Preface: Nothing is written

 

“The only thing certain about war is that nothing is certain about war.”

 
 --Winston Churchill
 

“War is the stage of uncertainty.”

 
 --Carl von Clausewitz
 

“In war, there is no guarantee of success. But we can make sure we deserve it.”

 
 --Winston Churchill

In his book Seven Pillars of Wisdom, T. E. Lawrence – better known as Lawrence of Arabia – tells of an incident that happened as he was trying to seize Akaba from the Turks in World War I. Gasim, an Arab guerrilla warrior in Lawrence’s army, fell asleep on his camel without anyone noticing. Thus he seemed to be condemned to certain death under the burning desert sun.

Miles away, when Lawrence noticed Gasim’s absence he turned his camel around and journeyed into the desert ...

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