…for decades, really. It seems, in the glorious clarity of my uneducated hindsight, to have been the most avoidable of wars. And it does seem that one of the causal factors was how few influential people really wanted to avoid it. I mean I tend to put all the blame on Kaiser Wilhelm but that’s clearly not all there is to it. Wilhelm could have simply invaded France any time he wanted and no doubt eventually he would have, it’s not as though he needed Austria to invade Serbia first, but already I digress.
My point is, sometimes really bloody wars start for really silly reasons and I wonder if I’m watching one start now.
If your main goal is re-election, it never hurts to be a “Wartime President “.
If you’re Donald Trump and your main goal is re-election, it might help to be able to say “I didn’t start any new wars.”
If you’re Donald Trump and your main goal is re-election, it might help to be able to say “I started a war that was: necessary; just; short; successful”
Ha! I know I’m deluded. Please leave me to my delusions. Thank you.
Aside: I served honorably 8 years in the military. Most folks have no idea what really goes on…
To be fair, we are talking about a nation that’s led by the leaders of a religion who believe the End of the World will be very, very good to them, and are actively seeking nuclear weapons, and can see the country of the most evil of religions from their back porch.
In my opinion, the next prezzy that Doesn’t start a war will probably be the last. I’ve gotten a lot more pessimistic in my old age.
Have you read Barbra Tuchman’s book The Guns of August ?
Numerous times. I have almost all her books.
Really enjoyed watching The Great War’s weekly updates (only a century behind!) on YT over the past 4 years [yeah, I got a late start; had to catch up on all of 1914’s week-by-week coverage beginning in late 2015…] Of course, I’d had a public-school education back when that was still pretty good, so was aware that WW1 was largely a family-squabble among the ruling houses of Yurp… 😉