New business magazines try to make the best of a bad situation (Danwei - October 4, 2008) In this issue, he defends his decision in a statement that suggests he's taken the lessons of The Art of War to heart: "People in today's business world always feel that they have to stay in business until the very end, and they can't duck out in the middle. That's stupid. Is death the only way out? You draw your sword to win the fight, not to lose it. We fight not because we're warriors — we want to preserve our strength. We attack the enemy to protect ourselves, and we protect ourselves so that we can attack the enemy."

Sing, Brain, Sing (Newsweek - September 13, 2008) The six songs in the title are six ways in which our ancestors used music to develop society—to create social bonds, for instance, or to transmit knowledge, or for large-scale coordination. With social bonds, singing together produces oxytocin, a trust hormone. Or moving together in a coordinated way—as far back as "The Art of War," Sun Tzu recognized the importance of that in battle.

With his unique style and attitude, Pat Riley changed the game (Sports Illustrated - September 5, 2008) Players wanted to play for him, wanted the winning, wanted the cool -- heck, they wanted to dress when they weren't working the way Riley dressed when he was. Then they'd get halfway through one of his killer practices, hear him spout something about Sun-Tzu and the art of war and realize that no one was going to outwork Riley. Or, by extension, them.

Kabul homecoming ends in despair (The National - August 31, 2008) Mr Khan is a Democrat who, having supported Hillary Clinton, now plans to vote for Mr Obama. George W Bush, he believes, has severely jeopardised Washington’s chances of making amends here. “In the book The Art of War, the first thing it says is that you should not open two fronts. They came to Afghanistan, then went to Iraq. What the hell were they doing in Iraq?” he said.

The 'tranquil' one marks his arrival (Independent News - August 18, 2008) At that point, with Lampard putting Chelsea three goals to the good, Scolari claimed that his team had achieved 'tranquillity'. It seemed a strange choice of word for a man struggling so endearingly with his English. Perhaps it was borrowed from Sun Tzu's The Art of War, the Chinese military treatise around which the 59-year-old famously built Brazil's 2002 World Cup win.

Executive Snapshot: Gavin Isaacs (Las Vegas Business Press - August 18, 2008) What book has most influenced your career and why? "Art of War" by Sun Tzu is the ultimate book on tactics. It's always been one of my favorites.

All-round heroes (The Sun - August 16, 2008) Since retiring from the professional game, [Devon] Malcolm has clearly been studying Sun Tzu’s Art of War, guiding his fielders like a military genius to a two-run win.

Deans, Henry and the art of war (News24 - July 23, 2008) Deans honed his coaching skills from the 2 600-year-old "The Art of War" by Sun Tzu, a book of Chinese origin on military strategy which the Aussie coach rates as "the best coaching manual I have ever read".

Fedora having a ball at Southern Miss (Rivals.com - July 20, 2008) The one book Fedora always finds time to snuggle up with is the "Art of War," a Sixth Century B.C. work by Sun Tzu. Fedora reads it every offseason to prepare for the coming season. The book is composed of 13 chapters, each devoted to an aspect of warfare. Many feel it is the consummate book on military strategies and tactics. "Why do I read it every year?" Fedora says. "Because I learn something new every time. I don't mean to say football is as bad as war, but many of the strategies are the same."

"Kung Fu Panda" punches away at controls on creativity (Xinhua News - July 4, 2008) Wu said, "We know little about foreigners' views and expectations of the Chinese culture. We should study their viewing habits and psychology. If we can find common points of interest, our cultural products will have greater success." ... Standing Committee member Tian Congming, former president of Xinhua News Agency, said the international popularity of the classic Chinese work "The Art of War" was an example of worldwide interest in Chinese culture.

Driven Scolari is revved-up by the will to win and he’ll put his foot down at Chelsea (Daily Mail - June 12, 2008) His favourite book is Sun Tzu's Art of War, the 6th Century Chinese treatise that has been required reading matter for every successful warrior. Chelsea insisted last night that Scolari was always their first choice and when one reflects on their criteria it does seem to have a ring of truth.

Eisenhower's D-Day legacy must not be forgotten (Scripps Howard News Service - June 5, 2008) Carthage College faculty over the years have made good use of the ancient classic 'The Art of War' by Chinese philosopher Sun Tzu, who stressed the importance of deception. I don't know if Eisenhower read the book; I do know he could have written it.

