POWER PLAYS
Sir: Your Essay on "Limits of U.S. Power" [Feb. 16] is commendable for urging discretion in the use of force. It failed to mention, however, that reliance on force requires superior force, and that in the test of battle no nation is apt to choose defeat without resorting to its maximum weapons. Therefore, deterrence appears plausible during peace, but once conflict begins, reliance on force ultimately provides no outcome other than ignominious defeat, unrelenting stalemate, or nuclear immolation. The nature of war has changed, and futility of the method rather...
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