There's more than trees flying in this contest (Morning Call - December 24, 2006) Surrounded by supporters decked out in white T-shirts with ''Danny's Boys'' printed on them in green letters, Pancoast said he spent the morning preparing through reflective prayer and quiet meditation while his family read to him from ''The Art of War.'' He said he thought he'd need all the help he could get, because he was 10 pounds lighter and 3 inches shorter than Miller.

India, China seek cooperative image (Washington Times - December 23, 2006) The India-China strategic dissonance is rooted not only in their contrasting political ideals and quiet rivalry, but also in Beijing's relentless pursuit of a classical, Sun Tzu-style balance-of-power strategy. While seeking to present itself as a see-no-evil, do-no-evil state, China is zealously working to build up its power capabilities to engage the world on its own terms. In order to avert the rise of a peer rival in Asia, it has sought to tie down India strategically.

Punter still undecided (Worcester Telegram - December 22, 2006) Belichick revealed he hasn’t gone Lombardi on Gillette Stadium. Among the few motivational slogans hanging in the meeting rooms is this all-time Belichick favorite (for obvious reasons): “Every battle is won before it’s fought.” Sun Tzu, a Chinese general who lived in the sixth century B.C., gets the credit there.

Post-modernism is the new black (The Economist - December 19, 2006) Lyotard's name would not be the first that springs to mind when tracing the roots of contemporary retailing and business. Of course many unlikely thinkers and doers, from Sun Tzu, a Chinese general and purveyor of top strategy tips, to Sir Ernest Shackleton, a British explorer celebrated as the ultimate team-builder, have been unwittingly roped into management. The sub-genres of marketing, branding, trend-spotting and business organisation all have their own thought-leaders.

Salute Australia (BBC Sport - December 18, 2006) One must also acknowledge the contribution of coach John Buchanan. The cerebral former teacher, fond of ancient Chinese warlord Sun Tzu, has overseen an incredible 25 Test series victories, losing and drawing two, since taking over from Geoff Marsh in 1999. Those two defeats were by India in 2001 and the 2005 Ashes, widely acknowledged as two of the greatest Test series in history, which goes some way to describing how difficult it really is to beat Australia.

On the road with the champs (Atlanta Journal-Constitution - December 18, 2006) "The community is so proud of you," Hayes said after the prayer. "I played football for eight years, and I always wanted to go to the state championship. You are playing for all of us." Then Shawn Huff, a friend of one of the coaches, stepped to the middle of the dining hall and delivered a fire-and-brimstone speech, talking of football in war terms. Huff recited a story from the book, "Art of War," by a famous Chinese general, Sun Tzu. "Football is a game of warfare," Huff told the teenagers. "Roswell will find out tonight that Peachtree Ridge is at full strength."

[Living Science] Science and Weapons (Korea Times - December 1, 2006) To carry out war, we need a good commander in chief. Then what we need is the best strategy. ``The Art of War'' is the oldest military treatise in the world. It was written by Sun Tzu, a Chinese general, in about 500 B.C. The key principle in Sun Tzu's writings is that ``the supreme art of war is to conquer the enemy without fighting.'' If this canonical book is applied to the nation, then undoubtedly the country has to have physically powerful forces. It has to harness the power of science. Strong men can win without fighting, but weak men never even fight.

Playing with death in Lebanon (Asia Times - November 28, 2006) n the wake of the latest political assassination to rock Lebanon - last week's shooting of Pierre Gemayel, a scion of one of the foremost Christian Maronite political families - suspicion fell on the Syrians, and perhaps Hezbollah, as the most likely culprits... Participating, or otherwise benefiting from the killing of an old ally at a moment when the blame would be placed on one's enemies may seem far-fetched, but at least as far back as the great Chinese military strategist Sun Tzu "to mystify, mislead and surprise the enemy" has been one of the most well-regarded axioms of warfare.

Intensified focus due (Washington Times - November 24, 2006) This after Gen. David Petraus, produced a "new" counterinsurgency manual designed to instruct conventional forces in how to operate in an irregular warfare environment. On top of that, we learn Gen. George Casey, our top commander in Iraq, has a "shake and bake " one-week course to instruct incoming commanders on irregular warfare techniques in that country. Meanwhile military service schools scramble to re-design courses to try to adapt to a deteriorating scenario in those two focus countries, breaking from their emphasis on NATO/Gulf war I type warfare with tanks and elaborate air power and such. All avoiding Sun Tzu's admonitions on the "long war " and neglecting the concepts of the late Gen. Edward Lansdale that war is more than a military issue.

Message from midterm elections (Sun-Sentinel - November 13, 2006) Sun Tzu, the ancient Chinese military tactician, observed that "the best commander is the one who wins while avoiding battle." It reminds us that breaking the will of the enemy through confusion, deception, disillusionment and discrediting him with his base is more important than overpowering him purely with violence. Guns, bombs or missiles should be reserved for imminent threats -- not to install drive-by democracies. Tactics to counter the cycle of recruitment, indoctrination, weaponization and martyrdom -- including the marginalization of the ideology itself -- should be developed.

This Damon no Johnny-come-lately (Boston Herald - November 12, 2006) “I remember Coach Belichick talked a lot about 'The Art of War,' all battles are won before they are fought. I really think about that a lot to this day when I’m studying my game plan Wednesday and Thursday nights and watching film, and on the practice field. You know, that’s what I learned more than anything. I learned a little bit more on how to prepare for Sundays.”

