ARTICLE: Beyond the Cloister, By David H. Petraeus, American Interest

ARTICLE: Learning to Lose, By Ralph Peters, American Interest

This is a typical Old School/New School split. Peters wants his kinetics, pure and simple, and he wants uncomplicated officers to wage such war. Petraeus sees a more complex world, where war and peace aren't separable. He wants officers capable of navigating that seam.

So Petraeus wants officers who understand the everything else, while Peters, the former intell guy, protects his turf.

Petraeus is a good example of the danger of "too much" education: he doesn't protect his rice bowls like he should, thus he's obviously a "careerist."

This is why I don't think grand strategists can arise from within military ranks: because those who try are inevitably branded as traitors to their particular tribe. That's what happened to Cebrowski. That's what happens to them all: once they get out of the box, they're out of the club.

Thanks to Nathan Machula for sending this.

[Editor's note: Petraeus' title matches up pretty well with Tom's Esquire article that featured him (among others): The Monks of War]