The author looks at the collection of essays entitled On Strategy: A Primer (2020) as an insight into U.S. policies and strategy. These two basic levels are invariably present in any armed conflict; however, the purpose of this article goes beyond the boundaries of a standard review. At first glance, the problem of effectively blending foreign policy and strategy may seem groundless, far-fetched, and completely out of touch with reality. The author argues that this impression is misleading. The inaccurate distribution of responsibilities between policy and strategy and the tendency to constantly confuse their functions potentially poses serious risks even to such a superpower as the United States. An unbiased glance cast from a distance gives a better view of the prerequisites for mutual alienation of the political and strategic horizons of U.S. military efforts.