Why Rumsfeld Soared as CEO, Sank at Pentagon (U.S.News & World Report - November 10, 2006) Business leaders love to emulate battlefield commanders as they deploy their troops and make critical decisions. That's why otherwise-arcane military books like The Art of War by Sun Tzu and On War by Carl von Clausewitz remain brisk sellers: They're considered obligatory titles on the bookshelf of any executive with a taste for corporate battle.

Our View: Lest we forget (Victoria News - November 8, 2006) This is the eternal duality of war: that armed conflict is sometimes necessary and yet at the same time needlessly and senselessly barbaric. Those who preach an idyllic world without war must recognize that ours is not an ideal world. Few understand and embody the fundamental principle of the great military philosopher Sun Tzu, who aptly and rightly declared that the ultimate goal of any warrior is peace.

Strief shuts out Simeon in Saints win (Real Football 365 - November 8, 2006) The wise and revered Chinese philosopher Sun Tzu of "The Art of War" fame once said there are not more than five musical notes, yet the combinations of these five five rise to more melodies than can ever be heard. There are not more than five offensive linemen on a football field every weekend, yet the combination of these can provide either a sweet melody or a sad song if the group does not perform in perfect harmony.

Fresh Prince - The hip-hop community finds its sage (The New Yorker - November 4, 2006) It is in some ways just an exhaustive collation of the work of other sages, such as Machiavelli and Sun Tzu -- whose "Art of War" was espoused by Hollywood and hip-hop, too. But its frank and ruthless approach, and its easy digest of admonishments -- some innocuous ("Always say less than necessary"; "Keep your hands clean") and some less so ("Pose as a friend, work as a spy"; "Keep others in suspended terror") -- make it seem like some kind of gospel. [For more, read Sonshi.com's interview with Robert Greene.]

Look sharp if you want to join the (political) party (The State - November 3, 2006) Want to be player — an elected official, a lobbyist, an agency director— in South Carolina? Here’s a guide to get you there. Use it with caution — and make sure to look both ways before crossing political lines. It’s dangerous... Copies of Donald Trump’s “The Art of the Deal” and Sun Tzu’s “The Art of War”: So few get to the top, so learn from the best.

It’s the Effect, Stupid (Air Force Magazine - November 1, 2006) In truth, says the Air Force, the effects-based approach is not really new; figures as different as Sun Tzu and Napoleon have thought in similar terms. However, modern military systems—especially those of air and space power—produce an unprecedented array of effects, with utility greater than mere attrition.

The art of football (Sporting News - October 31, 2006) It looks like Patriots head coach Bill Belichick has been brushing up on his Sun Tzu, who states in "The Art of War": "The highest form of generalship is to balk the enemy's plans." New England did just that against Minnesota, which entered Monday night giving up the second fewest rushing yards per game in the league. So, Belichick's Pats aired it out early -- and often -- in a 31-7 rout. Tom Brady passed for 372 yards and four TDs on 43 attempts, while NE's running backs carried the ball a total of 13 times. Nice game plan, coach.

Dell Catches HP Blade Runner (EWeek - October 30, 2006) Oracle's elbowing its way into Red Hat's Linux support biz with its Oracle Unbreakable Linux campaign proves beyond a doubt Larry has memorized every word of "The Art of War,'' the battle-tactic bible written by Chinese general Sun Tzu in the sixth century B.C. "I guess the rumor that Oracle was planning an Ubuntu Linux-based release was a dud," said a fellow Oracle OpenWorld attendee to the Furry One. "True," replied the Furball, who decided to flee Frisco and hop the next flight back to Beantown.

SAP software sales rise (Philadelphia Inquirer - October 20, 2006) Like many business executives, Oracle CEO Larry Ellison has famously read The Art of War, the sixth-century B.C. Chinese military treatise, for application in modern times. The book, by Sun Tzu, encourages the judicious use of strategy and outsmarting, rather than overpowering, one's opponent. Has McDermott (CEO of SAP) read it? "I have." But Oracle, he said, "is the JV team of The Art of War. "To beat SAP, you gotta bring the varsity."

Oracle's Ellison Uses `Art of War' in Software Battle With SAP (Bloomberg - October 18, 2006) Ellison, 62, is a master of applying Sun Tzu's precepts to the modern-day warfare of business competition, say those who know him. One basic tenet notes a smaller force can beat a larger one by causing its rival to respond before thinking. ``Larry consistently executes `The Art of War' better than any CEO,'' Salesforce.com CEO Marc Benioff, who has described Ellison as a mentor, said in an interview. ``SAP never should have reacted to Oracle's statements because it makes customers and investors view Oracle as a peer to SAP, when they aren't.''

A distorted use of NIE report (Daily Press - October 13, 2006) Sun Tzu, the ancient Chinese military theorist, said, "Know the enemy and know yourself, and in a hundred battles you will never be in peril." Knowing your enemy is always difficult, and knowing yourself is never as easy as it sounds. Unfortunately for the United States, an obscuring fog of politics has descended on the American intelligence community. Unnamed "government officials" leaked information from a classified National Intelligence Estimate entitled "Trends in Global Terrorism." Based on the leaks, many in the media and on Capitol Hill are more confused than ever about our own national security. In keeping with Master Sun's admonition to know ourselves, three observations may help clear the air...

