The small size of America's land forces has been, and for years to come will remain, the tightest constraint on U.S. military strategy. The cutbacks of the Clinton years and, following the attacks of September 11, 2001, the Bush Administration's failure to foresee the need for larger ground forces have created a double bind: it is difficult to win a Long War with a small force. Remedying this most dire divergence between American military ends and American military means will be a severe challenge to the next administration, and indeed for at least a decade. Building the land forces America needs will take much time, money, and political willpower. Ground Truth is a basis for discussion and a plan of policy action.