No. of Recommendations: 3
My narrow Pollyanna opinion - War is not an end in itself but a continuation of politics by other means.
Not narrow at all...that was one of von Clausewitz's main points.
To me his relevant point is that the three are interdependent, like the legs of the stool you mention. Starting with one, for example a coldly rational casus belli, isn't enough--you have to remember that once you go in, all three (reason, loathing, and chance) will be major factors and you can't control in advance which will be in the driver's seat at any given time.
After von Clausewitz, perhaps Mike Tyson said it best. "Everybody has plans until they get hit for the first time"
This is probably particularly true for any plan which includes "we know what will happen, so we know what we're getting into".
Jim
