And what's his beef? Apparently, that Trump doesn't want America playing the world's policeman anymore:
McRaven does not argue that President Trump has done anything wrong in particular, but that he has no respect for America’s values. These values, McRaven declares, involve a commitment to “help the weak and stand up against oppression and injustice” around the world.I don't know, Admiral, what happened to them under the boots of the Romans, the Ottomans, the Russians and their own homegrown strongmen? Do you want to incorporate them into some kind of nominal American protectorate, maintained by the ceaseless draining of American blood and wealth? Doesn't sound like much of a strategy to me. Tell me what victory looks like.
“[W]hat will happen to the Kurds, the Iraqis, the Afghans, the Syrians, the Rohingyas, the South Sudanese and the millions of people under the boot of tyranny or left abandoned by their failing states?” McRaven asks, without explicitly calling for military intervention in any of the regions mentioned.
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What will happen to the Kurds, the Iraqis, the Afghans, the Syrians, the Rohingyas, the South Sudanese and the millions of people under the boot of tyranny or let abandoned by their failing states? I don't know, Admiral McRaven, but how about we let them figure it out for themselves.
We gave it a good try, starting with Afghanistan. But much of the world likes being in a Third World s**thole status.
As painful as it is, I can only conclude that we should let them live that way. We can and should support materially (arms, ammunition, etc), but let them kill each other.
I just got temporarily suspended from Facebook for saying basically the same thing you said, Jeffs, except that I used the word "Muslim". But remember, Zuckerberg's Facebook doesn't censor free speech.
My view is that global policeman has the same problem as communism - the central planners can never know enough to avoid unintended consequences, which includes acting as a cover for opportunists.
US support of Pakistan is an example. When I saw NY 9/11 on TV I was saying 'Pakistan! I hope the US nukes Pakistan which is surely behind this'. Well I was partly right (I hadn't been following what the Saudis were up to).
Things which make sense at the time, like supporting Pakistan when India was connected to the Soviets, may have unintended consequences. Imran Khan actually said that Pres Reagan arming the Mujahideen was what led to the Taliban. There's some truth in this although he's a two-faced weasel.
Even in the US, can anyone solve Chicago's problems? Did a bunch of outsiders cleaning their streets help anyone? Just call it realism.
The general imagines he can help the Rohingyas? (I have friends with some of these people). Good grief, by supporting Pakistan in 1970 (Bangladesh War) the US actually made things slightly worse (not by much though). We've got to be realistic.
Excellent points, Bruce. And here's something else to consider: the utter unreliability of long-term support for military action by Congress, the make-up of which can change considerably every time there's an election (and which has, time and again, played politics with foreign policy to gain purely partisan advantage).
"...the make-up of which can change considerably every time there's an election"
That phenomenon was becoming very evident here just prior to our May 2019 Federal election. The almost universal prediction was that Labor would win in a landslide and the Coalition would be in opposition for at least three terms. In its election campaign, Labor was making serious moves to undo the incumbent Coalition's successful border-control legislation.
Obviously, the people-smugglers believed there would be a Labor victory. In a few weeks before the election, at least six boatloads set out from Sri Lanka and were turned back by our border-control authorities.
Skeeter, are you coping with the drought? Looks bad.
Bruce, our driest year in the 33 years we have been here. Our river stopped flowing three weeks ago. Fortunately, it stopped just a few days after I had pumped up to fill all tanks so we were in no stress. My neighbours like to see me pumping because every time I do, it rains within a week. That happened as usual; we have had two good thunderstorms since then. Nothing better than the sound of storm rain on a tin roof, and the river is flowing again with gin-clear water.
Good to hear some relief. Yes I saw storm season's coming, hope it helps a bit.
Nothing better than the sound of storm rain on a tin roof
Especially after an extended drought. Hope you're done with it for a long while.
...except that I used the word "Muslim".
That's certainly the vast majority of the world. But they ain't alone in embracing squalor and disease. I see that whenever I drive the I5 corridor.
But remember, Zuckerberg's Facebook doesn't censor free speech.
Of course not!
/sarcasm
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