It's almost like the military has people who develop plans based on specific scenarios, theaters of operation, forces, and equipment. Oh wait, they're called planners! (Flashing back to the pre-positioned War Reserve Materiel at K-2 AB, ROK)
Shows of force: we have many big sticks, sometimes you have to remind people of that fact.
Does there come a time when we stop walking softly though? That is the question in the ME in general. Do we ****, or get off the pot? That is the question. I think Shakespeare wrote that.