But the analogy is mistaken. In such a system, individuals and private enterprises set their own strategies and make their own plans. Libertarian isolationists, who rightly believe the government should allow private strategizing at home, make the opposite mistake. They point to bad foreign-policy strategy or disappointing outcomes to prove that the U.S. government should play very little role in foreign affairs. But the mere occurrence of error doesn't prove anything.
Businesses adopt bad strategies every day.
In the international arena, liberal states cannot be mere referees. They must be players. It's the playground. It has no referees, only players who compete, argue, form teams, and discipline those who cheat. Even on the playground, however, it's helpful to have more than three plays.