Preparing a fleet only when war is about to begin assumes that governments control the timing of conflict. A participant caricatures this approach by imagining a perfectly equipped force assembled just before a short war. Alex Clarke identifies the underlying claim as one he encounters in real discussions. His objection is that confidence in diplomacy can become a reason to defer maintaining military capabilities. Readiness has to account for conflicts whose timing cannot be chosen.
Notable Point · 7:36:35-7:38:09
The risk of assuming governments can choose when war begins
Assuming a government can schedule its next war encourages it to defer the forces and equipment it will need.