Linking humanity and military success. Anyone who has discussed Auftragstaktik with me, and why it is the secret ingredient that can bring battlefield excellence to our military, knows I constantly say the foundation of Auftragstaktik is trust. Leaders must trust their subordinates to do what needs to be done, even in the absence of orders and supervision. Likewise, subordinates must trust their leaders and believe … Continue reading Dignity Part I

If the linkages above are unclear, look at last year’s blogs (July, Sep and Oct) or read Strategia. My point is simple: If you don’t understand these connections, then you may believe that your tactical victory (in battle, in business, in a relationship) is actually strategic. There will a strategic outcome to your tactical move; but it may not be what you expected. The best … Continue reading Strategy/Operations/Tactics

For those who have been waiting to see where Skip and the Cohort go next, the wait is almost over. Book II will be released on Amazon Books in mid-March. If you have been meaning to read Book I but not yet got to it, you are in luck. The Kindle version has been reduced to $.99 in anticipation of the release of Book II. … Continue reading The Cohort Trilogy

Marty has just launched our latest podcast. We invite you to have a listen to a discussion that is particularly poignant on this Family Day. Continue reading Our Latest Podcast 16 Feb 2026

I recently listened to an interview with former President of the UN Security Council, Dr Kishore Mahbubani of Singapore. A comment struck a chord with me. He said 2025 could be described with two words: rupture and resilience. Quoting our PM, he agreed with Mark Carney that we were ling through a rupture in the world order, which had served us well for almost a … Continue reading Careful What You Wish

Nota Bene: I originally wrote this in July of last year but opted not to post it. I worried that I may have overstated the issue, that it may have been a bit hyperbolic. I now find that I probably was understating the situation. Back then, I was already seeing glimmerings of PM Mark Carney’s ability to lead our country but, of course, I had … Continue reading The Indispensable Nation

Have a listen. Continue reading Our Latest Podcast 1 Feb 2026

Last Dec I posted a video on a better way to use bitumen. I found an EVEN MORE interesting video and although not mentioned in the short video, I later discovered that bitumen, because its molecular structure is in sheets and not in chains like normal carbon, is ideally suited to be used as stock feed for the new product talked about in this video. … Continue reading Another MUST WATCH Video

I have been a bit puzzled for some time with the constant analysis of Russia/Ukraine based on dollars (or euros or rubles). I just listened to a highly respected retired four-star American general explain how Ukraine has “changed the nature of the war” (Wrong, general. They have changed the nature of the fighting.) because they have been able to use thousand-dollar drones to destroy millions … Continue reading War is Not a Bank Ledger

In 1987, my staff college syndicate from the Bundeswehr’s Führungsakademie flew to London to spend 10 days at the British Army’s Command and Staff College in Camberley. The British students were outstanding hosts, treating us warmly and even taking us to watch a West End theatre production. A couple of us re-acquainted ourselves with some of the officers whom we had met when they came … Continue reading Ceding Won Terrain