For example, a large, modern tank army is a powerful resource if a war is fought in a desert, but not if it is fought in a swamp – as America discovered in Vietnam. In the past, it was assumed that military power dominated most issues, but in today’s world, the contexts of power differ greatly.
但新单边主义是基于对世界政治实力特点的深刻误解。实力是取得需要的结果的能力。通过所拥有的资源能否获得这样的结果还依赖于环境。例如，如果战争在沙漠中进行，那么一支庞大的现代化坦克部队就是一种强大的资源。但如果战事在沼泽地区进行则不然—正如美国在越南所发现的那样。过去，人们一般认为军事实力主导着绝大多数问题，但在当今的世界，实力的大环境千差万别。