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DTIC AD1003658: Americas Machiavelli Problem: Restoring Prudent Leadership in US Strategy

The end of Pres. Barack Obamas first term coincided with the fivehundredth anniversary of The Prince (1513) by Niccol Machiavelli.Some analysts combined these milestones and praised the presidentsforeign policy performance as heeding Machiavellis classic advice: thepresident, impressively, adapted lessons of The Prince in crafting a realisticand prudent first-term grand strategy. Avoiding major war or newcommitments, he never agonized over legal or moral niceties when focusedviolence was necessary, as in the operation to eliminate Osamabin Laden. In the second term, however, the presidents highly cautiousstrain of defensive realism fared poorlya verdict upheld by commentaryfrom his former lieutenants. This unwelcome turn of fortunecalls into question whether strategy pundits and scholars correctly interpretedObamas overcorrection, much less Machiavellis imprimatur,during the first term. Contrary to the administrations recent justificationsfor common sense risk avoidance, Machiavellis sophisticated notionsof realism and statesmanship demand a strategy that more astutelyblends daring and caution, including the articulation of an ambitiouspublic purpose for US power. A genuinely prude

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