Shield of the Republic Trump Needs Approval for This War (w/ Michael O'Hanlon) | Shield of the Republic
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Mar 30, 2026 Michael O'Hanlon, Philip Knight Chair in Defense and Strategy at Brookings and author, joins to debate U.S. grand strategy and whether there is a distinct American way of war. He explores why limited force recurs, how the U.S. adapts under fire, the history of post-1945 strategy and offsets, and why Congress should avoid giving a blank check for a major Iran war while shoring up munitions production.
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Consistently Assertive American Grand Strategy
- The United States has an assertive grand strategy across its history even if its military approaches varied.
- Michael O'Hanlon traces expansionism from the Revolution through the 19th century and argues limited vs. brute force varies by era.
Limited Force Can Succeed With Right Strategy
- Limited uses of force have often been effective historically, from 19th‑century expansion to Bosnia, Kosovo, Panama, and the Iraq surge.
- O'Hanlon emphasizes ideas and tactics (e.g., Petraeus surge methods) mattered more than sheer troop counts.
Postwar Alliances Prevented Great Power War
- Post‑1945 U.S. strategy built an alliance/forward presence system that prevented great‑power war.
- O'Hanlon notes NATO, stationing forces in Europe, and West German rearmament as decisive Cold War choices.
