- Resources
Without resources (eg. Net national income) you cannot support a national defense.
...Limited resources lead to conflict.
...Exploit and defend distant resources to preserve your domestic reserves.
- Capability Evolution & Resiliency
...You must pursue advanced capabilities that surpass or match your adversaries, and if you manage your resources properly this is achievable.
...Your infrastructure must be configured dispersed, redundant and secure.
- Combined Arms
...Combative units need a mix of capabilities to overcome defenses, unless you overwhelm (swarm) your enemy - which carries resource risks.
- Long View
...One can easily win a battle or two and lose the war without a long-term plan.
- Intelligence
...You cannot know how your capabilities measure up against your adversaries without good intel. This often means sacrificing units for a look into your opponent's capabilities.
If RA theory and gameplay were mandatory in Congress the United States would be better positioned to both deter and compete with its global adversaries.