The DoD's 2026 National Defense Strategy: Swagger Without Substantive Plan

Mark Hertling argues the 2026 National Defense Strategy is more political rhetoric than a usable plan: it substitutes swagger for analytical rigor, and its four lines of effort (homeland defense, Indo-Pacific deterrence, alliances, and industrial base) lack clear prioritization or credible execution. A true strategy should translate goals into budgets, force design, readiness, and concrete ally engagement, rather than a wish list that relies on untested assumptions and grand assertions.