A few months ago I read Carl von Clausewitz’s monumental On War. A commander I trust told me as a young lieutenant not to bother with it until after company command; I cheated by a few weeks. I’m writing this to put down my own thoughts while they’re still fresh, while reserving any criticism for a later post (here, and then what I think he’s right about). Anyone seriously interested in a synopsis of Clausewitz should probably consult Bernard Brodie’s 1976 commentary rather than my own scribbling.
