General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forumsleveymg
(36,418 posts)Here's the third path not displayed: don't set up a situation of sectarian civil war in an ethnically divided nation surrounded by other similar tinder-box countries and pretend that "there's no way we could have foreseen" regional religious war breaking out.
Think of structural continuities, as well as functional differences, in US foreign policy paths. Thanks for the nice flowchart!
derby378
(30,252 posts)George W. Bush is a warmonger and an asshole, but it would still be unfair to blame him for everything that happened in the Middle East since March 2003. But it's also not unfair to regard our military presence as a destabilizing agent.
You have a good point - I too have grown tired of "we couldn't have foreseen this" arguments a lot time ago. We rely on them to think about the unthinkable and respond in kind.
Thanks for the feedback!
leveymg
(36,418 posts)People are generally paid to preserve othodoxies, not to provide accurate warnings of catastrophes.
Good chart - captures the prevailing duality either-or view of events really nicely!
krispos42
(49,445 posts)And I personally would like the acronym "CARB" (chemical, atomic, radiological, biological; make them words when you can!)
But, yeah, you've probably got it nailed.
Now the issue becomes "what is the reality of the fresh intelligence, and what will be the narration of the fresh intelligence to the American people"?
derby378
(30,252 posts)I couldn't figure out how to generate arrows, so I tried to lay it out logically and not shy away from the "Yes/No" diamonds. But thanks for the comments!
krispos42
(49,445 posts)derby378
(30,252 posts)Here 'tis: https://www.draw.io/