Star Trek: The Next Generation: The Last Outpost (TV Squad - October 10, 2006) Picard sends a message to the Ferengi ship, then tells Riker the underlying philosophy of his French ancestors: "Sometimes, Riker, the best way to fight is not to be there." Riker replies, "Yes sir, he will triumph who knows when to fight, and when not to fight." The audience wonders what the hell is going on, until Picard says, "Glad the academy still teaches the strategies of Sun-Tzu."

Security Lessons From Sun Tzu and Hannibal (Computerworld - October 9, 2006) History books are full of lessons relevant to today’s data security battles. Hackers understand history’s lessons and reduce their risk by carefully studying a potential target before designing attacks with a high probability of overcoming defenses. This sort of risk assessment is one criterion that Sun Tzu, author of The Art of War, used more than 2,500 years ago to evaluate the chances of success in a looming conflict.

Spying on the spies (Washington Times - October 1, 2006) Mr. Gertz cites the ancient writings of Chinese strategist Sun Tzu, whose timeless book, "The Art of War," has been essential reading for warriors and spies around the world for millennia. The acme of skill, Sun Tzu argued, is defeating one's enemy without firing a shot, because battle exacts such huge costs in terms of both people and money. (Recently, the number of U.S. military personnel killed in Afghanistan and Iraq exceeded the number who died on September 11; meanwhile, the 2007 defense appropriations bill passed in Congress last week brings the total costs for war in Iraq and Afghanistan above half a trillion dollars.) Arguing that "[k]nowledge of the enemy's dispositions can only be obtained from other men," Sun Tzu explained that spies were essential.

Until UM irons this out, opponents show no fear (Orlando Sentinel - September 30, 2006) Anthony Wollschlager is reading Sun Tzu's The Art of War, so when the Hurricanes' center was asked if opponents still feared UM, his response was blunt and telling. "No, not how they used to," said Wollschlager, whose team tonight faces Houston (4-0), which is seeking to gain national respect by upsetting the Hurricanes. "It's hard to say teams fear us right now being 1-2," Wollschlager said. "The biggest thing is the whole mental game with your opponent. Before the war is even fought it's won or lost in the mental game, and I think having that aspect of fear in opponents is a big part because they'd come out there trembling."

Clausewitz, Sun Tzu and Generalissimo George by Jeff Huber (ePluribus Media - September 25, 2006) China, through a patient, deep strategy of forming alliances and allowing its adversary to spend itself into the sand with counterproductive military adventures, is on the cusp of winning the "energy war" without firing a single shot. It looks like somebody is heeding Sun Tzu. Unfortunately for America, it's not the Bush administration.

War proverbs guide THI Inc. to growth (San Antonio Express-News - September 22, 2006) Business is war. That's what Anthony "Ted" Terrazas thinks each morning as he arrives at work, going over in his mind the proverbs from "The Art of War" by ancient Chinese military strategist Sun Tzu. From all signs, Terrazas, founder and chief executive of government contractor THI Inc., is winning his battles on numerous fronts.

Koreans build Iraq success (Toronto Sun - September 18, 2006) Its commander, Maj.-Gen. Hwang Jung Sun, is a disciple of Sun Tzu, one of history's great military strategists, whose book, The Art of War, is as relevant today as it was when written 2,500 years ago. Gen. Hwang practises Sun Tzu's lesson on "how to win battles without fighting." In the Kurdish area of Irbil, he's set up a 24-hour hospital (the local hospital shuts down at 2 p.m.). Over the past three years, his 19 doctors, 32 paramedics and 460 medical personnel, supported by 1,400 combat marines and special-forces commandos, and 1,600 army engineers have virtually made themselves crucial to the people.

Pak Talks "Incredible Hulk" (Comic Book Resources - September 15, 2006) Books on history and cultural anthropology inspired Pak and helped him create the alien world that would serve as the setting for "Planet Hulk." "I got inspiration for the story by reading about the real lives of gladiators in ancient Rome and from the stories of figures like Genghis Khan and more contemporary warlords, dictators, and political leaders," Pak said. "Sun Tzu's 'Art of War' and Joseph Campbell's 'Power of Myth' played a big role in helping me think through other aspects of the story.

President Bush could learn a lot from Sun Tzu (Baltimore Sun - September 13, 2006) Dear Mr. President, It's too bad The Art of War wasn't on your summer reading list. If you'd read it, maybe we wouldn't be mired in Iraq. According to the author, Sun Tzu, esteemed for thousands of years as the Sage of Warfare, you're doing it all wrong.

Following Americans' ignorance into Iraq war (Nevada Appeal - September 10, 2006) In The Art of War, Sun Tzu wrote, "If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not your enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle." Five years after the attacks of 9/11, we still do not know our enemy, and it's not clear if we even know ourselves. As a result, we have created more enemies than when we started, with ignorance being our most difficult foe.

Drugs and violence, but no glory at all (Globe and Mail - September 9, 2006) In a world of violence and mayhem, Ty doesn't pack a piece. It's fists and smarts that keep him on top. Johnson's maturity and smarts command the respect of Sonny, who built the business with Ty's father and is more than a decade older. To keep his edge, Johnson meditates on the maxims from his favourite book, Sun Tzu's The Art of War: "Know your enemies. Figure out their next move before they do. Never show weakness."

