The Strategy of Denial Quotes

“pull out from the region. Given”
― Elbridge A. Colby, The Strategy of Denial: American Defense in an Age of Great Power Conflict

“Physical force, especially the ability to kill, is the ultimate form of coercive leverage. While there are other sources of influence, such as wealth, persuasiveness, and charisma, they are all dominated by the power to kill. One with the ability to kill another can, if willing, escalate any dispute to that level and thus prevail. Although hard power is not the only for of power, it is dominant if effectively employed; hard power always has the capacity to dominate soft power. Left unaddressed, might trumps right. Therefore, to protect its interests, the United States must be especially concerned about the use of physical force.”
― Elbridge A. Colby, The Strategy of Denial: American Defense in an Age of Great Power Conflict

“This is because, if China could establish hegemony over Asia, it could then set up a commercial and trading bloc anchored in the world's largest market that would privilege its own and subordinates' economies while disfavoring America's. The resulting drain on American businesses, large and small, would be most keenly felt by the workers, families, and communities who rely on those businesses for jobs, goods, services, and the other benefits that come with a vibrant economy. The steady erosion of America's economic power would ultimately weaken the nation's social vitality and stability. -- This kind of disfavoring is hardly a theoretical concern; China today appears to be seeking to shape the economic map in just this way. Nor is it especially unusual; this sort of policy has a powerful appeal and internal logic and is a regular feature of how aspiring and established hegemons behave. Essentially every aspiring hegemon in history has sought or planned to establish an economic system favoring itself, in order to enrich itself, sustain its predominance, and exclude or disfavor potential competitors.”
― Elbridge A. Colby, The Strategy of Denial: American Defense in an Age of Great Power Conflict

“If extensive and global economic engagement and growing wealth have not already persuaded China to change its behavior, it is unclear why it would be more likely to do so as it grows stronger and thus less susceptible to outside pressure. A state like China, with a deeply entrenched economic model that is fundamentally different from - and in key respects antithetical to - that of the United States, seems more likely to continue the course that has brought it wealth and power... By definition, an established hegemon, able to direct the relevant policies of subordinate states, is harder to eject from its position than a state still grasping for hegemony.”
― Elbridge A. Colby, The Strategy of Denial: American Defense in an Age of Great Power Conflict