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ALEXANDER THE GREAT

© Kirsi Salonen -- VSS thanks Ms. Salonen for her art. More may be found at http://www.kirsisalonen.com.

Individuals such as Alexander are conspicuous in strategic history because they excel in the art of strategy. This is a noteworthy attribute since strategy is such a complex and challenging activity. The complexity of strategy is such that achieving a satisfactory end state at reasonable cost, and within a reasonable time frame, is often elusive. Strategy is here defined as an art, not a science. This is done to reflect the fact that there are no formulas for strategic success. Every strategic context is unique, and therefore requires its own unique mixture and application of strategic assets. (David J. Lonsdale, from the book Alexander the Great Lessons in Strategy).

VSS COMMENTS

We the people of the United States of America are engaged in many battles. These range from battling the local thugs and miscreants, who prey upon the vulnerable members of our society, to those jihadists and international terrorists who threaten our very society. Our weaknesses and vulnerabilities are exploited by our enemies at every opportunity. Our efforts to combat and foil the malevolent forces are feeble, disjointed, and a hodge-podge of myopic, individual actions, plans, and strategies. Not all in authority are capable of the generalship needed to marshal our forces against the threat. It requires a concerted, unified, integrated effort by leaders with a mastery of technology and innate, skilled artistic visions to meld our resources into a force for success.

The High value information Alert and Reporting System (HARS) was conceived with an artistic strategy and vision and took form based on technological building blocks, which are available today. Its prayed-for success as a weapon of the people and for the people, to GET THE BAD GUY, will depend on the vision and support of decision-makers to endorse HARS and promote its implementation.

THE QUEST

The historically fabled Gordian Knot of yesteryear and Alexander the Great has relevance in today's challenges. At one time, the Phrygian people in Gordium (modern Turkey) were without a king. A knot was created by the father of King Midas with the prophesy that whoever untied the knot would become the next king and rule all of Asia. It is said that when Alexander the Great arrived in 333 B.C. he was confronted with the prophesy and the Gordian knot, a seemingly intractable problem. Alexander was creative and without hesitation, allegedly dispatched the knot by a powerful slash of his sword. Today, we would conclude that creative thinking, outside the box, can solve the unsolvable challenges -- think HARS.

When Alexander the Great visited Diogenes and asked whether he could do anything for the famed teacher, Diogenes replied: 'Only stand out of my light.' Perhaps someday we shall know how to heighten creativity. Until then, one of the best things we can do for creative men and women is to stand out of their light. John W. Gardner; 1912 2002, Leader, author, activist, educator.