The most recent Hoover fellows to leave the institution for senior executive branch appointments are National Security Adviser H. R. McMaster (center left) and Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis (center right), who attended the meeting to catch up with Hoover supporters and former colleagues. Pictured far left is Research Fellow Kori Schake, who coedited Warriors and Citizens with Mattis, along with Hoover’s senior manager of external relations Laura Odato (far right). Hoover Institute
Victor Davis Hanson, American Greatness: McMaster and Mattis Are Rare Assets—Not Deep State Liabilities
There is a larger context concerning the recent controversies among the architects of Trump’s national security team and agenda, and the criticism of National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster. Recall first that the foreign policy of Barack Obama, Ben Rhodes, Susan Rice, and Hillary Clinton could be best termed “provocative appeasement,” and it logically led to the present tensions around the world.
The approach combined the most unfortunate traits of carrying a twig while speaking loudly: vociferous remonstrations about human rights, occasional bombings, and drone-targeted assassinations, lots of sermonizing and faux red lines, deadlines, and step-over lines—all without either real consequences or accountability.
The result by January 2017 was that our foreign policy could be summarized as a complete inverse of the Roman general Sulla’s ancient admonition: the United States was seen by neutrals, rivals, and opponents as no worse friend, and no better enemy.
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WNU Editor: I have said this before, but what has saved the Trump Presidency has been his cabinet .... all of them have served (and are serving) admirably, and IMHO, they are the best cabinet that I have ever seen. Of course .... politics being politics ..... this can all change in a heartbeat.
1 comment:
I have little doubt that those two are outstanding. That said: nothing thus far as been done that is any different than what had been previously done, though now N. Korea seems closer to having full nuke capability, but Hanson suggests that under these two and Trump there is now a big change. Were Bush or Clinton or Obama in office at present time, and N. Korea actually shot a nuke armed or plain missle at Guam, do you think those presidents would sit by idly? I seriously doubt it.
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