Should America go to war, it ought to reap the dividends of its remarkable efforts at readiness by delivering a decisive blow. America’s efforts should not be frittered away across the globe to buy time for vacillating allies to contemplate their self-destruction. We must deny our most irresponsible partners the leverage of American strength as they pursue risky, unilateral objectives. We must not subject our men and women to unreliable allies. No more Task Force Smith!

Robert Murphy is a strategic planner. He has commanded an infantry company in combat, served as a division chief of plans in combat. He is a graduate of the US Army’s Advance Military Studies Program and directed the Commanding General, U.S. Army Europe’s initiatives group. The views represented here are his own and do not reflect those of the U.S. Government.

Image: Flickr/Kevin Burkett.