Read the following excerpt. Colonies attached to the mother-country afford, therefore, the surest means of supporting abroad the sea power of a country. —Alfred Thayer Mahan, The Influence of Sea Power Upon History 1660–1783 What is Mahan suggesting that would inspire government leaders like Roosevelt to expand overseas? A. Possession of colonies around the world is important to ensure a country's prosperity. B. Colonial powers must find a mutually beneficial compromise with their colonies. C. The power dynamic must be made clear in order to maintain order in a colony. D. Colonial powers must adapt to the resources available to them in a particular colony.