Cui Bono (/48 Laws of Power/ author Robert Greene on the primaries)

[LoZoccolo]

In the Machiavellian perspective, few events in public life are rarely what they seem to be. Power depends on appearances, on manipulating what the public sees. On seeming good, while doing what is necessary to gain and maintain power. Sometimes it is easy to see through the fog and pick out a political figure's motives or intentions. Other times it is quite complicated--what is really going on, we ask ourselves?

In the new media environment, the ability to create fog and confusion has been greatly enhanced. Stories and rumors can be planted with virtually no source behind them. The story will spread virally. Before people begin to question the validity of story A their attention is distracted by something else, story B or C; in the meantime story A takes root in people's minds in subtle ways. It is an added layer of uncertainty and doubt that makes it quite easy for the Karl Roves of the world to play all kinds of insinuation games.

To decipher events that seem hard to read, I sometimes rely on a strategy that comes from the Latin cui bono. It was first used in this context by Cicero and it literally translates, "for whose good, or benefit?" It means-- when you are trying to figure out the motives behind some murky action, look to see whom it really benefits in the end, and then work backwards. Self¬-interest rules the world.

http://www.powerseductionandwar.com/archives/cui_bono.phtml

I like this guy's blog and writings because he steps back from idealism and morality in order to give you a picture of the raw strategy taking place in certain situations; it can be very informative. You might be also interested this very detailed synopsis of The 33 Strategies of War on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_33_Strategies_of_War