In Catch-22 Yossarian has an encounter with an old Italian man who more or less illustrates @wundayatta‘s point… which isn’t invalid.
Yossarian is trying to convince the old man that the US and its allies are going to win the war. The old Italian doesn’t care what Yossarian says. He claims that Italy is winning the war. Yossarian thinks he must be mad or delusional, and says so. The old man illustrates that he knows the strategic arguments that Yossarian is making, but nevertheless, “We always win.”
Yossarian asks him to explain, and he does so. He reminds Yossarian that the Roman Empire at one time ruled most of Europe, North Africa and parts of Asia. Yossarian reminds him that the Roman Empire fell. The old man brightens up, “And yet, here we are! We won!”
Yossarian reminds the old man that Italy has had many failed military adventures, and the old man keeps countering with, “Yet, here we still are! We won!”
Yossarian reminds him that Italian governments fail like paper in the rain. The old man continues to argue, and with more vehemence and conviction, “And yet, we’re still here! The Germans came, and we won. The Americans came, and we won. You’ll leave, and we’ll win again. We always win!”
Like that…