W Bush disaster discredited the idea of US as global policeman, but the alternative to the US enforcing norms against conquest is every country takes a bite of their neighbor, until every mini dispute becomes a war
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I’d be deeply hesitant about regime change because of the problem of political will. But demonstrative strikes in response to aggression from the one country on earth that could fold you in a week without putting a boot on dirt would be effective & shouldn’t be treated like warmongering
sep 1, 2025, 3:03 pm • 2 0 • view
Yes, it’d be better if we had international norms that made it so such a strike wouldn’t be functionally unilateral. But we’re unlikely to get that anytime soon, and autocracy anywhere is a threat to democracy everywhere
sep 1, 2025, 3:04 pm • 2 0 • view
Bush Sr enforced those norms; Bush Jr was an aggressor
sep 1, 2025, 10:25 pm • 2 0 • view