General Discussion

pnwmom

(108,990 posts) Sat Mar 23, 2019, 02:46 AM Mar 2019

In warfare, what is a feigned retreat?

I think what we might be seeing now is a political version of a feigned retreat. Trump's supporters are crowing about the end of the Mueller probe. But, in reality, Mueller now has prosecutors working on the investigation in two different Federal districts in New York, one in D.C., one in VA, and maybe even others.

And then there are the state Attorney Generals.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Withdrawal_(military)

Feigned retreat

The act of feigning a withdrawal or rout in order to lure an enemy away from a defended position or into a prepared ambush is an ancient tactic, and has been used throughout the history of warfare.

12 replies

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Highlight:

In warfare, what is a feigned retreat? (Original Post) pnwmom Mar 2019 OP

If you buy him a beer, Sun Tzu will tell you, and a whole lot more Brother Buzz Mar 2019 #1

you beat me to Sun Tzu Celerity Mar 2019 #5

compare ... Qutzupalotl Mar 2019 #2

and Celerity Mar 2019 #3

Independent investigators don't use super-secret-squirrel tactics. Socal31 Mar 2019 #4

FBI heads would be expected to be strategic in their prosecution decisions. pnwmom Mar 2019 #7

KnR Hekate Mar 2019 #6

I am hoping for something more like the Battle of Cannae Quixote1818 Mar 2019 #8

Sounds like a good plan! pnwmom Mar 2019 #9

also worked well at little big horn rampartc Mar 2019 #10

Good knowledge! roscoeroscoe Mar 2019 #11

But what if your overall commanding General (the AG) exboyfil Mar 2019 #12

Brother Buzz

(36,455 posts)

1. If you buy him a beer, Sun Tzu will tell you, and a whole lot more

Reply to pnwmom (Original post)

Sat Mar 23, 2019, 02:53 AM

Mar 2019

All warfare is based on deception, but the supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.

Celerity

(43,470 posts)

5. you beat me to Sun Tzu

Reply to Brother Buzz (Reply #1)

Sat Mar 23, 2019, 03:06 AM

Mar 2019

I was wasting time looking for a cool pic, lolol

Qutzupalotl

(14,321 posts)

2. compare ...

Reply to pnwmom (Original post)

Sat Mar 23, 2019, 03:02 AM

Mar 2019

feint

noun

a mock attack or movement used in warfare, made in order to distract or deceive an enemy.

Celerity

(43,470 posts)

3. and

Reply to pnwmom (Original post)

Sat Mar 23, 2019, 03:05 AM

Mar 2019

Socal31

(2,484 posts)

4. Independent investigators don't use super-secret-squirrel tactics.

Reply to pnwmom (Original post)

Sat Mar 23, 2019, 03:05 AM

Mar 2019

Mueller is an exemplary American, who ethically investigated his antithesis

pnwmom

(108,990 posts)

7. FBI heads would be expected to be strategic in their prosecution decisions.

Reply to Socal31 (Reply #4)

Sat Mar 23, 2019, 03:08 AM

Mar 2019

And that would be Mueller's inclination since his Vietnam days.

Hekate

(90,769 posts)

6. KnR

Reply to pnwmom (Original post)

Sat Mar 23, 2019, 03:06 AM

Mar 2019

Quixote1818

(28,955 posts)

8. I am hoping for something more like the Battle of Cannae

Reply to pnwmom (Original post)

Sat Mar 23, 2019, 03:20 AM

Mar 2019

Where the enemy thinks they are winning but walking into a trap. They end up flanked and then enveloped with no way to retreat and no place to go. They eventually just wait for hours for their demise.

&t=111s

pnwmom

(108,990 posts)

9. Sounds like a good plan!

Reply to Quixote1818 (Reply #8)

Sat Mar 23, 2019, 03:27 AM

Mar 2019

rampartc

(5,432 posts)

10. also worked well at little big horn

Reply to Quixote1818 (Reply #8)

Sat Mar 23, 2019, 04:25 AM

Mar 2019

and somehow i like the idea of comparing trump to custer.

roscoeroscoe

(1,370 posts)

11. Good knowledge!

Reply to rampartc (Reply #10)

Sat Mar 23, 2019, 05:20 AM

Mar 2019

Love that example, very apt

exboyfil

(17,865 posts)

12. But what if your overall commanding General (the AG)

Reply to pnwmom (Original post)

Sat Mar 23, 2019, 07:07 AM

Mar 2019

is a collaborator with the enemy general?

At least in New York with its double jeopardy law, you are going to run afoul of any preemptive pardon when trying to prosecute on state charges. If I was Trump I would pardon everyone I cared about when I was a lame duck (when the Senate impeachment vote was about to happen, when I lost the 2020 election, or when I was leaving in 2025). This would include pardons for myself and Pence. I then would resign just before the inauguration and have Pence pardon me.

The only thing that might impact this plan is if he strokes out. There again the pardons might already be sitting in a safe someplace.

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