Friday Follies (Inside Tennessee - September 8, 2006) During the relative quiet of summer months, between the Spring Game and two-a-days, the gridiron gurus love to curl up with a good book or two. What should be on the list? Steve Spurrier famously (infamously?) reads Sun Tzu’s The Art of War. Pat Riley, of both NBA and hair products fame, is also a student of the general’s ancient Chinese secrets. Wall Street’s Gordon Gecko, French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte and Red China’s Chairman Mao were also devotees of the little book.

Our View: Words abused (Victoria News - September 6, 2006) The fundamental element of armed conflict is no secret: more than two millennia ago, the great Chinese philosopher-general Sun Tzu scribed that the ultimate goal is peace: victory over a defined enemy. What, then, is "terror?" What enemy is it? One reason the United States lost the Vietnam war is that the U.S. was fighting the concept "communism" while the Viet Cong had a clearly defined, physical enemy: the U.S.

The unexpected detective (Philadelphia Daily News - September 6, 2006) And though Moss sometimes gets into heated arguments over employee issues with the fictional hospital security chief, Bass said he no longer takes the "in-your-face" approach. That often got results, but it often alienated people, too. These days, he draws upon "The Art of War," the classic work on military strategy by the Chinese general Sun Tzu, and said he uses tactics such as "when strong, appear weak.

Red storm rising (GCN - August 21, 2006) Rear Adm. Hight, of JTF-GNO, said DOD is taking note of the incursions and data extractions, and looking at the department's defensive measures. “Our daily efforts are all about assessing and mitigating risks. We are students of Sun Tzu and other philosophical thinkers who have a wonderful way of capturing warfighting concepts,” Hight said. “The key to this type of warfare is just what you might think of as traditional warfare. You can't forget the foundations. You can't forget the basics. The cyberworld relies, in many cases, on foundational concepts in terms of how you protect it.”

Hawkins brings passion to Boulder to rebuild soiled Buffs program (NCAAFootball - August 18, 2006) "You never know what you're going to get from Coach Hawk,'' junior wide receiver Dusty Sprague said. "It could be something from Sun Tzu or some other quote where you haven't even heard of the person who said it.''

A War of Escalating Errors (LA Times - August 12, 2006) This notion — absorbing smaller blows in order to deliver decisive later strikes — has important historical precedents. It forms a central tenet of the philosophy of ancient China's Sun Tzu, arguably the world's greatest military thinker. But even during modern American history, we can find the idea at work: For it decisively influenced the pre-World War II steps taken by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Knuckledusters donned in software great war (The Inquirer - August 4, 2006) Salesforce.com's Marc Benioff has always kept the knuckledusters handy in case of meeting the opposition. An avid reader of The Art of War by Chinese general Sun Tzu, the bear-like CEO is usually ready to rumble when the suggestion of a competitor doing anything right is made.

Mike Tyson and the Hornet's Nest: Military Lessons of the Lebanon Crisis (Brookings Institution - August 1, 2006) It has been argued that the CIA and other U.S. intelligence agencies did a poor job at this prior to 9-11 because of a Cold War mindset that lacked cultural understanding and failed to prioritize al Qaeda as a threat. But none of these excuses can be applied to the Israeli intelligence services, as Hezbollah has been at the top of their list for more than decade. Our expectations may have to be lowered for state intelligence agencies dueling with non-state actors. It is starting to look like it is they who face a mismatch when it comes to carrying out Sun Tzu's canon, "Know your enemy."

The March of Folly (Washington Post - July 30, 2006) Ricks begins Fiasco with the ancient strategist Sun Tzu's admonition about how to achieve victory: "Know your enemies, know yourself." Clearly, those who took us to war in 2003 knew neither. The question today is whether they can learn.

We're at War All Right – Right Here at Home (Counterbias - July 28, 2006) John Walsh’s recent article, “Flunking the Art of War,” contained the above quote and I couldn’t help but see it in a completely different context from what Walsh had intended. Walsh was obviously and appropriately applying the ancient wisdom of Sun-Tzu in comparison to our modern day U.S. President of War - and his complete failure in Iraq - and the results of our leaving Israel and Lebanon to “duke it out” amongst themselves since nobody ever really read his “Roadmap to Peace.”

The Tribal Way of War (Wall Street Journal - July 19, 2006) Forget Karl von Clausewitz's dictum that war is a last resort and circumscribed by the methodical actions and requirements of a state and its army... the darkest cloud on the 21st-century horizon is big states whose leaders may simply like to fight. Their reasons are tied up with pride, vengeance and martial religiosity and cannot be gratified through negotiations. What then should we do? The authors quote Sun Tzu, the fourth-century B.C. Chinese theorist of war: "Know your enemy." This book is a good place to start.

Maccaba makes comeback (Sunday Business Post - July 16, 2006) ‘‘We are an Irish company that can be a world leader in a market niche, where e-commerce and financial markets overlap,’’ Maccaba said. Maccaba, who is known to be a fan of Sun Tzu, the ancient Chinese warrior philosopher, said that Cognotec had a three-year plan for the future that included various scenarios. ‘‘Plans are scenarios in the high-tech sector,” he said. ‘‘You cannot plan in one dimension.”

Lieberman Will Face Another Anti-War Candidate—A Republican (TPMCafe - July 13, 2006) Like Ned Lamont, Urban is worried about being labeled as only anti-war. “I am not a one-issue person and I have proven it,” she told the New London Day. “I am a Republican in the Lincoln/Teddy Roosevelt ilk. That's what I am; that's the party I represent. I don't know where it is, and if you find it would you please tell me?” Urban says she takes her campaign strategy from Sun-Tzu’s Art of War.

