About twenty years ago, there was a common belief that military power meant little, that the soft power of Germany and Japan would rule the world.

NEWYORKER: After America

As a "combatant command plus, " one that mixes soft and hard power and thus military and civilian personnel, AFRICOM will be a hybrid giant staffed by an interagency personnel kaleidoscope.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: AFRICOM proceeds apace

Given the limits to the use of military power, and the budget constraints and unintended consequences of using payments to buy support from other countries, soft power is critically important to the U.S. ability to influence events in the world.

FORBES: President Obama's Strategic Blunder With China

He's never taken the option of using military force off the table, but he's also stated a preference for the soft power of diplomacy without explaining how he would create the leverage to stop Iran.

NPR: Obama Must Manage Great Expectations

Too aggressive a Chinese military posture could produce a countervailing coalition among its neighbors that would weaken both its hard and soft power.

CNN: Don't fear the rise of China

The army seized power in March, accusing the elected government of being soft on the rebels - but while the military was distracted, the rebels made rapid advances.

BBC: Foreign affairs statements