Response times are reduced, and having tripwire troops is a great deterrent, but, well, where do the rest of the forces come from. The 82nd airborne, most stationed in the US, has to be ready to deploy in 24 hours. The on-call battalion for the 75th Ranger RGT has 18 hours to be anywhere in the world. While landing on an airstrip with logistics support available already in-theater is a huge help, we have a tremendous airborne capability, men (and women) than can jump in behind enemy lines and take over areas with little to no arty or air support and aerial resupplies few and far between. It's an inconvenience but is not detrimental to a war effort. Besides, give us 15 acres and the Red Horse guys can jump in and build up a functional and fortified base pretty quickly.

Also, soft power is great and all from a moral stand point. I'm a speak softly and carry a big stick guy myself, I do like soft power, really, but soft power is fragile and must be constantly maintained. If your enemies are all dead, there's no need to have soft power. Also if you're following speak softly and carry a big stick properly, you don't need to be set up in anyone's country, they just give you the better end of the deals and let you into port simply because at any time you could decide to turn that destructive power against them. It's like racketeering via extortion, really.