戰爭，這是由於所涉及的壓倒性軍事力量。如果當前和未來的對手採取非常規戰術，那麼重新評估我們對戰爭的理解就是至關重要的，因為理論塑造軍事行動。這些理論也提供了分析與戰爭和軍事參與相關問題及解決問題的框架。
孫子所提出的間接交戰或避免直接衝突的戰略在當今的軍事環境中仍然具有相關性。他的洞見對現代策略家應對當前國家安全挑戰至關重要，因為他的著作在幾個世紀後仍然具有價值。情報界對技術的依賴已經取代了曾經至關重要的人類情報。然而，缺乏可信的情報可能會危及國家安全，並使軍事人員和平民面臨危險，這一點在基地組織對美國的襲擊中得到了證明。
孫子強調了解敵人的能力、潛力和意圖的重要性，強調需要對這些方面進行詳細的調查。這涉及部署間諜以收集人類情報。他強烈將情報與前知的概念聯繫起來，聲稱這種知識對於克服對手和實現國家目標至關重要。根據孫子的說法，前知不能從超自然手段或過去的經驗中得出；它必須來自熟悉敵人情況的個體。
為了獲得真正的前知，策略家必須徹底理解敵人、自身的優勢以及周圍環境。這種理解水平可以類比於戰場情報準備，這是一種預測敵方行動的有效方法。此外，人類情報的收集至關重要，但同樣重要的是孫子對欺騙的強調。國家不僅必須收集有關對手的信息，還必須保護自己的情報，以防被敵人獲取。孫子堅持認為，國家必須不惜一切代價保護自己對對手的真正意圖。