The Sanity Inspector says that we don't have to worry about the offensive buildup--we have plenty of time:

Former French prime minister Pierre Laval said Monday that Germany is a least five years away from developing an offensive military capability, leaving time to peacefully negotiate a settlement.

"But there is a chance that the Western powers will use bombs or artillery against several sites in Germany," he was quoted as saying. "Then, the reactions would be strong, and would contribute to increased war fever."

Just be happy they were right about the battleships.

A couple more Bismarcks would have been obnoxious.

Don't laugh, Rand.

The Brits had a "ten-year rule," which was in effect for most of the 1920s and much of the 1930s, which said, in effect, for planning purposes, assume no war for the next ten years.

The problem was, they kept moving that ten year goal-post, so year after year, the next war wouldn't happen for another ten years.

By the early 1930s, of course, that was just plain wrong.