OPINION ~ Can the ‘Art of War’ Strategies of Sun Tzu & Donald Trump Save America?

November 10, 2020

President Donald J. Trump, has long studied and implemented the time honored strategies of Sun Tzu.

In fact, it was because of these philosophies, “The Donald” created his massive wealth and legendary negotiating skills, ultimately writing a best selling book on it called; “The Art of the Deal”.

Who WAS Sun Tzu?

Sun Tzu was a Chinese general, military strategist, writer and philosopher who lived in the Eastern Zhou period of ancient China. Sun Tzu is traditionally credited as the author of The Art of War, an influential work of military strategy that has affected both Western and East Asian philosophy and military thinking. Death: 496 BC.

Because Sun has long been considered to be one of history’s finest military tacticians and analysts, his teachings and strategies formed the basis of advanced military training for millennia to come.

Why Is this a significant piece of information? The answer becomes self evident once you begin to read some of these strategies for yourself. See if you can tell how many of the following words of wisdom he has already implemented…

The Sayings of Sun Tzu

• Be extremely subtle even to the point of formlessness. Be extremely mysterious even to the point of soundlessness. Thereby you can be the director of the opponent’s fate.
• The whole secret lies in confusing the enemy, so that he cannot fathom our real intent.
• The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.
• Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.
• Supreme excellence consists of breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting.
• All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when we are able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must appear inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near.
• Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win.
• In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity
• If your enemy is secure at all points, be prepared for him. If he is in superior strength, evade him. If your opponent is temperamental, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant. If he is taking his ease, give him no rest. If his forces are united, separate them. If sovereign and subject are in accord, put division between them. Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected.
• The greatest victory is that which requires no battle.
• To know your Enemy, you must become your Enemy.
• Engage people with what they expect; it is what they are able to discern and confirms their projections. It settles them into predictable patterns of response, occupying their minds while you wait for the extraordinary moment — that which they cannot anticipate.
• There is no instance of a nation benefitting from prolonged warfare.
• Thus we may know that there are five essentials for victory:

1 He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight.
2 He will win who knows how to handle both superior and inferior forces.
3 He will win whose army is animated by the same spirit throughout all its ranks.
4 He will win who, prepared himself, waits to take the enemy unprepared.
5 He will win who has military capacity and is not interfered with by the sovereign.

• Treat your men as you would your own beloved sons. And they will follow you into the deepest valley.
• Move swift as the Wind and closely-formed as the Wood. Attack like the Fire and be still as the Mountain.
• When you surround an army, leave an outlet free. Do not press a desperate foe too hard.
• Opportunities multiply as they are seized.
• When the enemy is relaxed, make them toil. When full, starve them. When settled, make them move.
• To win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the acme of skill. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the acme of skill.
• What the ancients called a clever fighter is one who not only wins, but excels in winning with ease.
• Rouse him, and learn the principle of his activity or inactivity. Force him to reveal himself, so as to find out his vulnerable spots.
• Thus the expert in battle moves the enemy, and is not moved by him.
• Attack is the secret of defense; defense is the planning of an attack.
• When one treats people with benevolence, justice, and righteousness, and reposes confidence in them, the army will be united in mind and all will be happy to serve their leaders’.
• Anger may in time change to gladness; vexation may be succeeded by content.
• But a kingdom that has once been destroyed can never come again into being; nor can the dead ever be brought back to life.
• Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected.
• If quick, I survive. If not quick, I am lost. This is “death.
  

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As a last note and words of wisdom from a biblical source, remember the purpose of an enemy… in fact the ULTIMATE ENEMY (which is Satan), is too, LIE, KILL, STEAL AND DESTROY.

Ephesians 6:12, NLT: “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.”

If you find yourself being triggered with anger, fear, despondent thoughts, hopelessness, etc… remember those are weapons of spiritual warfare. An enemy wants you divided and afraid. Messing with your head is one of his most formidable weapons.

This is why the use of propaganda and false information is so effective,  especially when it comes from a previously trusted source.

We all MUST start using our own inherent critical thinking skills and question everything.

If you hear or even see anything that could cause your destruction… KNOW that it is coming from the enemy. It certainly isn’t from a friend! But be sure to identify the enemy correctly.

YOU DECIDE.

With Love From the C-VINE Dream Team