ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Salient (military)

Salient in military terms means a part of a battle line that sticks out or bulges forward. Imagine a line of soldiers standing in a row. Now, imagine that line is supposed to be straight, but for some reason, a group of soldiers in the middle of the line decided to take a step forward, creating a little bump or bulge in the line. That bump or bulge is called a salient.

Now, why do we care about salients in the military? Well, salients can be both good and bad. If an army has a salient in their battle line, it means that they have an advantage because they can attack the enemy from multiple angles. Think of it like having a secret weapon - the enemy won't be expecting an attack from that weird bulge in the line, so the army with the salient can surprise them.

However, having a salient also has some downsides. If an army has a salient, it means that they have a weak spot in their line, which the enemy can attack. That same bump or bulge in the line that was an advantage before can now become a liability, as it creates a vulnerable position that the enemy can exploit.

Overall, having a salient in the military means that there's a little bump or bulge in the battle line that can be either an advantage or a disadvantage, depending on how it's used.
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