Mark Steyn: Strong Horse, Weak Horse - Power and Perception

As a guest speaker for the 23rd Annual Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz Memorial Lectureship in National Security Affairs, Mr. Mark Steyn spoke on Thursday, March 15th 2007. "Strong Horse, Weak Horse: Power and Perception" “When people see a strong horse and a weak horse, by nature they will like the strong horse,” said Osama bin Laden. A “strong horse” is perceived as such not by his power but by his willingness to use that power: America’s military capability is not in doubt; what is in doubt is America’s ability effectively to use that capability to enforce its interests in the world. More to the point, the precise forms of power needed in the 21st century are precisely those from which America most recoils.