As America teeters on the precipice of entering into a major war, decision-making is devoid of process and executed on whim by an ignorant commander in chief.
Jim: first rate analysis and I trust it will be widely read. One thought to emphasize: slashing personnel from State and other national security agencies including the NSC will long term have terrible consequences for the nation. Short term, however, few may notice the impact, because Trump does not utilize the traditional national security apparatus when he makes decisions. We seem likely to be on the road to a war with Iran, heaven help us, Trump sounds more like the host of the
Apprentice than the President of the United States. No evidence that he has a concept of national interest, only personal interest. Ralph
Spot on. And it will takes many years from which to recover. The damage McCarthy did to the FS took decades to overcome. John Franklin Campbell wrote about the hyper-caution of FSO’s after that era and how the purged expertise contributed to our fiasco in Vietnam. What this alleged president is doing is many times worse. And he’s only getting started. Can we overcome the damage? I’m not so sure.
Very good overview of the disastrous situation we find ourselves in, and the lack of any brakes in the likelihood this starts to spiral downward. So very depressing that good dedicated people have been dumped for a kitchen cabinet of lackeys.
One small correction: Scowcroft was a USAF general, not an admiral.
Jim: first rate analysis and I trust it will be widely read. One thought to emphasize: slashing personnel from State and other national security agencies including the NSC will long term have terrible consequences for the nation. Short term, however, few may notice the impact, because Trump does not utilize the traditional national security apparatus when he makes decisions. We seem likely to be on the road to a war with Iran, heaven help us, Trump sounds more like the host of the
Apprentice than the President of the United States. No evidence that he has a concept of national interest, only personal interest. Ralph
Spot on. And it will takes many years from which to recover. The damage McCarthy did to the FS took decades to overcome. John Franklin Campbell wrote about the hyper-caution of FSO’s after that era and how the purged expertise contributed to our fiasco in Vietnam. What this alleged president is doing is many times worse. And he’s only getting started. Can we overcome the damage? I’m not so sure.
Very good overview of the disastrous situation we find ourselves in, and the lack of any brakes in the likelihood this starts to spiral downward. So very depressing that good dedicated people have been dumped for a kitchen cabinet of lackeys.
One small correction: Scowcroft was a USAF general, not an admiral.
Thanks. Fixed.
@James L. Bruno: Well said, Jim.