Fedora knows wins equal ticket sales (Hattiesburg American - May 22, 2008) We got some interesting insight into the man and the way he is wired. He's a fan of Sun Tzu, the author of The Art of War, and American General George Patton. He strives for uniformity and perfection. His players are required to sit a certain way, hang their clothes in their locker a certain way and to have their shoes lined up a certain way.

Carphone's ring-tone, Currys' death-knell (Daily Telegraph - May 10, 2008) It was the Chinese scribe Sun Tzu who, in the sixth century BC, wrote The Art of War, a treatise that became one of the foremost manuals on military strategy. I can't think of much better weekend reading for John Browett, the chief executive of the company you and I used to know as Dixons.

John McCain and the Art of War (The Star-Ledger - April 27, 2008) McCain's specialty is supposed to be military affairs. As late as 1996, he authored a serious paper on the subject of military readiness for the 21st century. Yet now that the 21st century has arrived, he seems to have re gressed to the point that he no longer recognizes principles of war that were already known in the 6th century B.C. That was when the Chinese philosopher-general Sun-Tzu penned his classic work, "The Art of War."

Russo lands dream job at Emory & Henry (Bristol Herald Courier - April 16, 2008) Russo has also learned from Johnson’s favorite book. The Art of War by Sun Tzu, which stresses leadership, strategy and discipline techniques, has become increasingly popular in the sports and business worlds. "Coach Johnson and I don’t really talk about X’s and O’s that much," Russo said. "He focuses more on leadership and how to run a program based on a core system of values. "I’ve heard those messages from Coach since I was a freshman, but it’s always good to have reminders."

A smarter weapon (USA Today - March 27, 2008) The great Chinese military general and strategist Sun Tze got it right in sixth century B.C. when he said, "The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting." We urge our next commander in chief to accept this sage advice. The American people should expect nothing less.

Providence quickly names new schools superintendent (The Providence Journal - March 25, 2008) Brady described his leadership style as collaborative, not dictatorial. A strong leader, he said, establishes a clear vision and then empowers his staff to fulfill that vision. Quoting an ancient Chinese philosopher, Sun Tzu, Brady said being a good leader means that when you step down, your followers think that they did all of the work. “There are all these misconceptions about the military,” he said. “Leadership is about empowering people and then holding them accountable. It’s about mutual trust.”

Cunningham takes over at Andrean (The Times - March 14, 2008) The history professor, Andrean grad, Purdue Ph.D. recipient and former Steelhead is his alma mater's new varsity boys basketball coach, Andrean announced Thursday. A free-spirit and media darling in his playing days, Cunningham is ready to be a coach for the foreseeable future. However, he's not going to check his personality. "There's a quote, from Sun Tzu in 'The Art of War' -- 'Be extremely subtle, even to the point of formlessness,'" Cunningham said. "Some people think that he was talking about a war strategy, but I think he was talking about the motion offense. A great motion offense can befuddle the opposition with formlessness."

Hetzel leads Panthers onto ice (Community Press - January 7, 2008) "I've been waiting for this for four years," Hetzel said. "The only other thing I'd like to do is go to state. So far, I feel great about it. We've put together a great team." Elder's team motto is taken from Sun Tzu's "Art of War" and states, "Every battle is won or lost before it's ever fought." Coach Bill Rieth says through Hetzel's leadership, the team is adhering to that phrase.

The Newest Mandarins (New York Times - December 16, 2007) Three years ago he was studying in an empty room in the School of Management at his university in Beijing when students began to amble in for their class on Sun Tzu’s “Art of War,” a work from either the fifth or the fourth century B.C. Lei Bo decided to stay. He had taken two courses on “The Art of War” in the philosophy and the literature departments, and was curious to see how students in business and management might approach the same subject.

Donald E. Powell, Federal Coordinator for the Office Gulf Coast Rebuilding Remarks (As prepared) to the National Press Club (U.S. Department of Homeland Security - December 6, 2007) There are few guiding principles I brought into this job. A few truths that I believe are deeply relevant to New Orleans today and relevant to these grassroots leaders. The first is from the classic Chinese text, The Art of War. I can remember going through the banking crisis of the 1980’s, and quoting Sun Tzu to my staff, when he said: “The good fighters of old first put themselves beyond the possibility of defeat.” Well, these grassroots leaders are doing just that.

