ArmChairCivvy wrote:there is a long-standing belief that no plan survives the first engagement with the enemy.
Carl von Clausewitz introduced us to the concept of friction in war. In truth friction is part of everyday life, we all experience it, War simply exaggerates its effects. While steps can be taken to reduce friction and to mitigate its effects when it occurs (The rule of the Ps plays it part in this), it can never be entirely eliminated in life in general or War in particular.
Consequently I would go further and state that:
No plan suvives contact with reality.
Therefore plans require constant adjustments many will be minor, however some will be major. As plans are developed in order to execute our strategy such major changes may result in them no longer being able to perform that role, it will then be time to produce a completely new plan. If however we cannot produce a viable plan, it will then be time to develop a new Strategy.
As Harold Macmillan is often quoted as saying in response to a question about what would throw the Government of course "Events, dear boy, events." In other words friction. Well their have been plenty of events since the 2015 SDSR , so do we need a change to the plan, certainly. Do we need a completely new plan, probable. Assuming of course we have a strategy that is anything other than keeping as close to the US as possible and supporting NATO. The real question is: Do we need a new Strategy?