wars are fought to achieve
a distribution of political
power that is satisfactory
to the victor. Political
power rests on the acquiescence of a population—
however that is attained. Therefore, the
fundamental challenge in war is to assemble a
sequence of actions that seems likely to change
the minds of a (hostile) population. Some
stratagems, tactics, or weapons may be, or
become, inimical to that shift in the popular
consensus and be counterproductive. Some
may have mixed impacts, influencing different
parts of the target community in different
ways. Actions to overcome armed resistance
may alienate sectors of the population, while
failing to do so may be a path to defeat. Shifts
in the circumstances on the ground, in the
domestic politics of the belligerents, or in the