Hollywood and Strikers Watch Clock (New York Times - November 21, 2007) Sun Tzu, the Chinese sage, warned of the danger in prolonged conflict. “Let your great object be victory, not lengthy campaigns,” he wrote in “The Art of War.” In the next week, that advice will probably be on the mind of David Young, a leader of Hollywood’s striking writers, who has closely studied the famous treatise in his time as a hard-nosed union organizer. Now 16 days into a work stoppage, screenwriters and their employers are scheduled to talk on Monday for the first time since Nov. 4.

SW DeKalb's Godfrey a guiding force (Atlanta Journal-Constitution - November 6, 2007) Most every evening after practice, Southwest DeKalb iconic football coach Buck Godfrey holds court at the Dunkin Donuts on Candler Road, an emperor sipping coffee among his people... All the while, he refused to expose all his many layers. You might find it surprising that Godfrey is a bookworm who has had a passion for literature all his life. He not only is an avid reader, but he re-reads his favorites like "The Art of War," "The Prophet" and "Moby Dick." "I'm engrossed in the language," he said. He has a B.A. in English from Delaware State and a master's degree in English from Clark Atlanta. When he received a B in a course in graduate school, he retook it to make sure he earned all A's.

The Hogarth of hedge funds offers a glimpse into a hidden world (Guardian Unlimited - November 3, 2007) Upstairs, in the left-hand room, is a humidor with the best cigars and a babyfoot table. The walls are adorned with samurai swords and a shark's head. "It's always very aggressive, male stuff," said Dant. "And they really do regard the Art of War as their bible." He is referring to the 2,500-year-old Chinese manual on military strategy by Sun Tzu.

IAC girls' soccer championship preview: Lansing eyeing more than an IAC title' (Ithaca Journal - October 17, 2007) Unbeaten at 15-0-0 and ranked No. 2 in New York State Class B, the Lansing girls' soccer team is gearing up for what they hope — and expect — to be a lengthy postseason run... “I came in, and had this book “Mastering the Art of War,” Peters said. “It's by Sun Tzu, the old Chinese general. I've done it with teams I've had in the past, more recently at the college level.

The Art of War': Musical take on war treatise opens ensemble's 2007-08 season (Times Argus - October 5, 2007) The Vermont Contemporary Music Ensemble opens its Montpelier season next week at the Unitarian Church with the premiere of a musical response to a treatise on war. "Peter Hamlin wrote us this woodwind trio called 'The Art of War,'" said clarinetist Steven Klimowski, the ensemble's artistic director. "Each movement is a meditation on a quote from Sun Tzu's treatise on the art of war. There are five movements. The fifth says he will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight."

Business savvy with a philosophical bent (Report on Business - September 24, 2007) So your favourite philosopher is still Descartes? Absolutely, but my management philosophy is more like Sun Tzu [the third-century BC Chinese author of The Art of War]. If you look at the two together, you'd say, 'Keep your arguments sound, and then prepare for battle.' To be able to think and know in your own heart that what you are doing is the right thing - that is the foundational part. The Sun Tzu part is: Now that you understand corporate life, you know what needs to be done to move ideas forward.

Eric Mangini, Bill Belichick lay battle plans (New York Daily News - September 6, 2007) The Jets have a new motivational T-shirt, worn yesterday by a few players in the locker room. Sun Tzu's famous line from "The Art of War," an ancient Chinese book, is prominently displayed on the back: "Every battle is won before it is ever fought." ... Mangini is one of the bright young coaches in the league, and his mentor-turned-adversary is widely regarded as the best in the business. Belichick, too, is a believer in Sun Tzu's philosophy. In fact, he quoted the "battle" line after whipping the Jets at the Meadowlands in 2002.

Soldier answers a new call to battle (Los Angeles Times - August 30, 2007) With a database of more than 40,000 supporters and donors, Soltz is planning to take on GOP presidential candidates next year, targeting their claim that they would be better guardians of national security. "You want to take your enemy's strength and make it his weakness," said Soltz, who likes to quote aphorisms of the ancient Chinese military strategist Sun Tzu.

Wrestler in 'Survivor' cast (Akron Beacon Journal - August 22, 2007) The 15th installment of the Mark Burnett-produced CBS staple will premiere Sept. 20 in an episode that finds the castaways starting in downtown Shanghai and moving to HuangPu Mountain's Mi Tuo Temple for a Buddhist ceremony. Then the castaways will be placed on separate islands on the Zhelin Lake in the Jiangxi Province. Each tribe will be given a copy of Sun Tzu's The Art of War for motivation and assistance.

