Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus was the Roman general who wisely noted around 385 AD that, Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum. That is, ‘If you want peace, prepare for war.’ Vegetius was mulling over the fact that armies (or nations) frequently bring about their own demise by rotting from within; becoming lazy during peacetime; not bothering to maintain their weapons; and thus becoming sitting ducks for a surprise attack.