---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Success in past U.S. conflicts has not…"
description: "\"Success in past U.S. conflicts has not been strictly the result of military leadership but rather the judgment of the president in choosing generals an..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1c/robert-dallek-3456_been_success-in-past-u-s-conflicts-has-not-be_626151.png"
---

#  Success in past U.S. conflicts has not been strictly the…

![“Success in past U.S. conflicts has not been strictly the result of military leadership but rather the judgment of the president in choosing generals and setting broad strategy.” quote by Robert Dallek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1c/robert-dallek-3456_been_success-in-past-u-s-conflicts-has-not-be_626151.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1c/robert-dallek-3456_been_success-in-past-u-s-conflicts-has-not-be_626151.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1c/robert-dallek-3456_been_success-in-past-u-s-conflicts-has-not-be_626151.png)

> “Success in past U.S. conflicts has not been strictly the result of military leadership but rather the judgment of the president in choosing generals and setting broad strategy.”

[Robert Dallek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-dallek/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Military success often hinges on political leaders’ choices of commanders and overall strategy, not just battlefield tactics.

**In simple terms:** Presidents’ choices matter more than generals alone.

Key Takeaway

Focus on strategic vision, not just tactics.

Themes

leadership politics strategy military decisionmaking

Mood

reflective analytical

Type

historical political

When to use this quote

- election campaigns
- war planning
- defense budgeting
- military appointments

Key Concepts

civil-military relations strategic judgment political authority

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you evaluate a leader’s strategic judgment?
- What safeguards ensure competent military selection?

A Different Perspective

Presidents may lack military expertise, leading to poor appointments.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

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