Publication

Current trends in defense thinking show signs of being influenced by the notion that preparing for one form of war has brought about another. Thus, the modern complement—a preparation paradox—to the old Latin adage “If you want peace, prepare for war,” might well be “If you want one kind of war, prepare for another.” Paradoxical propositions of this sort have a certain intellectual appeal: they are keen and pithy, and thus are frequently used in debates. However, embracing any paradox is rarely a good idea. This one rests on at least two questionable premises. The first of these is the assumption that America’s broad range of foes or potential foes can be grouped together. They cannot. Second, the preparation paradox assumes that substantive change is easier for our foes than it is for us, but the evidence actually points in the opposite direction