*** With permission from Chet Richards & Chuck Spinney, April 8, 2025. ***
This podcast is based on John R. Boyd's seminal presentation Patterns of Conflict, edited by Chet Richards and Chuck Spinney. It offers a comprehensive examination of the nature of conflict throughout history, analyzing various forms of warfare—including attrition warfare, maneuver warfare, and moral conflict—while assessing both successful and failed military strategies.
The discussion explores how technology and ideology shape warfare, with particular focus on concepts like blitzkrieg and guerrilla tactics. Ultimately, it presents a framework for successful military operations that emphasizes initiative, adaptability, and the critical ability to operate inside an adversary's decision cycle (OODA Loop). The analysis concludes by highlighting the enduring importance of a unifying strategic vision for achieving long-term success in conflict.
For optimal understanding, we recommend following each podcast with the corresponding presentation slides open.
Source: Chet Richards'
website:
https://slightlyeastofnew.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/patternsofconflict.pdf