Training for War Quotes

“Picture the poor Arab private. He knows no one in his unit gives a shit about him; after all, he doesn't give a shit about any of them, either. They're not family. What happens when that private is placed in the loneliest position in the world, the modern battlefield? He runs at the first sign things are going badly. (He'll be fine as long as they are going well, though. Note: things rarely go well.)”
― Tom Kratman, Training for War: An Essay

“Only the very simple can work in war,” as Clausewitz observed. Complex drills simply won’t work, even leaving aside that the time required to condition something goes up with that something’s complexity, even as the probability of conditioning it drops.”
― Tom Kratman, Training for War: An Essay

“Axiom Nine: In the absence of valid conditions, standards are completely meaningless.”
― Tom Kratman, Training for War: An Essay

“Add in the fantasy mindset. Don't forget "Insh'allah", (which is like "mañana," but without the sense of urgency) which makes it somewhat impious to train really well since it is all the will of God anyway. Add in a set of social values that despise and loathe doing physical labor.”
― Tom Kratman, Training for War: An Essay