That was undeniably true in 1936, when the could have occupied the Rhineland and averted WWII, but they chose not to. By 1939 they had lost their advantage. Of course France never had the will.
You are also correct. My point is, consistent with that of the OP, is that those deemed the strongest and best can be blindsided.
While we are certainly beyond being blindsided, one wonders if our internal dynamics have positioned us for the same result.
It appears we have a significant number of elected or appointed fed officials who are politically more aligned with those to our south than with the Constitution and American patriots.