How to make peace using the principles of war (Christian Science Monitor - August 13, 2007) On July 31, the United Nations Security Council voted to authorize the creation of a peacekeeping mission to Sudan's Darfur region with a maximum strength of 20,000 military personnel and 6,000 police. After hundreds of thousands have been killed and millions driven from their home, can this intervention succeed? Only if we learn from the mistakes of the peacekeeping failures of the 1990s. The missteps that led to the failure of these missions can be understood (and avoided) using the basic principles of warfare taught by the Chinese general Sun Tzu in "The Art of War" over 2,000 years ago.

When life hands you a branch... (Indian Express - August 10, 2007) But while Keswani spends a lot of time re-working strategies, he loves spending time with wife Sharanita and kids Aditya and Nayana. Other than that, he likes reading books, The Art of War by Sun Tzu, written in 500 BC, being his favourite. So where would he see himself 10 years from now? "You never know what the future has in store. But one thing is for sure that I will always be involved with Lemon Tree and Red Fox," he concludes.

What I Wore to the Takeover (Wall Street Journal - July 26, 2007) As Messrs. Trump and Barrack well know, negotiating involves looking for chinks in the armor of one's opponent. If "you sit with someone who's neutral, it's difficult to figure out where that weakness might lie," Mr. Barrack says. He notes that Sun Tzu wrote in his 6th century B.C. Chinese military treatise, "The Art of War," that the warrior to be feared most is the one who arrives naked.

Motivational gold or repackaged wisdom? (Worcester Business Journal - July 23, 2007) But Mendelsohn goes old school when it comes to business advice. "I look to two books as having taught me much of what I need to know about operating successfully in the business world," Mendelsohn said. Machiavelli's "The Prince" and "The Art of War" by Sun Tzu. "Regardless of the business atmosphere in which I have worked, I found both books contain immensely practical and timeless advice on how to deal with people, how to anticipate, and counter, your competition's moves, and how to communicate diplomatically."

Strategic deception and the Chinese military space program (The Space Review - July 9, 2007) In May the Pentagon issued its “Annual Report to Congress on the Military Power of the People’s Republic of China.” ... "Recent decades have witnessed within the [People’s Liberation Army] a resurgence of the study of classic Chinese military figures Sun-tzu, Sun Pin, Wu Ch’i, and Shang Yang and their writings, all of which contain precepts on the use of deception."

Great summer reads (Daily Democrat - July 5, 2007) "In time of war, one should read war books," says Miller. Three he recommends are Erich Maria Remarque's "All Quiet on the Western Front," Norman Mailer's "The Naked and the Dead," and the original war strategy treatise, Sun Tzu's "The Art of War."

NFL coach: IT execs need more teamwork, leadership (Techworld - June 12, 2007) Belichick said he keeps a sign up at the Patriots practice facilities containing the Sun Tzu quote "every battle is won before it is fought," to remind players of the importance of preparation. Belichick said he expects every player to know the team's strategy for each situation, even if it is outside a player's usual responsibilities. Even an offensive player should know what the defense is supposed to do after a pass interception, he said.

It’s the West that’s starting this new Cold War (The Times - June 7, 2007) Know your enemy – a phrase coined by Sun Tzu, the Chinese military strategist, 2,000 years ago – is even more critical in diplomacy than it is in warfare. As the leaders of the world’s most powerful nations gathered in Germany last night for the annual G8 summit, the identity of the enemy was pretty clear.

Learning From Ancient Chinese Military Thought: Israel And Sun-Tzu's Art Of War (Jewish Press - June 6, 2007) But it was Sun-Tzu’s The Art Of War, written sometime in the fifth century BCE, that synthesized a coherent set of principles designed to produce military victory. The full corpus of this work should now be studied closely by all who seek to strengthen Israel’s military posture and its associated order of battle. Indeed, confronted by a steadily deteriorating “correlation of forces” after the recent Lebanon war and the ongoing nuclearization of Iran, Israel now needs to re-evaluate the very meaning of power in world politics.

You can identify the qualities of a good leader, and character counts (Charleston Gazette - June 3, 2007) Sun Tzu, the great military expert of ancient China, stated more than 2,000 years ago, “Know your enemy and know yourself and you can fight a hundred battles without disaster.” Leaders must work to fully understand their own strengths and weaknesses — as well as those of their followers and competitors — to have the character to admit weaknesses and capitalize on strengths.

