Historically, the United States has only achieved national unity in response to direct external threats like Pearl Harbor or 9/11. The nation's enemies have learned that avoiding direct provocation allows America's internal divisions to fester, preventing it from coalescing. This pattern suggests internal calls for unity are unlikely to succeed without a significant external crisis.

Unlike nations that have historically endured massive losses, the United States has a low willingness to suffer casualties, which is a strategic vulnerability. Adversaries understand that American political will for a prolonged conflict is fragile and can be broken by simply waiting out the initial shock and absorbing blows.

Unlike wars where a nation is attacked first (e.g., Pearl Harbor), "wars of choice" lack the sustained public support needed for a long conflict. The aggressor has a political weak point, which adversaries exploit to win a war of attrition, not battlefield victories.

The US is fractured by internal division and a loss of faith in its own ideals. This lack of a unified national will is a critical vulnerability, especially when competing with a highly motivated and self-confident China. The internal conflict prevents the country from generating the forward momentum needed to face external threats.

Western education systems have spent decades teaching students that nationalism is dangerous and universal humanity is the true political community. This creates a strategic weakness, as states cannot expect these same generations to instantly adopt a strong national identity and be willing to fight for their country when a geopolitical crisis demands it.

The perception that democracies have a 'glass jaw' is flawed. A population's willingness to absorb casualties isn't about the political system but the stakes. Citizens will make immense sacrifices for national survival (like Ukraine) but not for poorly-justified conflicts without a clear, existential threat.

Internally divided societies rarely come together on their own. Unity is almost exclusively forged when a common external, existential threat emerges. This was seen after 9/11 and during the Cold War, where the fear of an outside enemy overshadowed internal political disagreements, forcing cooperation.

A government's inability to answer basic questions like "Why now?" during a military action is perceived as incompetence. This defensive communication signals a lack of conviction to adversaries, encouraging them to simply endure until American political will collapses.

Autocracies can achieve operational surprise, but democracies have a deeper strategic advantage: genuine, voluntary dedication. When attacked, citizens of democracies, from all walks of life, rush to defend their nation with an enthusiasm that cannot be commanded or coerced in an authoritarian state.