The Greatest Threat to National Security
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In December 1776, as the American Revolution hung by a thread, Thomas Paine rallied his fellow patriots in their fight against the British Empire.
Immortalized in his work The American Crisis, Paine's famous words, "These are the times that try men's souls," sparked renewed resolve among those who had dedicated their lives to protecting their land and loved ones from the existential threat facing what, at the time, was just the idea of a nation.
The crisis was clear: survival or subjugation. And those men risked everything to forge for their children, and for their children's children, the nation we now love.
Today, America faces another crisis – one that is equally existential, but far less apparent. It is not an invading army or an external power threatening to dismantle the United States. Instead, the danger comes from within.
America now faces a series of threats more insidious and more complex than any battlefield engagement of the past. These hazards are embedded in the fabric of US society, and are undermining the nation's very foundation. As such, they pose a far greater danger to the future of the United States than any traditional military assault could.
This article is the first in The New American Crisis series, where we will examine these hidden threats to national security and explore how America's greatest strengths – its military might and geographic advantage – have created a false sense of security.
MILITARY IMPREGNABILITY
Throughout the country's history, one of the defining characteristics of the United States has been its military invulnerability. Protected by vast oceans to the east and west, and flanked by allies to the north and south, America's geographic isolation has long been one of its greatest assets. No foreign power has successfully invaded US soil, and for good reason. The natural barriers that surround the country, combined with the military prowess honed over centuries, make any traditional assault on the United States a near-impossible feat.
From the very beginning, America's leaders understood the importance of utilizing its geographic advantages. George Washington's strategic retreats during the Revolutionary War preserved the Continental Army when outright victory seemed out of reach, allowing for a long, drawn-out campaign that ultimately exhausted British forces.
Thomas Jefferson's Louisiana Purchase in 1803 doubled the size of the nation, securing control over vast territories and further insulating the country from external threats. The doctrine of "Manifest Destiny" continued that strategic planning in the middle and later part of that century, establishing national unity across the continent and ensuring the citadel status of the United States. The oceans that once kept the continent hidden from the rest of the world now act as a shield against would-be aggressors.
Even though America is a fortress geographically, those who were tasked with her defense, particularly in the 20th century, predicted the nation could encounter new threats as technology advanced and distance became less of a deterrent. With the advent of faster ships, aircraft, and avionic systems, these men knew nature alone, though formidable, might not be a sufficient deterrent.
It is in this regard that we owe the military men of the mid-to-late 20th century a debt of gratitude. It is questionable whether the kinds of overlapping systems of defense could be designed today at a time when quality seems very difficult to come by.
THE TRIAD
During the Cold War, President Dwight D. Eisenhower's strategy of nuclear deterrence reinforced America's status as an untouchable superpower. The nuclear triad acts as the country's first line of deterrence. Any would-be invader would have to contend with the reality that ICBMs located in the heart of the US could reach the vast majority of the world at the flip of a switch.
If for any reason those ICBMs were incapacitated, or for the few locations that are outside their flight range, air bases in strategic locations, with long range nuclear capable aircraft, ensure that no part of the world would go untouched should the United States be threatened.
If that were not enough, the third portion of the "triad," the nuclear-equipped Ohio Class strategic submarine fleet, fills in the gap. Each submarine can deliver a nation-destroying payload and can operate almost indefinitely owing to its nuclear-powered propulsion system.
THE BEHEMOTH Even if nuclear deterrence were entirely off the table, America's defense infrastructure is so well-designed that it is logistically impossible at numerous levels for anyone to successfully invade the US homeland.
Between networks of allies and strategic defense agreements, staging grounds for attacks against the United States would be almost impossible to establish while the nation's military maintains forward-operating bases that can access anywhere in the world, and can deploy an Immediate Response Force anywhere in the world within 18 hours.
The US Navy outguns the three largest competitors combined in terms of nuclear submarines, aircraft carriers, and aircraft overall. If all the nations with aircraft carriers joined forces to attack America, they would struggle to even reach the country – every nation but the United States (and one French carrier) still use diesel to fuel their carrier fleets, limiting their range and requiring extensive logistical support. Even if they did, they would only bring 560 aircraft to US shores. Meanwhile, American carriers alone (not including the Air Force or land-based aircraft) would bring nearly 900 aircraft to the fight.
