The post-Cold War drawdown of the U.S. armed forces between the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, is a fascinating story that provides rich material for analyzing Americans’ under­standing of their nation’s place on the world stage and the appropriate role for their armed forces. Embedded in a broad sweep of historical experiences and habits, this particular drawdown casts light on the evolution of the United States’ international aspirations and the potential contributions of its armed forces.