Actually we do and that is what we call the "Threads of Continuity". The Threads are both Internal and External. The Internal Threads are Military Professionalism, Tactics, Strategy, Logistics and Administration, Military Theory and Doctrine, and Generalship. The External Threads are Political, Social, Economic Factors and Technology....
But civilians in this country don't understand any of that. They need to.
That's good. The external threads are not all uniformly strong.