Win the War With Wall Street (Motley Fool - July 12, 2006) This is one of the most important bits of advice from the world's oldest military treatise, Sun Tzu's The Art of War. "In war," Sun Tzu wrote, "the victorious strategist seeks battle only after the victory has been won." To put it another way, "The victor seeks only battles that he knows he will win." Of course, any investor -- like any general -- knows that you can't win them all, but you can win a lot more battles when you fight the right ones.

Strategic vision can give Lippi the edge (The Times - July 8, 2006) Some saw it as a departure from the Italian tradition of defensive play, the catenaccio , that had served us so well. In fact, it has nothing to do with the philosophical choice of attacking rather than being attacked. Rather, it is all about pragmatism and strategy. The basic tenets followed by Lippi are not that different from those outlined by The Art of War , Sun Tzu's ancient text, which has become a staple not just on the battlefield but in the boardroom, too.

S.B. academy home to a champion and a master (North Brunswick Sentinel - July 6, 2006) Capobianco's ascension to master of tae kwon do took one year. Through the year, three times a week, she needed to perform 200 kicks, 100 push-ups, run two miles and meditate for 20 minutes. "I was already doing this anyway; I was teaching it in classes, so that was easy," said Capobianco. The difficult part, she said, was the mental component, which involved reading a large number of books, including "The Art of War," "Living the Martial Arts Way," "The Analects of Confucius" and many others.

Portugal Gets Big Moment Instead of Brazil (Washington Post - July 3, 2006) Scolari, who lists Sun Tzu's "The Art of War" as one of his favorite books, is trying to become the first coach to win World Cup titles with two nations. He had coached teams to a record 11 straight World Cup wins before the England match, which goes down as a tie in FIFA's books.

Scolari turns to ancient Chinese general (Fox Sports - July 3, 2006) The Art of War by Chinese general Sun Tzu is one of Scolari's favorite books. He says it has helped him to the 2002 World Cup title with his native country and into the semifinals in Germany at the helm of Portugal. Scolari has won every game his teams have played at both tournaments - a streak that has reached a dozen.

History may be bunk but, dammit, they owe us (The Guardian - July 1, 2006) But so it is that today, in a game which once again reminds us that real life is merely the punchline to an absurd joke, Big Phil will square up to a manager twice as sane and one tenth as endearing as him, backed up by those whom we are required to style his Portuguese Men'o' War. Needless to say, Scolari's preparations have involved indoctrinating his players with Sun Tzu's The Art of War, that well-thumbed staple of the Personal Growth and Football Management section of Waterstones.

Historic face-off (The Statesman - July 1, 2006) Not only do Sven-Goran Eriksson’s men have to fight it out against the likes of Figo, Pauleta, Cristiano Ronaldo and Maniche on Saturday, they also have to contend with the fiery theories of Portugal’s Brazilian coach, Mr Luiz Felipe Scolari. It is said that when he guided Brazil to World Cup triumph, he gave his team members a copy of Sun Tzu’s The Art of War, a 2,500-year-old Chinese text on military strategy. Portugal’s win over Holland on Sunday may just remind many in the Brazilian camp of that book.

Scolari schooled in the art of war (The Daily Telegraph - June 28, 2006) Luiz Felipe Scolari, the Portugal coach, is plotting England's downfall in Gelsenkirchen on Saturday by taking inspiration from a 2,600-year-old book on warfare written by a Chinese general. Sun Tzu's famous espousal of the importance of preparation, decisiveness, and selflessness has appealed to Scolari, who has The Art of War as his bedside reading here in Germany.

Now the real series gets started (FoxSports - June 17, 2006) "This is the fifth game now and all the sort of niceties and genuine respect that each side has for one another dissipate with the competition and as we get closer to the result and the outcome," Riley said. "It always happens. It always happens in all sports. The only thing that counts is getting yourself right and ready without getting, you know, propagandized or however you want to do or get soft in the mind with what's out there and how this thing is being covered (by the media). It really is. It gets to a very important time that we don't do that." Unless you head to the sixth century for a chat with a writer named Sun Tzu. This is, after all, just another version of The Art of War.

Ford says new model lineup is on track (Detroit News - June 6, 2006) During the wide-ranging interview with reporters, Fields quoted the author of "The Art of War" in defending its turnaround plan and talking about Ford's strategic thinking. "The best offense is understanding your competitor better than they do," he said, paraphrasing the sixth century Chinese author Sun Tzu.

Bush's Gifts From World Leaders Include Statues, Guns (Bloomberg News - June 15, 2006) With the U.S. at war in Iraq and engaged in a global battle against terrorists, Bush received ``The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook'' and a DVD of the musical ``Singing in the Rain'' from the sultan of Brunei. The vice president of China gave his U.S. counterpart, Vice President Dick Cheney, an out- of-print copy of Sun Tzu's ``The Art of War,'' valued at $3,600.

U.S. forces deliver justice to al-Zarqawi in Iraq (The People's Defender - June 14, 2006) As a student of military history, I am reminded of a tenet of war espoused by Sun Tzu, a 5th century warrior tactician, who observed that “…what is essential in war is victory, not prolonged operations.” I am extremely hopeful that we use the death of al-Zarqawi to crush al-Qaida and the insurgents now that the number one terrorist in Iraq has been eliminated.

