After more than decade and a half of Memorial Day posts I don’t have a lot more to say about the occasion other than the best way to commemorate our honored dead is by not adding to their number. I have little problem with those who believe in a responsibility to protect or spreading democracy at the point of a gun taking up arms to pursue their goal but let’s reserve our military for actually defending the country.
https://mises.org/wire/america-still-loves-warfare-state
America still loves war and Presidents still dont want to leave one if it risks making them look bad. Obama could have left Afghanistan. Bush and Trump could have left also. Bush could have left Iraq. Instead, they all tried to leave it to someone else. They might plan leaving but they wont do it just in case things go bad. They can claim they would have delayed leaving and all the blame goes to the guy in office when you actually leave. Just best to stay out to begin with and if you do fight you need a real exit plan.
Steve
As I’ve said before I don’t agree with you that Americans love war. I think that there are people in foreign policy circles at very different poles of the ideological spectrum for whom war is the answer and people who profit from war. When you combine those it creates an elite consensus that favors war.
I think that most Americans contrariwise are disinterested in foreign policy.
“As I’ve said before I don’t agree with you that Americans love war.”
I think the biggest flaw in the article I referenced was the title. Its not “America” that is interested in war, as Dave IMHO correctly suggests. Its ideologues and profiteers.
The same concept of just wanting to be left alone applies to domestic policy as well. Its the malevolent power hungry, the race hustlers, those who would use government do-gooding as the smoke screen for profit who want to meddle. And boy do we have that now.
I totally disagree. I would like for you to be correct but that is not what we have seen. Remember when someone dissented against the Iraq War and got completely ostracized? How many times did Lee whats-his-face have his I’m Glad To Be An American get played? The celebrations when Reagan triumphed over mighty Grenada. The celebrations when we came back from Desert Storm. Support the Troops!
As far as the “elites” go (this has become a meaningless, nearly useless term) the elites you are talking about here are far different than the elites discussed when you are talking about social justice or education or whatever. This is the “serious” foreign policy crowd. Yes, they nearly always favor intervention. A lot fo that is financially based.
Steve
Love of country is a sign of a love of war? Good to know.
I wouldn’t know. I opposed the invasion.
Again, supporting the troops demonstrates a love of war? Again, good to know.