Published December 16, 2025
Tactical victories on the battlefield may signal progress, but history shows they rarely deliver lasting strategic success on their own. Even with unmatched military power, the United States has struggled to convert battlefield dominance into durable outcomes when wars are pursued with limited aims, unclear objectives, or excessive restraint.
Experience from World War II through Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan demonstrates that decisive victory requires clearly defined objectives, overwhelming force, and the resolve to impose enforceable terms of peace. When those elements are absent, conflicts persist, adversaries adapt, and the human, financial, and strategic costs continue to mount.
Learn more from Victor Davis Hanson:
Visit Victor Davis Hanson's profile here.
__________
The opinions expressed in this video are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Hoover Institution or Stanford University.
© 2025 by the Board of Trustees of Leland Stanford Junior University.
Podcasts
California lately: Winners and losers in the aftermath of the Paramount antitrust settlement. The future of California’s beleaguered high-speed rail project. Gov. Newsom angling for trout (and the presidency) in a Montana photo-op. Plus, an upcoming debate in what otherwise has been a sleepy governor’s race.
September 25, 2026 • 0 Min Listen
Event
The Hoover Institution in DC hosts Ideas Uncorked: China After Communism: Preparing For What Comes Next on Wednesday, October 14 from 5:00-6:30 pm ET. The event will feature Miles Maochun Yu.
September 13, 2024
Videos
Hoover Institution fellow Victor Davis Hanson says with five weeks to go before the midterm elections, the races remain uncertain. Hanson notes that current polling shows Democrats with an advantage in several key contests, but questions remain about polling accuracy, campaign spending, redistricting and the records of individual candidates.
September 22, 2026
