--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is important not to latch onto some…" description: "\"“It is important not to latch onto some strategic fad to justify radical cuts in the U.S. Army or Marine Corps. For two decades, since Operation Desert..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37b/michael-o-hanlon-98074_american-military_it-is-important-not-to-latch-onto-some-s_665731.jpg" --- # It is important not to latch onto some strategic fad to… ![“It is important not to latch onto some strategic fad to justify radical cuts in the U.S. Army or Marine Corps. For two decades, since Operation Desert Storm, some have favored “stand-off” warfare, featuring long-range strike from planes and ships as the American military’s main approach to future…” quote by Michael O'Hanlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37b/michael-o-hanlon-98074_american-military_it-is-important-not-to-latch-onto-some-s_665731.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37b/michael-o-hanlon-98074_american-military_it-is-important-not-to-latch-onto-some-s_665731.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37b/michael-o-hanlon-98074_american-military_it-is-important-not-to-latch-onto-some-s_665731.jpg) > ““It is important not to latch onto some strategic fad to justify radical cuts in the U.S. Army or Marine Corps. For two decades, since Operation Desert Storm, some have favored “stand-off” warfare, featuring long-range strike from planes and ships as the American military’s main approach to future combat. But it is not possible to address many of the world’s key security challenges that way including scenarios in places like Korea and South Asia, discussed further below, that could in fact imperil American security. In the 1990s, advocates of military revolution often argued for such an approach to war, but the subsequent decade proved that for all the progress in sensors and munitions and other military capabilities, the United States still needed forces on the ground to deal with complex insurgencies and other threats. A military emphasis on stand-off warfare is some- times linked with a broader grand strategy of “offshore balancing” by which the distant United States would step in with limited amounts of power to shape overseas events, particularly in Eurasia, rather than getting involved directly with its own soldiers and Marines. But offshore balancing is too clever by half. In fact, overseas developments are not so easily nudged in favorable directions through modest outside interventions. One of the reasons is that off- shore balancing can suggest, in the minds of friends and foes alike, a lack of real American commitment. That can embolden adversaries. It can also worry allies to the point where, among other things, they may feel obliged to build up their own nuclear arsenals as the likes of South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Turkey, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia might well do absent strong security ties with America. Put bluntly, offshore balancing greatly exaggerates American power by assuming that belated and limited uses of U.S. force can swing overseas events in acceptable directions.”” Michael O'Hanlon ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Relying solely on stand‑off warfare and offshore balancing neglects ground forces needed for complex threats and may erode credibility. **In simple terms:** Stand‑off warfare alone is insufficient; ground forces remain essential. Key Takeaway Maintain balanced force posture. Themes military strategy security offshore balancing Mood strategic concerned Type American military:1 Budget cuts:1 Defense-policy:1 Desert storm:1 Marine corps:1 Military:1 National security:1 Saudi arabia:1 South korea:1 War:1 Marine Corp:1 Getting Involved:1 Military Capabilities:1 Approach War:1 Threats Military:1 Stand Warfare:1 When to use this quote - policy planning - alliance management - regional security analysis - military training Key Concepts geopolitics defense policy Questions to Reflect On - How can we justify ground forces costs? - What alternatives exist to offshore balancing? A Different Perspective Budget constraints push for cheaper stand‑off options. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American military](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-military/) [Budget cuts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/budget-cuts/) [Defense-policy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defense-policy/) [Desert storm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desert-storm/) [Getting Involved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/getting-involved/) [Marine corps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marine-corps/) [Military](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/military/) [National security](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/national-security/) [South korea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/south-korea/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [In my experience, bad actors respond to threats of military action or sanctions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-lieu/in-my-experience-bad-actors-respond-to-threats-of-military-action-or/) [Ted Lieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-lieu/) > [The definition of a modern approach to war is the acknowledgement of individual lives lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-lin/the-definition-of-a-modern-approach-to-war-is-the-acknowledgement-of/) [Maya Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-lin/) > [“Military analysis is not an exact science. To return to the wisdom of Sun Tzu, and paraphrase the great Chinese political philosopher, it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-o-hanlon/military-analysis-is-not-an-exact-science-to-return-to-the-wisdom-of/) Michael O'Hanlon > [If the military is to show the capabilities that we demand and expect of it, then the defense budget has to continue to rise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annegret-kramp-karrenbauer/if-the-military-is-to-show-the-capabilities-that-we-demand-and-expect/) [Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annegret-kramp-karrenbauer/) > [I