Richardcyoung.com

The Online Home of Author and Investor, Dick Young

  • Home
  • How We Are Different
  • About Us
    • Foundation Principles
    • Contributors
  • Investing
    • You’ve Read The Last Issue of Intelligence Report, Now What?
  • Your Survival Guy
  • The Great Reset
  • COVID-19
  • My Rifles
  • Dividends and Compounding
  • Your Security
  • The Swiss Way
  • Dick Young
  • Debbie Young
  • Key West
  • Paris
  • Dick’s R&B Top 100
  • Liberty & Freedom Map
  • Bank Credit & Money
  • Your Survival Guy’s Super States
  • NNT & Cholesterol
  • Work to Make Money/Invest to Save Money
  • Your Health
  • Ron Paul
  • US Treasury Yield Curve: My Favorite Investor Tool

Preble: A Recipe for Continued Conflict

August 24, 2017 By Richard C. Young

Chris Preble, photo courtesy of the Cato Institute

President Trump has chosen to continue the war effort in Afghanistan. Trump has been criticizing the Afghan effort for years, but is now surrounded by generals in his administration who have been preoccupied with “winning” there for over a decade. They and others like them have convinced the president that either for some military purpose, or for the purposes of his political prestige he must recommit to an endless war there.

The Cato Institute’s vice president for defense and foreign-policy studies, Chris Preble (who I’ve called The Most Important Person You May Have Never Heard Of) says that America’s political reality creates a recipe for continued conflict. Fear of failure, or of being blamed for a failure that’s already baked into the cake, scares politicians into continuing a war effort they know in their hearts is foolish. Chris writes:

President Trump’s rhetoric echoes the conventional wisdom in Washington. Few presidents are criticized for using military force. More often, they are hit for not intervening often enough. Or trying hard enough. Or long enough. Withdrawal without victory is a particularly odious sin.

Therefore, when Donald Trump was presented with an opportunity to redirect U.S. attention and resources, he ignored both the reasonable and well-considered suggestions to withdraw, as well as the foolish and quixotic proposals. Instead, he chose to kick the can down the road. Although he didn’t tell the American people how many additional troops will be sent to Afghanistan, increasing the size of the force already there will not be sufficient to turn the tide there, a point that he admitted during his speech. American military power is insufficient to bring an enduring political settlement to a country the size of Afghanistan.

But while leaving U.S. troops in Afghanistan hasn’t made it easier to win (whatever that means), Trump has made it harder for his successor to leave at a later date.

Imagine a scenario in the late summer of 2021, in which the next occupant of the White House is confronted with a choice on whether to stay or withdraw. He or she will agonize over it—as Trump did, and as Obama did, too.

In all likelihood, that successor will also conclude that leaving isn’t worth the political hit. President 46 will leave the force in place, or modestly increase it, but without expecting to ever actually win, or ever quit. The object, as with Trump, will be to avoid the appearance of defeat.

Lather, rinse, repeat. It’s a recipe for continual conflict.

When any president is given the option of either backing away from the use of American military power, or doubling down on past efforts, the easiest course—politically—is to continue the war.

President Trump has chosen the easiest course. The man who prides himself on ignoring polls and focus groups, and making decisions on the basis of what is best for the country, has behaved no differently than his predecessors.

For those keeping score at home, that’s another point for The Blob (aka Deep State).

Read more here.

If you’re willing to fight for Main Street America, click here to sign up for my free weekly email.

Related Posts

  • Chris Preble Live Blogs the President's Syria Speech
  • What America Thinks: Chris Preble
  • Iranian Nuclear Deal—Cato’s Chris Preble is Positive
  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Richard C. Young
Richard C. Young is the editor of Young's World Money Forecast, and a contributing editor to both Richardcyoung.com and Youngresearch.com.
Latest posts by Richard C. Young (see all)
  • Are You Prepared to Run Out of Water? - March 17, 2023
  • Biden Has Lost Control of the Northern Border Too - March 17, 2023
  • Border Patrol Chief Admits U.S. Border Is Out of Control - March 16, 2023

Dick Young’s Must Reads

  • “An Epic Struggle Over the Definition of America”
  • CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY: Alabama Becomes 22nd Permitless Carry State
  • “The Goal”: Strong Families, Resilient Faith, Thriving Middle Class.
  • BEYOND RUSSIA: America Strengthens India Ties to Counter China
  • Boom—Your Life Changes
  • “The Losses are Taking a Toll on Their Health”
  • Protection While Traveling in France
  • Does Big Government Create Poverty?
  • Concentrate on Dividend Record and Compounding
  • A NEW CONTRACT WITH AMERICA: Rick Scott Finally Gives the GOP Something to Run On

Our Most Popular Posts

  • Washington Is the Systemic Risk
  • Matt Taibbi Exposes the "Censorship-Industrial Complex"
  • “Will We Have Enough to Live On Forever?”
  • SVB – There’s Panic in the Air
  • The Education of Barney Frank
  • MASKS: "No Measurable Difference in Outcome"
  • Coal Is Keeping the Lights On
  • WORKING OVERTIME: The COVID Propaganda Machine
  • Silicon Valley Bank: What Do Investors Expect?
  • How about Hiring Erik Prince to Crush the Drug Cartels?

Disclosure

RSS Youngresearch.com

  • For Whom Is Your Portfolio Serving?
  • Who’s to Blame for Banking Vulnerability?
  • Mortgage Market Not Expected to Settle Down Soon
  • Are You Living Your Best Life?
  • Were Silicon Valley Bank’s Motivations for Taking Losses Pure?
  • Will the Black Swan Usher in Digital Dollars?
  • Major Rail Merger Gets Approval
  • The Education of Barney Frank
  • Credit Suisse Announced “Material Weaknesses” In Its Internal Controls
  • Is Deposit Insurance a Solution or a Problem?

RSS Yoursurvivalguy.com

  • For Whom Is Your Portfolio Serving?
  • ESG: Are Markets Ready for “A Needed Dose of Reality?”
  • Was Silicon Valley Bank a Victim of ESG?
  • Are You Living Your Best Life?
  • March RAGE Gauge: Will the Black Swan Usher in Digital Dollars?
  • Gretchen Whitmer Reviving Forced Unionization in Michigan
  • Will the Black Swan Usher in Digital Dollars?
  • How the Rich Get Richer: You Invest, They Win
  • Why Investors Should Forget Prices and Focus on Income
  • The Education of Barney Frank

Pushing Back at ESG

Your Survival Guy’s BEST Insider’s Guide to Key West

Greetings from Key West

Cheap Reliable Heating – a Life Saver

For Whom Is Your Portfolio Serving?

Are You Prepared to Run Out of Water?

Copyright © 2023 | Terms & Conditions | About Us | Dick Young | Archives