Science, Strategy and War The Strategic Theory of ... - Boekje Pienter

The point of these questions is that ‘as they appear, these statements and the ideas theyembody seems unrelated to one another’. However, Boyd repeats, ‘taken together Gödel,Heisenberg and the Second Law of Thermodynamics say that one cannot determine thecharacter or nature of a system within itself. Moreover, attempts to do so lead to confusionand disorder’.Then Boyd asks another question: ‘What do the tests of the YF-16 and the YF-17say?’ The message is that ‘the ability to shift or transition from one maneuver to anothermore rapidly than an adversary enables one to win in air to air combat’. Again, this exampledoes not seem related in any sense with the statements of Gödel et al 65 . However, takentogether, the overall message is that 66 :The ability to operate at a faster tempo or rhythm than an adversary enables one to foldadversary back inside himself so that he can neither appreciate not keep-up with what’sgoing on. He will become disoriented or confused;which suggests thatUnless such menacing pressure is relieved, adversary will experience variouscombinations of uncertainty, doubt, confusion, self-deception, indecision, fear, panic,discouragement, despair, etc., which will further:Disorient or twist his mental images/impression of what’s happening;therebyDisrupt his mental/physical maneuvers for dealing with such a menace;therebyOverload his mental/physical capacity to adapt or endure;therebyCollapse his ability to carry one.These statements point to the idea he advanced also in Destruction and Creation that ‘we can’tjust look at our own personal experiences or use the same mental recipes over and overagain; we’ve got to look at other disciplines and activities and relate or connect them to whatwe know from our experiences and the strategic world we live in. If we can do this we will beable to surface new repertoires and (hopefully) develop a fingerspitzengefuhl for folding ouradversaries back inside themselves, morally-mentally-physically - so that they can neitherappreciate nor cope with what’s happening - without suffering the same fate ourselves’ 67 .Again Boyd has touched a familiar theme. Superior orientation is key. In a way hehas merely elaborated on the insights from page 36. However, he has reminded the audiencewhich path led to these insights. And in bringing several insights from different sources anddifferent discussions from separate presentations together and succeeding in showing theconceptual linkages, he has also applied his own argument concerning the necessity oflooking beyond one’s familiar frames of reference. Moreover, page 36 dealt with one’s ownside rather than the enemy’s. And now Boyd feels his audience is ready to tackle the issuehow to fold the ‘adversary back inside themselves, morally-mentally-physically, …withoutsuffering the same fate ourselves?’ 68 .65 Ibid, p.40-43.66 Ibid, p.44.67 Ibid, p.45.68 Ibid, p.46.253