think you can look at the capabilities of a particular state, the military capabilities of a particular state, and that tells you a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mearsheimer/i-think-you-can-look-at-the-capabilities-of-a-particular-state-the/) [John Mearsheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mearsheimer/) > [Israel has military capabilities including nuclear weapons, far surpassing any other power in the Middle East, but it's a small country. The rest of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-p-huntington/israel-has-military-capabilities-including-nuclear-weapons-far/) [Samuel P. Huntington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-p-huntington/) > [“Most of all though, Japan must not build up its military capabilities. It must, therefore, curtail large portions of its own industry, pay the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declan-hayes/most-of-all-though-japan-must-not-build-up-its-military-capabilities/) [Declan Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-hayes/) > [We live in a state-centric world faced with global-scale problems that cannot be met by the actions of single states, no matter how powerful,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-a-falk/we-live-in-a-state-centric-world-faced-with-global-scale-problems/) [Richard A. Falk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-a-falk/) > [Israel necessarily has a thinner margin of security than the United States, given differences in size, geography and military capabilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haim-saban/israel-necessarily-has-a-thinner-margin-of-security-than-the-united/) [Haim Saban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haim-saban/) > [“Rule #1: No cut or compromise should be suggested by ANY member of the community. This includes the music coalition, music educators, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-benham/rule-1-no-cut-or-compromise-should-be-suggested-by-any-member-of-the/) John Benham > [I would set aside all these budget cuts that are going to devastate the F.B.I., the C.I.A., and the N.S.A. Sequestration, cuts, are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-would-set-aside-all-these-budget-cuts-that-are-going-to-devastate/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [We can become very short-sighted in terms of objectives. The first thing to go during times of economic crisis and budget cuts is funding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-stiles/we-can-become-very-short-sighted-in-terms-of-objectives-the-first/) [Julia Stiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-stiles/) > [It's good news that he is proposing to restore budget cuts that he made, but the reality is that he is still proposing a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-rosapepe/it-s-good-news-that-he-is-proposing-to-restore-budget-cuts-that-he/) James Rosapepe > [America's military is second to none in the world. We're blessed with terrific soldiers, and extraordinary technology and intelligence. But the idea of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/america-s-military-is-second-to-none-in-the-world-we-re-blessed-with/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [Sometimes a party must sail against the wind. We cannot heed the call of those who say it is time to furl the sail.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-kennedy/sometimes-a-party-must-sail-against-the-wind-we-cannot-heed-the-call/) [Edward Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-kennedy/) ## More by Michael O'Hanlon > [“Military analysis is not an exact science. To return to the wisdom of Sun Tzu, and paraphrase the great Chinese political philosopher, it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-o-hanlon/military-analysis-is-not-an-exact-science-to-return-to-the-wisdom-of/) Michael O'Hanlon Explore all 2 Michael O'Hanlon quotes ## More American military quotes > [Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-prescott/don-t-fire-until-you-see-the-whites-of-their-eyes/) [William H. Prescott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-prescott/) > [As a soldier and combat veteran, I believe American military forces should only be used in the defense and furtherance of our nation's vital…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-ernst/as-a-soldier-and-combat-veteran-i-believe-american-military-forces/) [Joni Ernst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-ernst/) > [I'm post-cynical on this stuff. I look at the El Salvador model as the glory days: Why don't we just fund the death squads…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hastings/i-m-post-cynical-on-this-stuff-i-look-at-the-el-salvador-model-as-the/) [Michael Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hastings/) > [The U.S. couldn't play a military role in different areas like Iraq and Afghanistan without huge quantities of oil. So a shortage or disruption…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-klare/the-u-s-couldn-t-play-a-military-role-in-different-areas-like-iraq/) [Michael Klare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-klare/) > [It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zell-miller/it-is-the-soldier-not-the-poet-who-has-given-us-freedom-of-speech/) [Zell Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zell-miller/) > [I learned to be far more skeptical of what I'm told by presidents, no matter who the presidents are, and also to be much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-learned-to-be-far-more-skeptical-of-what-i-m-told-by-presidents-no/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [“The South Pacific was once the playground for ship-sick European sailors. Then it became the roistering barricade of the last great pirates. Next it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-michener/the-south-pacific-was-once-the-playground-for-ship-sick-european/) [James A. Michener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-michener/) > [Want to depose the government of a poor country with resources? Want to bash Muslims? Want to build support for American