Shall we play a game? (The Economist - May 31, 2007) Plenty of bosses look to Sun Tzu, an ancient Chinese general, for management tips. And in business, as in war, outcomes depend on what others do, as well as one's own actions. Yet many firms fail to think systematically about how rivals will react to their plans—and traditional planning does a poor job of taking competitors' responses into account, says John McDermott, head of strategy at Xerox, an office-equipment company.

The No. 1 Company: TerraHealth (Inc. Magazine - May 29, 2007) As company founders go, Terrazas bloomed late, but maturity didn't dim his chutzpah. Using $20,000 from a family trust, he launched TerraHealth in 2001 as a consultant to government health care programs, displaying a multi-branched organizational chart on his website to mask his solo status. "Sun Tzu says the warrior should look bigger and more formidable than he actually is," says Terrazas, who quotes fluidly from The Art of War.

Oracle founder sets sail for radical new future (The Times - May 21, 2007) The mixed view is typical: in person Mr Ellison is a captivating mix of hyper-competitiveness and a targeted generosity of spirit. This is, after all, a man who swears by Sun-Tzu’s The Art of War – a book whose other fans include Wall Street's Gordon Gekko. But this would-be samurai (Mr Ellison's Californian estate mimics a feudal Japanese fortress) is lavish with his praise.

Commentary: Islamic deja vu (UPI - May 21, 2007) Giap defeated the French empire -- in 1954 at Dien Bien Phu. But America's defeat was on the home front and in the halls of Congress. Hanoi achieved final victory with a 2,500-year-old blueprint for victory -- Sun Tzu's "The Art of War." The template was undermining home front morale. In Hanoi in September 1972, this reporter met two French communists who bragged about their work organizing anti-war demonstrations in the United States.

The best business books of all time? Here are the choices of our panel of CEOs and experts. (U.S.News & World Report - May 13, 2007) U.S. News spoke with 14 leaders from all walks of business life—from academics to entrepreneurs to corporate executives—about the five books they consider indispensable reading for managers. The responses ranged far and wide: Military metaphors popped up occasionally, with Sun Tzu's The Art of War rearing its age-old head.

Learning to fight the good fight (Sydney Morning Herald - May 11, 2007) Now the British director Annabel Arden is about to direct a play that draws on and takes its name from Sun Tzu's text. But is this ancient work of any use in directing a play? "You work like that intuitively as a director," she says. "Because you have to achieve a certain result, there are certain tactics you have to employ and they differ from each play and according to the group of actors. I haven't done it consciously."

Tuesday Quotes (Rush Limbaugh - May 1, 2007) "Sun Tzu, in The Art of War, says that one of the first things that you shoud try to do is destroy the enemy's will to fight. Well, we're not doing that with Al-Qaeda; we're building those guys up! We don't even report their death tolls." [Editors' Note: That's because we're too busy and saddened counting our own soldiers' deaths.]

Habits of Cooperation (Defense News - April 30, 2007) Former PACOM Chief Calls for U.S., Chinese Militaries To Work Together More ... John Tkacik, senior research fellow in Asian studies at the Heritage Foundation, Washington, believes China has a long history of deception that should not be forgotten. “We must remember that Chinese armies since the time of Sun Tzu in the fifth century B.C. have never put any stock in ‘confidence building’ — except as a deception tactic,” he said. “Chinese strategy relies on minimizing an adversary’s confidence.

Behind every great team there's a coach (Brisbane Times - April 28, 2007) The bespectacled Buchanan, a former university lecturer has superbly teamed up with captains Steve Waugh and then Ricky Ponting to help Australia play an astonishingly successful brand of cricket. Although his unorthodox method of motivating players has its critics, the team has gone from strength to strength thanks to his management skills. In 2001, Buchanan drew on the teachings of Chinese warlord Sun Tzu before Australia's victorious Ashes tour of England.

MND under fire over IQ test standards (China Post - April 24, 2007) DPP legislator Hsueh Ling said she has received numerous complaints from members of the military who are worried about losing their jobs for failing the IQ test. Hsueh asked MND deputy minister Chu Kai-shen during yesterday's National Defense committee meeting at the Legislative Yuan to take the IQ test himself. Hsueh even produced a sample question from the IQ test and asked Chu to answer, but Chu refused, saying that he would rather be tested on 'The Art of War' by Sun Tzu.