And all for a little round ball ... (Asia Times - June 9, 2006) UN-affiliated Ronaldo - even though referred to as El Gordo (The Fat One) by Spanish media - remains the most popular sportsman in the world. If by any chance the Brazilian national coach - a wise fellow who reads and applies Sun Tzu's Art of War - would leave Ronaldo out of the team, sponsor Nike would eat him alive.

A Sea of Sand Is Threatening China's Heart (New York Times - June 8, 2006) China's own favorite military strategist, Sun Tzu, surely would have warned against letting two mighty enemies, the Tengger and the Badain Jaran, form a united front. Yet a desert pincer is squeezing this struggling oasis town, and China's long campaign to cultivate its vast arid northwest is in retreat.

AMD: Chipping Away At Intel's Lead (BusinessWeek - June 2, 2006) Just weeks into his tenure as Advanced Micro Devices Inc.'s new worldwide vice-president of consumer channel sales, Stephen DiFranco was wondering whether he should have come to the chip industry's perennial underdog... DiFranco is mum about what goals he will present at this June's AMD leadership retreat. A student of Sun Tzu's Art of War, he says cryptically that "you fight the battle you know you're going to win."

Off the terrorism list (Miami Herald - June 1, 2006) The ancient Chinese strategist Sun Tzu taught that military power is most impressive when you achieve your objective without using it. The purpose of sanctions and great military power should be to achieve positive results that endure. For this to happen, a sound diplomatic strategy is essential.

MBA Is a Costly Route to `Married, But Absent': Mark Gilbert (Bloomberg News - May 25, 2006) Stephan Schubert of the Ashridge business school (``Inspiration. Innovation. Impact.'') in Hertfordshire gave participants a taste of what to expect on an MBA course. The core message of his presentation was that Sun Tzu's ``Art of War'' remains a primary source of management inspiration more than 2,000 years after it was written. ``People have not added much since,'' Schubert said.

12-step program to GOP manhood (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review - May 14, 2006) For a political party that grasps the concept of victory against foreign enemies, Republicans can't seem to grasp that concept when it comes to domestic enemies. Instead of taking a page from Sun-tzu's "Art of War," when it comes to fighting liberals, American conservatives prefer the Jimmy Carter unconditional surrender strategy.

Interview with Former Secretary of State Colin Powell (People's Daily - May 9, 2006) Correspondents: What is your hobby now? Powell: Reading, driving and racing my car and watching baseball. I love reading history books. I have read Chinese classics The Art of War written by Sun Tzu. Sun Tzu has been studied for hundreds of hundreds of years. He continues to give inspirations to soldiers and politicians. So every American solider in the army knows of his works. We require our soldiers to read it. I have many versions of it at my home.

Books That Deserve a Promotion (Wall Street Journal - May 7, 2006) 1. The Art of War by Sun Tzu. He or she who takes a strategic approach to business life -- who is fit in mind, body and spirit, who is always ready for just about anything -- is the player most likely to win the ongoing war that is life. The true Sun Tzu-nik is so prepared for battle that battle has been rendered unnecessary.

Kobe Finally Deserves Those Jordan Comparisons (Bloomberg News - May 2, 2006) Kobe, it seems, finally understands why Jackson suggested that he read Sun Tzu's ``The Art of War.'' Always philosophical about basketball, Jackson is fond of giving books as gifts. More than just books, really. There's always a message to be decoded. Sun Tzu suggests in his writings that, among other things, the leader of an army can't receive special treatment if he wants his troops to follow. In other words, if food is sparse, it's shared equally. The general can't pig out while the foot soldiers starve.

Brawn and brains of a great survivor (The Times, April 27, 2006) Still, he managed to right the ship, getting Brazil to the World Cup, albeit in an unconvincing way. For the first time, Brazil were not among the favourites for the world title, yet Scolari worked his magic. The day he met up with his players, he gave each a copy of Sun Tzu’s The Art of War, a 2,500-year-old Chinese text on military strategy. “It changed the way we thought of the game and of each other,” Cafu, the Brazil captain, said later. “I know it sounds corny, but it really did.” His enemies melted away as Brazil won the World Cup in convincing fashion.

Latest Hollywood script deals (Reuters - April 26, 2006) Columbia Pictures is shelling out big bucks to learn "The Art of Cool." The studio has paid a $600,000 advance for the spec script, kick-starting the career of its author Alex Sabeti, who was working as a temp the day his deal closed. The high school comedy takes the classic book "The Art of War," by Sun Tzu, and uses it as a template for how to approach surviving the social politics of high school.

'I like books that get you thinking - the Art of War is a great book' (The Guardian - April 22, 2006) It is not just when Nigel Reo-Coker discusses Sun Tzu's book The Art of War that it becomes plain he is a far from average Premiership footballer... "I like books that get you thinking and put things in perspective," he says. "The Art of War [a 2,000-year-old work of Chinese philosophy] is a great book. It's such a complex book that however you want to look at it, you can look at it. For football it teaches you about respecting your enemy but knowing your enemy as well as you know yourself; trying to anticipate their next move and what they are going to do before they do it.

The Long China View (Wall Street Journal - April 20, 2006) We're often told that Chinese politicians take "the long view." True to form, when Chinese President Hu Jintao meets President Bush today, he'll reportedly give him a copy of Sun Tzu's "Art of War," the centuries-old classic of how to conquer an enemy through craft and cunning. How ironic a gesture that would be, given that the U.S.-China relationship is as friendly as it's been in years, and that America's policy toward China is itself a long-run strategic calculation worthy of Sun Tzu.