military interventions around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kinzer/want-to-depose-the-government-of-a-poor-country-with-resources-want/) [Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/) > [Unlike the Afghans and Iraqis, the South Korean people solidly supported the American military presence, which was part of a United Nations operation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eisenhower/unlike-the-afghans-and-iraqis-the-south-korean-people-solidly/) [John Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eisenhower/) > [Old Glory represents our great American military and their sacrifices to ensure our freedom. This isn't a political issue. This is about Patriotism, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjorie-taylor-greene/old-glory-represents-our-great-american-military-and-their-sacrifices/) [Marjorie Taylor Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjorie-taylor-greene/) > [Among the men who fought on Iwo Jima, uncommon valor was a common virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-w-nimitz/among-the-men-who-fought-on-iwo-jima-uncommon-valor-was-a-common/) [Chester W. Nimitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-w-nimitz/) > [The campaign in Iraq illustrates the continuing progress of military technology and tactics, but if there is a single overriding lesson it must be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-clark/the-campaign-in-iraq-illustrates-the-continuing-progress-of-military/) [Wesley Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-clark/) > [National Review once opined, many years ago, that, every year, the Nobel peace prize should go to the U.S. secretary of defense: The American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-nordlinger/national-review-once-opined-many-years-ago-that-every-year-the-nobel/) [Jay Nordlinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-nordlinger/) > [“had never heard a president explicitly frame a decision as a direct order. With the American military, it is completely unnecessary. As secretary of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-gates/had-never-heard-a-president-explicitly-frame-a-decision-as-a-direct/) [Robert M. Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-gates/) > [Some of the American military obviously were thinking in terms of fighting a nuclear war. I was opposed to that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-schmidt/some-of-the-american-military-obviously-were-thinking-in-terms-of/) [Helmut Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-schmidt/) [Browse all 103 American military quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-military/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It is important not to latch onto some strategic fad to justify radical cuts in the U.S. Army or Marine Corps. For two decades, since Operation Desert Storm, some have favored “stand-off” warfare, featuring long-range strike from planes and ships as the American military’s main approach to future combat. But it is not possible to address many of the world’s key security challenges that way including scenarios in places like Korea and South Asia, discussed further below, that could in fact imperil American security. In the 1990s, advocates of military revolution often argued for such an approach to war, but the subsequent decade proved that for all the progress in sensors and munitions and other military capabilities, the United States still needed forces on the ground to deal with complex insurgencies and other threats. A military emphasis on stand-off warfare is some- times linked with a broader grand strategy of “offshore balancing” by which the distant United States would step in with limited amounts of power to shape overseas events, particularly in Eurasia, rather than getting involved directly with its own soldiers and Marines. But offshore balancing is too clever by half. In fact, overseas developments are not so easily nudged in favorable directions through modest outside interventions. One of the reasons is that off- shore balancing can suggest, in the minds of friends and foes alike, a lack of real American commitment. That can embolden adversaries. It can also worry allies to the point where, among other things, they may feel obliged to build up their own nuclear arsenals as the likes of South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Turkey, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia might well do absent strong security ties with America. Put bluntly, offshore balancing greatly exaggerates American power by assuming that belated and limited uses of U.S. force can swing overseas events in acceptable directions.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michael O'Hanlon" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-o-hanlon/it-is-important-not-to-latch-onto-some-strategic-fad-to-justify/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "American military" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-o-hanlon/it-is-important-not-to-latch-onto-some-strategic-fad-to-justify/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37b/michael-o-hanlon-98074_american-military_it-is-important-not-to-latch-onto-some-s_665731.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37b/michael-o-hanlon-98074_american-military_it-is-important-not-to-latch-onto-some-s_665731.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37b/michael-o-hanlon-98074_american-military_it-is-important-not-to-latch-onto-some-s_665731.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is important not to latch onto some strategic fad to justify radical cuts in the U.S. Army or Marine…” — Michael O'Hanlon", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Michael O'Hanlon", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-o-hanlon/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“It is important not to latch...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-o-hanlon/it-is-important-not-to-latch-onto-some-strategic-fad-to-justify/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-o-hanlon/it-is-important-not-to-latch-onto-some-strategic-fad-to-justify/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```