Hi Kurt,   
      
   On Thu 2039-Jan-13 11:35, Kurt Weiske (1:218/700) wrote to BOB KLAHN:   
      
   KW> Others agree, but for differing reasons:   
      
   KW> III. Attack by Stratagem   
      
   KW> 1. Sun Tzu said: In the practical art of war, the best thing of all   
   KW> is to take the enemy's country whole and intact; to shatter and   
   KW> destroy it is not so good. So, too, it is better to recapture an   
   KW> army entire than to destroy it, to capture a regiment, a detachment   
   KW> or a company entire than to destroy them.   
      
   Indeed.  And then we snip to ...   
   KW> 4. The rule is, not to besiege walled cities if it can possibly be   
   KW> avoided. The preparation of mantlets, movable shelters, and various   
   KW> implements of war, will take up three whole months; and the piling   
   KW> up of mounds over against the walls will take three months more.   
      
   KW> 5. The general, unable to control his irritation, will launch his   
   KW> men to the assault like swarming ants, with the result that   
   KW> one-third of his men are slain, while the town still remains   
   KW> untaken. Such are the disastrous effects of a siege.   
      
   YEp, and here in the new world we have "remember the alamo!" a perfect example   
   of this.   
      
      
   Regards,   
              Richard   
   --- timEd 1.10.y2k+   
    * Origin:  (1:116/901)