Ancient sage opens the way to peace of modern powers (The Times, 4/20/06) Oh, not The Art of War again. When President Hu of China meets President Bush today he will hand him a copy of the classic work on military strategy by Sun Tzu, the Chinese 6th-century philosopher, according to the South China Morning Post. The book, a favourite gift in diplomatic encounters, has supplied generations of politicians and writers with a garnish of profundity, through its insights such as “winning without fighting is the best strategy”.

Moderate Muslims Seek Help From the Dalai Lama (LA Times, 4/16/06) Under tight security, the Dalai Lama initially met privately with 40 leaders... he was flanked by religious leaders and scholars including Huston Smith, emeritus professor of religion at UC Berkeley; Thomas Cleary, a Harvard professor whose interpretation of the ancient Chinese "Art of War" became a bestseller; and Robert Thurman, a Columbia University professor known as the Billy Graham of Buddhism.

Bush ponders his next move after China's capital gambit (The Times, 4/14/06) The easing of capital controls deployed by Beijing makes it diplomatically harder for the US to accuse China of failing to push on with exchange rate reform; politically easier for the Bush Administration to try to quell congressional demands for retaliation against the Chinese; and economically delivers greater benefits to China than to America. It is a strategy almost worthy of Sun Tzu, China’s renowned 6th century military genius.

Stressing Fantasy in Real-Time Games (BusinessWeek, 4/11/06) Whenever I start a game I try to immerse myself in the mind of the consumer that I believe I'm going to try to get to, and I'm a voracious reader so it doesn't really matter to me. I can pick up a book on philosophy and then something on science, then one on poetry; it's okay with me... So for military games of course I read a lot of military history, a lot of strategy, Art of War, types of thing like that. I'll go back and reread some of the classics to kind of get myself back in that mindset.

Pedro lives by own rules (The Star-Ledger, 4/7/06) "The general who wins a battle makes many calculations in his temple ere the battle is fought," Sun Tzu wrote in "The Art of War." "The general who loses a battle makes but few calculations beforehand." Martinez, clearly, falls into the "many calculations" camp. He wins too often for us to think otherwise. And actually, the more you look at "The Art of War," the more stuff you find that pertains to what Martinez did at Shea Stadium last night.

Know Friends As Well As Enemies, Military Officials Say (US Department of Defense, 4/5/06) "We must know the enemy, we must know ourselves, but also we must know the coalition partner," South Korean Air Force Col. B.J. Park, a Republic of Korea liaison officer to U.S. Joint Forces Command, said, paraphrasing the ancient Chinese military strategist, Sun Tzu. Not having a deep understanding of how U.S. coalition partners think and operate will hinder true interoperability among allies, U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. William M. Rajczak, JFCOM's deputy director for joint requirements and integration, added.

Outreach shortfalls (Washington Times, 4/4/06) For too long, Americans have been blind to the fact that key countries, namely China and Russia, are involved in alliances and agreements that are hostile to the interests of the United States.For instance, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Hu Jintao have met five times since last April. This brings to mind what Sun Tzu said: "One who does not know the plans of the enemy cannot forge preparatory alliances."

Sun Tzu alive, cave (Xinhua, 4/1/06) Reports came this morning from Chinese officials and other official sources confirmed that Sun Tzu, the ancient Chinese general who wrote The Art of War, was found alive in a cave outside of the city of Nanjing in the Jiangsu Province, 200 miles west of Shanghai. Note: This is an April Fool's Day piece.

A pragmatic approach regarding mainland China (Scripps Howard News, 3/31/06) Taiwan is giving sustained emphasis to the complex very important network of global intergovernmental organizations operating generally under the umbrella of the United Nations, a body which excluded Taipei when Beijing entered. A current priority is the World Health Organization, where Taiwan's exceptional scientific and technological expertise provides a powerful argument for membership. An indirect approach, avoiding frontal assaults whenever possible, was the hallmark of Sun Tzu, philosopher of strategy and war in ancient China. Taipei's leaders clearly emulate his work.

Andover firm to provide training for Navy (Eagle Tribune, 3/29/06) The Navy is going corporate. While "The Art of War" and similar texts have become must reading for many executives in recent years, the American military likewise has been taking a page or two from the business world to boost its productivity.

Penn State researcher says better military persuasion would have aided U.S. in Iraq (Penn State Live, 3/23/06) Author of a 2002 book, "Military Persuasion in War and Policy," Cimbala said the U.S. went into Iraq with a great deal of naivete for a country that had fought the Iraqis little more than a decade earlier. In the current journal article, Cimbala is quick to paraphrase famed Chinese philosopher of war, Sun Tzu: "Know yourself and know thy enemy. To win without fighting is the acme of skill."

Shapiro rebuilds Indians with patience, plan (Sports Illustrated, 3/22/06) Smack in the middle of Mark Shapiro's crowded desk sits a copy of Sun Tzu's "The Art of War,'' required reading for businessmen, politicians - anyone seeking an edge. And there's little doubt that Shapiro, general manager of the financially challenged Cleveland Indians, can always use one. "There's some great stuff in here,'' Shapiro said, holding up the shiny, hardcover edition, a gift he got recently that will replace his worn paperback. "You can always go back and find something.''

