Could the United States Still Fight a Big War?

Steven MetzJul 17, 2015

U.S. Army paratroopers assigned to the 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division at a redeployment ceremony, Anchorage, Alaska, Nov. 1, 2012 (DoD photo by Justin Connaher, U.S. Air Force).

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Free Newsletter

Nations going to war often believe the fighting will end quickly. A lightning campaign or two, a few battles and the enemy will fold. Few nations plan for a long war. Despite this, long wars do happen, normally when the belligerents overestimate their own prowess and underestimate the determination and capability of their enemies. For most of its history the United States worked on the same assumption, entering wars with the expectation that they would be short. The world wars and the Cold War were exceptions, but after the demise of the Soviet Union, Americans again believed all their wars […]

TO READ MORE

Enter your email to get instant access to this article and to receive our free email newsletter:

Or, Subscribe now to get full access.

Already a subscriber? Log in here .

What you’ll get with an All-Access subscription to World Politics Review:

A WPR subscription is like no other resource — it’s like having your own personal researcher and analyst for news and events around the globe. Become a member now, and you’ll get:

Immediate and instant access to the full searchable library of 15,000+ articles
Daily articles with original analysis, written by leading topic experts, delivered to you every weekday
Daily links to must-read news, analysis, and opinion from top sources around the globe, curated by our keen-eyed team of editors
Weekly in-depth reports, including features on important countries and issues.
Your choice of weekly region-specific newsletters, delivered to your inbox.
Smartphone- and tablet-friendly website.

And all of this is available to you — right now for just $1 for the first 3 months.

BEGIN YOUR WPR SUBSCRIPTION NOW