As I read about the conventions and the presidential campaign, I was struck by something. We have reached the point where the debate seems to be how to use the military to achieve our goals. Even Prussia at its most warlike understood that the military was only one part of effective statecraft.

Are we really saying the only tool that this diverse, rich, and creative country has is war?

Our corporations are capable of putting refrigerated Coke and Disney products into some pretty remote parts of the world. It's a shame that we can't put any ideas other than our ability to threaten people out there as well.