A Low-Tech Game's Lessons For the High-Tech World (Washington Post, 3/10/06) One of Ryer's current projects, called Under Heaven, is a board game he's building on commission for the Department of Defense and based on the writings of military philosopher Sun Tzu. The point of the game is to familiarize its target audience with Chinese modes of thinking.

How to Test Your Competitive Market Strategy (MarketingProfs, 3/7/06) A famous figure in the world of strategy was a general named Sun Tzu. He lived in northeastern China about 2,500 years ago and was considered an expert in military strategy due to his many victories on the battlefield. Many successful military leaders (such as General Patton) and business executives (such as former GE CEO) have attributed their victories to their application of Sun Tzu's principles.

Words on the street (Financial Times, 3/3/06) The back of a police motorcycle speeding through the outskirts of the world’s largest city is not the most obvious place to discuss one’s favourite books. Yet I am doing just that with Benito Espinoza, commander of the motorised patrol group in Ciudad Nezahualcoyotl, a tumultuous municipality on the eastern fringes of Mexico City. Clinging tight to his holster as we ride past drab brick housing covered in gangland graffiti, I ask if he has a preferred read. The Art of War he replies, citing the Chinese classic written almost 2,500 years ago by Sun Tzu.

Time Warner and Icahn Reach a Settlement (New York Times, 2/18/06) Mr. Icahn, meanwhile, told Mr. Parsons he had revised his strategy and was planning to announce his slate of five directors by the end of this week. A history buff who cites the Sun Tzu-inspired maxim "the best way to win a war is to not fight it," Mr. Icahn figured this was his best chance of coming to an agreement.

High schoolers question Navy official for C-SPAN program (San Diego Union Tribune, 1/31/06) Daniel Thompson, 17, who brought up “The Art of War” by Sun Tzu, an ancient Chinese military strategist, asked [Vice Admiral James] Zortman how the war on terrorism could be won in a timely manner. Zortman responded that fighting is the last thing Sun would do, and it will take time to battle ideas that promote terrorism. It took about 50 years for communism to be defeated in the former Soviet Union, he said. To win, Sun would recommend identifying the enemy, discovering their “centers of gravity” and removing them, Zortman said. Later, Daniel said he liked Zortman's answer.

Super Bowl teams show they were easily best (The Desert Sun, 1/26/06) So many things start going through a coach's mind he might forget the most obvious solutions, especially if he did not plan for them in the beginning. The ancient military and social strategist, Sun Tzu, wrote in his book, The Art of War, "…first you win the war, then you fight it."

Optimistic Mets ring in Winter Caravan (MLB.com, 1/24/06) [Willie] Randolph, dressed casually and in a relaxed mood, was asked since the team was gathered at a world-famous library, what book he might assign as required reading if he were to dole out homework before batterymen work out for the first time in Port St. Lucie on Feb. 18. "'The Art of War' is one of my favorite books," Randolph said of the famous ancient work by Chinese military strategist Sun Tzu. "To me, it's all about winning. When you go into competition, there is an art to it. There is a way to do it if you want to be the best."

Brazil soccer coach defines World Cup plans (China View, 1/20/06) The Brazilian coach said that he draws on the same source of inspiration as his predecessor, Luis Felipe Scolari: reading The Art of War by Sun Tzu, a fifth century B.C. strategist from China. Scolori used to stimulate his players before Sun Tzu phrases like "we have to defend when our force is weak and attack when our force is stronger." Parreira said that Brazil's national soccer team had to train with a warrior spirit, because no-one will give the World Cup as a gift to Brazil's team.

Ariel Sharon & the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: What Future and in which Centre? (Newropeans Magazine, 1/17/06) Some moons ago, I read Sun Tzu's The Art of War . This compelling book, written by one of the most famous Chinese military generals circa 500 BCE, focused on the striking differences between strategies and tactics. His book supports an argument that Sharon was not a strategist. Rather, he was a tactician who could not forge successful long-term strategies or policies.

Health exec looks at bigger picture (Owings Mills Times, 1/12/06) At this point, his office at the county's Drumcastle Centerholds but a few personal items. His framed medical and college degrees rest against a wall, beneath a window that overlooks York Road near the city-county line. But a set of speakers for his iPod music player, two well-worn paperbacks (Sun Tzu's "Art of War" and Malcolm Gladwell's "Tipping Point") and a large exercise ball hint that someone regularly occupies this corner office.

Bulls perfect The Art of Losing (Northwest Herald, 1/5/06) To help the Bulls shake their midseason funk, coach Scott Skiles should consider making Sun Tzu required pregame reading. The author of "The Art of War," the legendary book outlining basic military strategy, Sun Tzu proved to be a profound influence on Skiles during his playing days. Before each game, new Seattle coach Bob Hill said, Skiles arrived at the arena early to read the philosophy of the ancient Chinese icon.

Chandler could miss week with sprained ankle (Chicago Sun-Times, 1/5/06) Hill was an assistant at Orlando while Skiles was playing for the Magic (1993-94), and he gained nothing but respect for Skiles. ''The guy was like a machine the year I was around him, the discipline and the mental and physical toughness that he had,'' Hill said. ''He read The Art of War before every game. He had the book in his bag, and he would get there early and sit right in front so he would have a front-row seat for the pregame talk. Then he'd put it back in his bag and go to work, every game.''

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