What term refers to unexpected obstacles and things going wrong in war?

What term refers to unexpected obstacles and things going wrong in war?

• A. Fog
• B. Friction
• C. Chance
• D. Strategy

Answer: (B)

Friction describes the unexpected obstacles and things going wrong in war. It refers to the inherent resistance that turns even well-made plans into messy, slow progress—things like weather, equipment failures, miscommunication, fatigue, and moments of human error. This concept explains why missions don’t unfold exactly as scripted and why commanders must adapt on the fly. The fog of war is about uncertainty and incomplete information, not the general resistance to executing plans. Chance means random luck or probability, not the steady, systemic obstacles that disrupt operations. Strategy is the overall plan to achieve goals, not the obstacles encountered while carrying it out.

Friction describes the unexpected obstacles and things going wrong in war. It refers to the inherent resistance that turns even well-made plans into messy, slow progress—things like weather, equipment failures, miscommunication, fatigue, and moments of human error. This concept explains why missions don’t unfold exactly as scripted and why commanders must adapt on the fly. The fog of war is about uncertainty and incomplete information, not the general resistance to executing plans. Chance means random luck or probability, not the steady, systemic obstacles that disrupt operations. Strategy is the overall plan to achieve goals, not the obstacles encountered while carrying it out.