He was more fun when he was in the pawn squad (Guardian Unlimited - April 22, 2007) That Kasparov knows he is a genius is also not in doubt. He retired from chess not to spend more time his family, nor even to be President of Russia, but to change the infrastructure of Russian politics. His failure, so far, to have pulled this one off has left him spare time, some of which he uses to lecture chief executives about the antics of other CEOs. Kasparov's book has all the staples of the genre. Sun Tzu makes an early appearance (page 38).

CIA novel brings Sun Tzu philosophy to modern war (The Washington Times - April 22, 2007) "All warfare," the Chinese philosopher and tactician Sun Tzu wrote almost 3,000 years ago, "is based on deception." History's greatest warriors understood this simple yet profound exhortation to think outside the box.

With Andrew Friedman (New York Times - April 15, 2007) WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE BOOK? Probably “The Art of War.” It has a message that is lasting. It was written long ago but is important to today and applicable to many things I do in my life. DO YOU USE IT ON THE JOB? It is very good from a process standpoint and problem solving. It arms you with some pretty good ways to look at things.

Sun Tzu's The Art of War is the subject on radio show with Philip Dodd (BBC Radio - April 12, 2007) Philip Dodd will be joined by historians Rana Mitter and Roel Sterckx, financier John MaClaren and Ex-Soldier and military strategist David Betz to discuss the continuing influence of one of the great books about strategic thinking in many spheres of contemporary life including the Iraq War, the stock market, and the tense and evolving diplomatic relations between China and the USA. [Special thanks to Sonshi member blackbirdxxv for informing us about this radio program.]

Do Your Research on the Chinese Business Mindset (Small Business Times - April 10, 2007) Crow's recount of business in China is consistent with a culture raised on and indoctrinated for millennia on the strategic philosophies presented in "The Art of War." According to many scholars, this is an extraordinarily important book in Chinese culture and required reading by those who hope to successfully understand the mind of China.

Iowa, Meet Rudy (ABC News - April 3, 2007) The former mayor was of course there to emphasize his experience as an executive and discuss things that may better endear him to conservative Iowa caucus voters than his liberal positions on gays, guns and abortion rights. He kissed babies, autographed one woman's hand, posed for photographs, and — with some reluctance — signed a neighborhood resident's copy of Sun Tzu's "The Art of War." "I read it a long time ago," Giuliani said. "I don't usually like to sign other people's books."

Oracle vs. SAP: Sound Or Fury? (BusinessWeek - March 30, 2007) The suit is the latest shot in the blood feud between tech's fiercest competitors, and it cements Ellison's reputation as a crafty opportunist who exploits rivals' weaknesses. "This is Larry Ellison at his finest," says Marc Benioff, CEO of salesforce.com (CRM ), a former Ellison protégé. "He is a master at [using] The Art of War"--Chinese general Sun Tzu's sixth century B.C. primer on military strategy, which is much admired by Ellison.

We Can't Win If We Don't Know the Enemy (Washington Post - March 24, 2007) "If you know the enemy and know yourself," China's Sun Tzu famously advised in the 6th century B.C., "you need not fear the results of a hundred battles." But we have plenty to fear, because five and a half years into this struggle we lack a thorough understanding of our enemies: their motivation and mind-set, their decision-making processes and command-and-control relationships, their organizational dynamics and their ideological appeal.

Oracle Claims Rival SAP Stole Software and Data (Bloomberg - March 22, 2007) Ellison, known for his aggressive tactics, is famous for his admiration of ``The Art of War,'' the treatise on battle tactics written by the sixth-century BC Chinese general Sun Tzu. One basic tenet notes a smaller force can beat a larger one by causing its rival to respond before thinking.

Tug of war in U.S. over Iraq policy (USA Today - March 20, 2007) House Armed Services Chairman Ike Skelton, D-Mo., said serious U.S. miscalculations in Iraq have produced a tragic situation. "The ancient wisdom of Sun Tzu taught that 'the general who wins a battle makes many calculations before the battle is fought. The general who loses a battle makes but few calculations beforehand.' This is basic military strategic thinking that was absent at the highest level," he said.

Starkey readies for next battle (The Advocate - March 19, 2007) A well-worn copy of “The Art of War,” the ancient Chinese book of military strategy, has long been a staple of Bob Starkey’s office. One of the book’s core principles: try to win without actually having to fight. There isn’t anything in its pages about what to do after you have lost your general. “It does say to be prepared for everything,” he said. Bob Starkey has had the fight brought to him. The lieutenant became a general early last week, when he got the call from Skip Bertman to come up to his sixth floor office.

