School of War
Ep 131: Thomas Mahnken on Strategic Fallacies (War in Ukraine #3)
Jul 9, 2024
Thomas Mahnken, President of CSBA, discusses strategic fallacies in warfare focusing on rationality, Hitler's actions, and dangers of under/overestimating adversaries. He challenges war being solely irrational, emphasizing the need for accurate strategic assessments.
55:11
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Quick takeaways
- Wars stem from deliberate decisions by political leaders, not just misunderstandings or mistakes.
- Accurate assessments of adversaries and oneself are crucial to avoid strategic errors and ensure preparedness.
Deep dives
The Fallacy of the Irrationality of War
The fallacy of the irrationality of war suggests that war occurs due to a policy breakdown rather than being an extension of politics, a notion evident in the lead-up to the Ukraine conflict. Individuals tend to dismiss wars as irrational outcomes of misunderstandings or mistakes, undermining the reality that wars stem from deliberate decisions by political leaders.
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