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Here's my musings on the 33 strategies and 33rd strategy specifically: Robert Greene has been heralded as a "modern version of Machiavelli", since his books exalts the amorality and ruthlessness that exists in human behavior and strategic thinking. I am no apologist for the man, but upon reading the 33 Strategies of War, I can see where is he getting part of inspiration. It is not Machiavellian concepts of amorality like the Prince, but the Chinese 36 Strategems and Art of War. Upon further inspection of the man, I looked up his faith and realized he is an adherent of Zen Buddhism, basically a fusion of Buddhist concepts and Taoist observations. In that perspective, it may seem amoral to Judeo-Christian observers, but it is merely a facet of human behavior that leads to continual suffering. A funny habit of mine is to read the last chapter of a book first before reading the beginning (I know weird way of reading). I looked up his 33rd strategy about the use of panic and terror, very interesting and ominous strategy for countering modern terrorism. I agree with his analysis in this area, including the strengths in decentralized forces, instability in the victims environment/social dynamic, and the power of asymmetrical warfare. To counter terrorism, he borrowed a few lines from the 36 strategms of China, an interesting idea: 借屍還魂- Jiè shī huán hún/Borrow a Corpse to Resurrect the Soul Basically, borrow older ideals and concepts to defeat a foe that seeks to undermine your morale. Of course he did not say it like that, but the underlying strategem is the same. To defeat asymmetric tactics with random acts and terror, the counter is older symmetric tactics with straightforward acts and honest evaluations. The US' own current strategy in dealing with morale effects is not the most suitable, a disproportionate action to counter the strategy of panic and terror would only elevate the power of the attackers rather than diminish it. Police and military powers that disrupt the lives of average citizens only elevate the influence of the panic and terror from the random acts. I thought of something that can be done in this regards to help counter the morale attacks without using excessive force from pondering this strategy: Re-instituting the Civic requirement across the US: Civic courses and concepts no matter how remedial and slow are a necessary. It also formed the core of US national thought. While we may all represent individual cultures, creeds, and identities, the Citizens of the United States remain part of "One Nation". In essence, I want to bring back an old institution of Civics and an old ideology, Nationalism, in order to counter terrorism. In strengthening the old institution, I reduce the possibility of internal sympathizers and potential accomplices, maybe even turning them into key assets in countering future acts. By strengthening the will of the people, you will not see disruption or panic as intended by these acts of terror. For a successful case, look no further than Israel, a nation bogged down by constant threat of terror, but it maintains its society without disruption. With the full support of the people, the use of terrorist attacks would be futile, even if 1 person may kill 30, there are 300 million more people willing to live their life without fear and with a strong determination in their shared national ideals. What the US lacks currently and why we are fracturing politically is based on lack of shared national identity, which prior generations have had. Just my musings of course, I am no prophet of things to come, nor a politician.