"300" is the Real Deal (Valley Life - March 14, 2007) Channeling Sun Tzu's "The Art of War," Gerard Butler gives a charismatic and passionate performance as Leonidas of Sparta. His sense of urgency makes you believe that this one battle is everything his whole life has been waiting for. The dialogue at times might seem banal if transferred to another film, but Butler's cadence and timing compensates for that and makes you believe that the bloodshed is necessary.

Cougars' depth pays off in victory (Daily Advertiser - March 4, 2007) "We didn't pay attention to all the hype,'' senior Lance Kelley said. "We did a good job of focusing on what we needed to do against St. Martinville. "It just feels great. We've come so close. It's great to finally make it to state on some sport.'' Broussard alluded to some of the concepts in the book "The Art of War'' by Sun Tzu as potential factor in Friday's win. "I think they were focused on other things,'' he said. "I talked to our kids about what I did and they didn't focus on any of that stuff.''

America lost its will to win wars decades ago (The Reporter - March 4, 2007) Bush's - and America's - problem is that we as a nation have forgotten what our fundamental national interests are. We have intellectualized ourselves into war, fighting irrelevance by shunning the fundamental principles of Sun Tzu's "The Art of War."

Who is Ike Skelton? (St. Louis Post-Dispatch - February 24, 2007) History is Skelton’s guide, and he frequently refers to ancient writings such as those of Chinese military strategist Sun Tzu. “He said never begin a war without its end in sight, and never have so many enemies you cannot defeat all of them. We have violated both those precepts in the Iraqi War,” Skelton says. Since the day he arrived in Washington, Skelton has carefully recorded such quotes in a small blank book. He’s on his sixth quote book now, and he frequently uses them to lend context to his thinking, or speeches.

America's Ever-Lasting Threat (ThreatsWatch - February 23, 2007) In the battle against al-Qaeda and like-minded jihadists, the West is doing a less than satisfactory job of understanding its enemy. There is a line in Sun Tzu's famous work The Art of War that states: “If you know yourself but not your enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat.” Although The Art of War was written in the 6th century BC, its message applies to the battle facing us all today. If the West truly knew its enemy, it might reconsider some of proposed actions relating to the war in Iraq.

Former ambassador speaks about religion and foreign policy (Kansas State Collegian - February 21, 2007) Perkins, a student of Sun Tzu's theory of civil diplomatic action, said he had to understand the cultures and religions before he could move anywhere diplomatically. He wrote his autobiography, "Mr. Ambassador: Warrior for Peace," discussing his diplomatic experiences.

Three involved in fight for right (MLB - February 20, 2007) Lane is apparently taking the challenge seriously. The outfielder was spotted Tuesday reading Sun Tzu's "On the Art of War." But this battle will be won on the diamond. "I'm not going to make a decision until the end," Garner said. "No matter how they're doing, no matter who's hot or what."

Bush discovers diplomacy (China Post - February 18, 2007) The U.S. president has discovered the usefulness of diplomacy in resolving international disputes. He may have also discovered the obsoleteness of unilateralism in today's world. It behooves him to remember what Sun Tzu said 25 centuries ago in his Art of War: the best strategy is to win without fighting. The looming crisis over Iran and disputes in other trouble spots of the world should also be resolved by diplomatic means, a la six-party talks, however difficult they are.

After The Iraq Study Group: Reconsidering Israel's Policy of Nuclear Ambiguity (Israel Hasbara Committee - February 7, 2007) Regrettably, this issue must now be raised and explored within the problematic context of the “Road Map” still being forced upon Israel by the United States, Russia, the European Community and the United Nations. As formal successor to the equally misconceived Oslo agreements, this naively codified pattern of endlessly unequal concessions by Israel should recall the ancient advice of Sun-Tzu. In the ART OF WAR, the reader is instructed: “Subjugating the enemy’s army without fighting is the true pinnacle of excellence.”

Briefing: North Korea (American Enterprise Institute - January 31, 2007) If you have North Korea with one-thirtieth of the economic strength of South Korea and half the population, and if that state is surrounded by three successful powers economically and militarily--Japan, South Korea and China--and if we are backing them, it seems to me the tides of history are on our side, not on theirs. And it seems to me, too, that over the past 10 years we've been working very hard to get cohesion with our friends and allies in the area to bring effective pressure to bear on North Korea to change its behavior. What do I mean by that? Well, first of all, Sun Tzu, the old Chinese strategist, said, if you get involved in one of these things, know your enemy. Know your opposite number.

