Colin Gray's 40 maxims on strategy: 3 big reasons the Americans screwed up in Iraq

40 Maxims on Strategy
would be a much better title for Gray's book than the actual one, which is Fighting
Talk: Forty Maxims on War, Peace and Strategy. I was put off by that
title but bought the book after I saw Gen. Mattis recommend it.

It is good stuff. Here are some of the things I underlined:

The socio-cultural context has been emphasized here because
it has been, and remains, the prime area of strategic weakness in the behavior
of the U.S. superpower.

(p. 5)

... strategy must convert one currency (military behavior)
into another (political effect).

(p. 11)

Competent strategy is all but impossible in the absence of a
continuous dialogue between policymakers and soldiers.

(p. 12)

Tom again: These aren't the only reasons, of course. But
they are a good start.

Gray also made me think I should go back and read Thucydides
again. Last time I used a tiny print Penguin Classic edition because I was
reading it on my commute on the Metro. This time I think I will try the big
fat Landmark edition with all the maps, which I have lying around
somewhere.