The objective of battle, to “throw” the enemy and to
make him defenseless, may temporarily blind commanders
and even strategists to the larger purpose of war. War is
never an isolated act, nor is it ever only one decision.
(A)
To be political, a political entity or a representative of a
political entity, whatever its constitutional form, has to
have an intention, a will. That intention has to be clearly
expressed.
(B)
In the real world, war’s larger purpose is always a political
purpose. It transcends the use of force. This insight was
famously captured by Clausewitz’s most famous phrase,
“War is a mere continuation of politics by other means.”
(C)
And one side’s will has to be transmitted to the enemy at
some point during the confrontation (it does not have to be
publicly communicated). A violent act and its larger political
intention must also be attributed to one side at some point
during the confrontation. History does not know of acts of
war without eventual attribution.
* entity: 실체 ** transcend: 초월하다