We could go on and on comparing US military capabilities to those of its closest rivals. For example, the United States has more F-35s in its inventory than all the military aircraft combined in the United Kingdom. And that's just the F-35s. In total, America has more aircraft than the next five largest militaries combined (13,200 vs. a combined 12,900).
This combination of geographic isolation and the military dominance brought about by the foresight of brilliant men, makes the idea of a traditional foreign military invasion of the United States, as seen in movies like "Red Dawn," not just unthinkable, but laughable.
AN ENEMY ADAPTS: THE SHIFT TO INTERNAL THREATS
However, this military impregnability has led to a dangerous assumption – that America cannot fall. There are numerous examples in history of nations that were undefeated – until they weren't. There are even more examples of impregnable powers that fell, often not to direct attack (at least not at first), but to subversion.
While no foreign power can invade the United States successfully, that doesn't mean external powers are not trying. Using Sun Tzu's wisdom, opponents know that if their enemy is of "superior strength," they should evade direct conflict; irritate and frustrate him. The wise strategist does not engage a far more powerful opponent head on. Instead, he subverts. He demoralizes. He undermines his opponent's strengths.
The threats facing the United States today are directly related to this tactic. The attacks are not at the front lines where the troops are stationed; they have shifted inward. A potential enemy, recognizing the futility of direct military confrontation, would instead exploit internal vulnerabilities. Cyberwarfare, economic subversion, invasion via mass immigration, and the manipulation of America's political and cultural divisions have become the new battleground.
One of the greatest weaknesses of the contemporary United States is that it changed its core focus from one of faith and patriotism to one entirely based on GDP and the accumulation of wealth. Americans – specifically, American elites and politicians – have made numerous Faustian bargains, trading their nation, economy, and children's future for wealth in the moment. For a people like this, the weakness is obvious. Even "The American Dream," the quintessential defining feature of what it means to be American today, is not based on virtue, faith, or nation; but in material goods and wealth.
Mass immigration fills the nation with people who have little loyalty beyond their pursuit of The American Dream (at best), or often their desire to exploit people they hate. Sun Tzu wrote on this as well when he said, "One cartload of the enemy's provisions is equivalent to twenty of one's own."
As a result, the political and cultural cohesion that once unified the nation has begun to fray.
Elected officials, who once prioritized national security and defense, now find themselves navigating the competing interests of growing global diasporas. This shift has made it increasingly difficult for the government to focus on core national concerns, such as securing borders and maintaining a strong defense posture. In effect, America's ability to put its own survival above the desires of external groups has weakened, making it vulnerable to political manipulation by foreign interests.
At the same time, the United States is facing a Crisis of Competence – a breakdown in the leadership and infrastructure that have traditionally underpinned the nation's strength. The very systems that have allowed America to project power and maintain its status as a global leader are now crumbling. Bridges and highways are decaying, power grids are vulnerable to cyberattacks, and the political will to address these issues is sorely lacking.
This crisis of competence extends beyond physical infrastructure. America's political leaders, once regarded as some of the most capable and visionary in the world, are increasingly seen as ineffective and incapable of managing the complexities of modern governance. Gridlock in Congress, mismanagement of resources, and the failure to address pressing issues such as healthcare, education, and defense have all contributed to a growing sense of national decline.
Meanwhile, the financial strain caused by debt-fueled spending only exacerbates these problems, as short-term economic solutions take precedence over long-term stability.
The risk posed by these hidden crises is not just a weakening of America's global standing – it is the potential for internal collapse. If these issues go unaddressed, the United States could face a future where its political and cultural fragmentation leads to real consequences, not only for its own citizens, but for the world at large.
Just as Thomas Paine called on the American people to recognize the severity of their crisis in 1776, Americans today must acknowledge that the nation's greatest threats come not from outside its borders, but from within. To secure the future, these existential issues must be understood and addressed head-on.
In the coming articles of The New American Crisis series, we will explore these issues in greater depth, examining how they are intertwined and why they must be resolved to preserve the nation's survival. The battle for America's future is not on foreign soil – it is here, at home.
Arthur is a former editor and consultant. Born in India to missionary parents, he spent his early career working in development for NGOs in Asia, Central America, and Africa.
Arthur has an educational background in history and psychology, with certifications from the University of Oxford and Leiden in the economics, politics, and ethics of mass migration and comparative theories in terrorism and counterterrorism. He is currently launching CivWest, a company focused on building capital to fund restorative projects and create resilient systems across the Western world.
So sad and so true. This report is a hard pill to swallow. Thank you, Arthur.