… is from page 164 of Christopher Preble’s 2009 book, The Power Problem:
For too long, we [Americans] have defined our strength as a nation by our capacity for waging war. We have come to believe, erroneously, that military power keeps us safe, and that more power will keep us safer. But the true strength of the United States, the true source of U.S. power, is its people. Our spirit, our generosity, our ingenuity, is expressed in countless ways, most of which have nothing to do with our military prowess. By reducing the size of our military to a level more consistent with our own needs, and by encouraging others to become more self-reliant, we can make space for other forms of human interaction that facilitate security and prosperity over the long run.
