This puts a different complexion on the naval balance, doesn’t it? Tallying up the maritime balance—factoring in not just fleets but shore-based sea power at likely scenes of impact—provides a truer picture of whether American forces are sufficient to their goals.

Americans stood accused of making their Soviet foes ten feet tall during the Cold War—and of wasting resources to meet the threat they oversold. Let’s not make a similar mistake during the new strategic competition—and make ourselves ten feet tall.

James Holmes is Professor of Strategy at the U.S. Naval War College and co-author of Red Star over the Pacific, named Essential Reading on the Navy Professional Reading List. The views voiced here are his alone.

Image: Flickr/Official U.S. Navy/CC by 2.0