Nevertheless, the possibility of war and U.S. The idea that the United States-with the most expensive armed forces in the world by a wide margin-might lose such a war would seem absolutely preposterous. military superiority and its ability to deter major wars, the idea of armed conflict between great powers may seem highly improbable. For generations of Americans accustomed to U.S. 'Tony' Ierardi, USA (Ret.)įor the first time in decades, it is possible to imagine the United States fighting-and possibly losing-a large-scale war with a great power.