The U.S. Navy's ability to track Soviet submarines while keeping its own hidden threatened the USSR's second-strike capability, the cornerstone of nuclear deterrence. This technological and financial asymmetry pushed the Soviets toward de-escalation and ultimately, ending the war.

Presidential interest in a "bigger" ship, not naval strategy, spawned the concept for a massive, $14 billion battleship. This political project forces the Navy into a budgetary dilemma, potentially sacrificing next-generation aircraft for a single, expensive surface combatant that may not meet its actual strategic needs.

China's showcase of advanced military hardware, like its new aircraft carrier, is primarily a psychological tool. The strategy is to build a military so 'forbiddingly huge' that the US would hesitate to engage, allowing China to achieve goals like reabsorbing Taiwan without fighting. This suggests their focus is on perceived power to deter intervention.

Contrary to fears of digital takeover, the US submarine-launched ballistic missile system is deliberately analog. Its primary navigation method is "star sighting"—an ancient technique—making it resilient to hacking and external digital control, a fusion of primitive and advanced technology for ultimate security.

In defense technology, smaller is often better. The ideal platform is the most compact one that can still perform its intended mission. This approach provides significant advantages in stealth, manufacturing cost, logistical footprint, and speed of proliferation.

While the U.S. talks about pushing back against China, its military position in East Asia has declined relative to China's rapid buildup. Unlike during the Cold War, U.S. leaders haven't committed the necessary resources or explained the stakes to the American public.

Instead of matching China's manufacturing output one-for-one, the US should pursue an asymmetric strategy. This involves leveraging American ingenuity to create superior, low-cost countermeasures, like undefeatable missiles, that neutralize a volume advantage.

The "military backs the dollar" thesis is being challenged by Russia's performance against NATO, the disruption of naval power by cheap Houthi drones, and China's chokehold on rare earths. This erosion of credible power projection directly weakens the dollar's foundation of global dominance.

Nuclear submarines can stay submerged for 90 days, limited by their food supply, not energy. The onboard nuclear reactor provides limitless power to convert seawater into breathable air and water, demonstrating how a single technological leap can completely redefine a system's constraints.