Leadership is absolutely vital if there are comparable countries which can affect the security of the world you live in. Between Lincoln and Roosevelt’s time, America was protected by huge oceans and, in practice, by the British navy. Today, it’s different, and the obsession of the Obama administration has been for retrenchment.

This quote discusses the evolving nature of leadership in the context of global security. It suggests that in a world where geographical protections are no longer sufficient, proactive leadership is crucial. The mention of the Obama administration’s focus on retrenchment refers to a strategy of reducing international engagement and military presence.