There is a classic book on my shelf by 19th-century Prussian General Carl Von Clausewitz called “On War.” Clausewitz’s seminal work on warfare lays out truths about strategy, tactics, decision-making, and leadership. Among other factors for victory, he extols the virtues of key terrain, describing it as one of the “constant factors in any engagement.”
When a battlefield commander does his initial intelligence preparation of the battlefield, or IPB, he assesses certain elements. As a young Infantry officer, I was taught to see METT-T – to examine the battlefield in terms of mission, enemy, time, terrain and troops available.
Allow me to pick one of those … let’s talk about picking your battles and fighting on the ground of your own choosing. Let’s talk about terrain.
When you command the terrain, you make the enemy fight where, when and how you choose.
There’s an old story of a general who realized only one location was suitable for a coming battle. He marched his men long hours through the night. They arrived first and secured the site, putting the enemy at an immediate disadvantage because they did not command the terrain. When the battle was won, the general assembled his commanders and asked them, “What was the decisive point that won the battle?”
“When we released the cavalry into the fight!” one commander said.
“When the Infantry gained superior position by flanking!” replied another.
“When our reserves reinforced the weak point to turn back the enemy counterattack!” answered a third.
“All of those were good,” the general responded, “but the battle was won when the men marched through the night to seize the key terrain.”
But key terrain is not just a “constant factor " in warfare. Seizing the ground for your fight applies to business, law, and even politics. Picking key terrain for your battles matters, regardless of the medium.
Consider politics. There is a great deal of rhetoric right now about who did this, who didn’t do that, why I wish he would, or she wouldn’t. There are particularly three that I hear over and over from solid conservatives:
Why didn’t Republicans say more about abortion at the debate?
Why didn’t Republicans elect someone else in the primary?
Why don’t Republicans attack the budget deficit?
But those attacks are not going to win the major battle in front of us. Those are not the key terrain. Discuss them, whine about them, make them our target of angst and disappointment, but truth be told, we must win the current battle to take control of our government. We must pick our battles so that we can win the war.
In a war, there will be many worthy fights, but only a few will be decisive battles.
“But Phil, Republicans sound like they’re going soft on abortion! Why didn’t JD Vance sound stronger? We can’t give up now!” We have already won that battle on the national stage. Roe v. Wade was overturned, states are legally allowed to make their own decisions. The left desperately wants to draw us into that fight because they believe it is their key terrain. We are winning on abortion, and we will win more. Move on to the key terrain of our choosing. Win the battle, so we can win the war.
“But Phil, I’m concerned that Donald Trump might not win! We should have gone with DeSantis! What are we going to do in 2028?” That’s not our key terrain. The left desperately wants an aura of regret and voter apathy about Trump. Whining about our candidate is the left’s key terrain. No good can come from rehashing the primary. Our fight is not on the anti-Trump terrain. Win the battle, win the war.
“But Phil, we have to get spending under control! Our budget system is crazy! Republicans should have shut down the government right before the election to prove that deficit spending is wrong!” The left desperately wanted us to cancel the ability to fund the government right before the election. That was the left’s key terrain. It is a battle that we must fight one day, but it will not be won in the final weeks of election season. Choosing key terrain is also based on timing. Win the battle, win the war.
So what is the major battle? What is the key terrain for the fight in front of us as conservatives? The key terrain is the hearts and minds of the 8% of voters who just aren’t sure yet. This election will not be decided by the broader base from either side, but rather by those who are still making up their minds.
Put the message out far and wide. Find ways to appeal to those who don’t yet know. As the Apostle Paul said to the church in Corinth, “I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.” Paul never changed the message of the Gospel, but he did work to relate to the audience that did not already know the truth.
Eight percent. That’s our key terrain for the next 30 days. Fight old fights if you want to. March to drums the enemy is beating and fight the enemy on their own ground because for the next 30 days, the key terrain is the hearts and minds of the slimmest margin of voters. The key terrain worth fighting over is just 8%. Those who march through the night and get there first win the day. That’s where we win the battle. That’s where we win the war. That’s our key terrain for now.
To contact Phil or request him for a speaking engagement, go to www.rightsideradio.org. The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of 1819 News. To comment, please send an email with your name and contact information to Commentary@1819News.com.
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