[r9etb]

“I believe, and I am confident a great majority of members of Congress believe, that the surest way for us to keep out of any conflict that might develop is to let the bad boys of the world know that we pack a wallop. Then, and only then, will they let us alone.”

Yeah, and we all know how well that worked out....

[Sherman Logan]

let the bad boys of the world know that we pack a wallop

In 1938 the US Army had very little wallop. It was something like 20th in the world.

The US Navy packed a world-class wallop, which prevented anybody from even thinking of launching a surprise attack.