Senate top gun Emil Jones plans to act the part (Chicago Daily Southtown - January 29, 2007) And now that Jones believes his veto-proof majority gives him the "biggest guns" and puts him at the top of the Statehouse pecking order, he seems, to me at least, to be wary of any attempt -- perceived or real -- by Madigan (or anyone else) to undercut his authority. As if to underscore this sentiment, Jones pointed to a plaque on his office wall containing a quote from Sun Tzu, the Art of War. "Do not depend on the enemy not coming. Depend rather on being ready for him."

Stormy weather (The Economist - January 25, 2007) Nor will the test foster closer co-operation between Western and Chinese civilian space programmes. Last September, in a tentative warming between the two sides, Michael Griffin of NASA paid the first trip to China by a head of the American government's space agency. Now American officials complain that China could have put other spacecraft in danger by littering space with debris. “If your opponent is of choleric temper, seek to irritate him,” said Sun Tzu, a Chinese military strategist whose writings 2,500 years ago are still often cited in China today. China has certainly mastered that axiom.

Chess and the Art of Negotiation (Chessbase News - January 25, 2007) Karpov and Phelizon discuss, in detail, how each type of engagement relates to their areas of expertise. Often they compare and contrast their views, and this is where the book truly excels. Phelizon even liberally quotes Sun Tzu and texts on Eastern philosophy – all in an effort to, as the dust-jacket describes, “illuminate the dynamics of competition, strategy, and negotiation.”

Space invaders (The Economist - January 22, 2007) “All warfare is based on deception”, wrote Sun Tzu, a Chinese military strategist who lived 2,500 years ago and remains influential in China today. The recent revelation by the Americans that China had destroyed an ageing weather satellite with a missile has certainly caused surprise and confusion. Why should a country so insistent that its rise threatens no-one stage such an open display of its ability to challenge American power in space?

Murtha in better position to oppose Iraq war policies (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - January 17, 2007) A few days after President Bush announced his plans to send 21,500 extra troops to Iraq, U.S. Rep. John Murtha picked up a copy of Sun Tzu's "The Art of War." It was his third time reading the book, a required text in military academies. "It says you don't go to war unless you're threatened, unless you think you can win, and you make sure you have your troops prepared when they go," Mr. Murtha, a Vietnam War veteran, said yesterday in a half-hour interview with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Winning formula prepared: Pats’ readiness keeps them a leg up on foes (Boston Herald - January 14, 2007) One of the few signs around the Patriots’ facilities comes from “The Art of War,” penned by legendary Chinese general Sun Tzu. “Every battle,” it reads, “is won before it’s fought.” Each day, Bill Belichick adheres to the quote and demands his team follow suit.

The GE Years: What Made Reagan Reagan (History News Network - January 13, 2007) As Reagan later commented, he had been giving The Speech for years, in a variety of versions, in his role as GE’s “Traveling Ambassador.” But Reagan learned more in his GE years than a set of prepared remarks. He became familiar with such diverse thinkers as von Mises, Lenin, Hayek, and the Chinese military strategist Sun Tzu.

Include Your Job in Your Resolutions (TV Week - January 8, 2007) I've already started "The Creative Habit" by noted choreographer Twyla Tharp. Also in the queue are the Nobel Peace Prize-winning novel by Elie Wiesel, "Night"; "Citizen Marketers," which covers the move from media as the message to individuals as the message; Sun Tzu's "Art of War"; "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell; and "Flow" by Mikhail Csikszentmihalyi.

Can small businesses help win the war? (USA Today - January 3, 2007) In the past, sharing between military and business has been largely a one-way street. The Art of War by the ancient Chinese general Sun-Tzu remains a must-read for corporate CEOs, and most great lessons have been learned the hard way on the battleground before migrating into commerce. For example, CEOs have come to embrace the idea that it's better to act quickly on an imperfect plan than to introduce a perfect plan too late, a lesson first learned the hard way in the fog of war.

Tom Cochrun Retires from WISH-TV (WISH-TV - January 2, 2007) The book "The Art of War" is always on his desk, representing Tom's competitive spirit. We've seen a lot of that in our newsroom in the last three years. "It's been a pleasure to work with him. It's been exciting to see how he's changed things," said WISH-TV's Debby Knox. "Like playing basketball with Larry Bird. When you get to be around people who are bright and smart and have the vision, they're different and it's exciting to be around people like that."

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