J.C. Wylie

“The direct application to today’s problem might well be in determination of the most efficient method of combining cumulative maritime and air…

— J.C. Wylie

“The ultimate determinant in war is the man on the scene with the gun. This man is the final power in war.…

— J.C. Wylie

“The ultimate objective of all military operations is the destruction of the enemy’s armed forces and his will to fight.”* This sums…

— J.C. Wylie

“we cannot predict with certainty the pattern of the war for which we prepare ourselves.”

— J.C. Wylie

“As a hypothetical illustration, let us assume a conflict involving us in Afghanistan.”

— J.C. Wylie

“AT THIS STAGE of the argument we find ourselves with four ideas relating to war and war strategy—that there will be war,…

— J.C. Wylie

“With respect to strategy as a subject of study, its intellectual framework is not clearly outlined, and its vocabulary is almost nonexistent.…

— J.C. Wylie

“we cannot predict with certainty the pattern of the war for which we prepare ourselves. We cannot, with reasonable certainty, forecast the…

— J.C. Wylie

“the definition of strategy that I prefer: A plan of action designed in order to achieve some end; a purpose together with…

— J.C. Wylie

“The classical soldier’s beliefs and behavior patterns are all summarized in the central theme of Clausewitz, who tells us that his study…

— J.C. Wylie

“If we examine the four major limited theories of strategy—the continental, the maritime, the air and the Mao theories—and add to them…

— J.C. Wylie

“a general theory of strategy must, I believe, be a theory of power in all its forms, not just a theory of…

— J.C. Wylie

“It should be clearly understood that this term “equilibrium” does not mean a static halt to action, although it conceivably could be…

— J.C. Wylie

“the soldier cannot function alone. His flanks are bare, his rear is vulnerable, and he looks aloft with a cautious eye. He…

— J.C. Wylie

“There are not many other such places where the maritime element of our national strength cannot be applied, but where this is…

— J.C. Wylie

“The important point, and the crux of the Mao heresy, is that the rural peasant is the base of power. This is…

— J.C. Wylie

“a more thorough recognition and appreciation of the several patterns of thoughts that make up our military minds would probably produce better…

— J.C. Wylie

“An idea is a very powerful thing, and political ideas or religious ideas or economic ideas have always affected and often controlled…

— J.C. Wylie

“If any two theories of strategy are not compatible, then neither of them is a valid general theory. Both of them have,…

— J.C. Wylie

“mass communications in free societies, is an indispensable element of terrorism. Closed societies, with control of mass communications, are not good targets.”

— J.C. Wylie

“What are the relationships, the correlations, between destruction and control? What will this show of force (which is potential destruction) or that…

— J.C. Wylie

“we should recognize the existence and power of these cumulative strategies and integrate them more carefully into our basic strategic thinking; and…

— J.C. Wylie

“Terrain” as a word does not have deep meaning to the nonsoldier, but to the soldier it is everything. It is the…

— J.C. Wylie

“He argues, in effect, that the strategist should unbalance the enemy’s system, should make him expend energy to regain balance.”

— J.C. Wylie

“I do not criticize the amateur strategist. On the contrary, I believe deeply that strategy is everybody’s business. Too many lives are…

— J.C. Wylie