Basil Odilim
As I delve into the chaotic landscape of the Trumpist war on truth and their relentless drive towards apocalyptic violence for cheap political gains, I find myself piecing together a disturbing picture. This is not just a battle for power; it is a strategic assault on reality itself, a campaign designed to shatter the very foundations of truth and trust in society.
The Trumpist movement is emerging as the American fascists of the century, a force that threatens to undermine the core values of democracy and civil liberties in the United States. Their tactics, which echo the dark strategies of past authoritarian regimes, involve manipulating truth, inciting violence, and demonizing opponents. By capitalizing on fear and division, they are creating a dangerous environment where the rule of law and democratic norms are increasingly under siege.
One of the most profound realizations I’ve had is the necessity of focusing on the art of war, for life itself reveals itself to be an unending battlefield. Sun Tzu’s The Art of War quickly became a cornerstone in my mental armory. Compiled over two thousand years ago, this great Chinese warrior-philosopher taught me the art of extreme unfathomability—how to become formless, soundless, and elusive to gain an aura of mysteriousness before my opponents.
By mastering these qualities, I learned how to prepare myself for the complex chess-like maneuvers required when navigating life’s treacherous terrain, where opponents often attempt to lure you into their territory, seeking to dismantle you piece by piece. This book taught me the importance of knowing when to retreat, when to advance, and how to recognize when you’ve inadvertently stepped into an unfamiliar and dangerous world.
Another indispensable resource in my war library is Robert Greene’s The 33 Strategies of War. This book delves deeply into the history of warfare, chronicling how strategies have evolved over centuries, often being replaced by more cunning and effective methods. One of the most striking lessons from this book is the power of unconventional—or as Greene calls it, “dirty”—warfare.
In this realm, every rule is fluid, and ethical and moral codes become irrelevant. Here, the battlefield is not governed by the usual norms, and the victor is often the one who can outmaneuver and outthink their opponent with the most creative and unexpected strategies.
In the arena of politics, which is inherently a dirty game, the key to success lies in mastering the art of deception and manipulation. To defeat your opponents, you must stay ahead in this game of shadows, where the goal is to alter the playing field to your advantage, striking from angles they never anticipated.
The Trumpists, like many authoritarian movements before them, have mastered this art. They confront the orthodoxies of the time with innovative strategies, avoiding brute force, and instead relying on mind games that disorient and confuse. The true power lies in their unpredictability—people expect them to follow known patterns, but it is when they break these patterns that their opponents become vulnerable.
While the Trumpists are using well-known conventions to further their agenda, our response must be to meet them with the unknowns—strategies that defy their expectations and leave them scrambling for answers.
In our recent battle with the Central Bank of Nigeria over the eNaira, we strategically employed this very tactic. We pretended to be disorganized, poorly schooled in trademark intellectual property, and lacking even the elementary knowledge of the game. From these false mirrors, the CBN and USPTO bought into the idea that we were mere passers-by—an inconsequential force unworthy of serious attention.
This was the essence of our deception, a deliberate act of misdirection designed to make our opponents underestimate us, leaving them vulnerable to the strike they never saw coming.
Machiavelli’s wisdom, “finding a way to use them instead of being used,” remains timeless. The essence of this approach is to present carefully crafted weaknesses while concealing your true strengths, ensuring that your enemies focus on what you want them to see.
By deploying slippery tactics reminiscent of guerrilla warfare, you can undermine your opponents’ confidence, instilling fear and confusion as you slowly erode their resolve from within. The aim is to dismantle them psychologically, making them question their own perceptions and strategies
This approach has not been lost on the Democrats, whose game is proving formidable in its own right. By presenting Joe Biden as a weak candidate—someone who many believed would not even run for re-election—they created a premature sense of confidence among the Trumpist Republicans. This false strength has left them beating their chests before the true battle has even begun, unaware that the Lioness, Kamala Harris, could show up at any moment.
Harris, with the quiet but strategic support of figures like Tim Walz, is taking the Trumpists into strange political territory. Walz, who has not only talked their talk but indeed walked their walk in Minnesota, presents a threat that the Trumpists are not fully prepared to face.
The Trumpists find themselves disorganized and off-balance, unable to comprehend the full scope of the Democrats’ strategy. In this game of false mirrors, where illusions and reality intertwine, the surprise lies in the Democrats’ ability to craft an image of weakness while positioning their true strengths for the decisive moment. As they navigate this complex battlefield, it is clear that the key to victory lies in the mastery of these ancient strategies, where the unexpected becomes the most potent weapon.
To further confound your enemies, make it nearly impossible for them to study or predict your actions. Begin by disturbing their focus, weakening their strategic readiness, and feeding their expectations with carefully manufactured realities. By blending fact with fiction, you can create a haze of confusion that leaves them disoriented and vulnerable, allowing you to control their perception of reality—and ultimately, them.
Remember, the most effective strategy is often to win without direct confrontation. Employ the “inner-front” strategy, which dictates that a war cannot be fought against an enemy who never fully reveals themselves. Instead, rot their foundations from within, for no structure can endure when it is compromised at its core. Exercise patience, for it is through patience that the hasty enemy exposes themselves prematurely, leading to their inevitable downfall.
In this intricate game of false mirrors, where the lure of the void tempts even the most seasoned strategists, clarity is both a weapon and a shield. It is not enough to merely survive; one must thrive by mastering the art of war in all its forms, transforming the battlefield into a stage where you alone dictate the terms of engagement.
The rise of the Trumpist movement, our battle with the CBN, and the Democrats’ surprising strategies serve as stark reminders that the struggle for control—whether over nations or ideas—requires constant vigilance and the courage to confront those who would dismantle it.
