The 36 Strategies: #20 Stir up the waters to catch fish

Next the to the Art of War by Sun Tzu, the 36 Strategies is the most widely known book on strategy in China. We are taking them in order. Here is #20.

20. Stir up the waters to catch fish.

You use confusion to your advantage, to take what you want. It may specifically mean taking advantage of a general or particular loss of direction in order to gather followers from among the uncommitted or disenfranchised.

During the Cold War, both the US and SOviets would probe each other's defenses, and listen to the radio traffic that ensued, to determine how their opposite would respond to a real attack.