"The Exculpating Myth of Accidental War" Topic

"The risk of war by miscalculation is a popular scholarly subject and a frequent concern of policymakers. Theories of war by miscalculation assume either ignorance by decisionmakers, bad faith by policy participants (usually the military), or a mechanistic series of exchanges that obviate the need for policymakers to display judgment and responsibility. Yet historians struggle to produce evidence that political leaders were either ignorant of the risks they were choosing or emasculated from any ability to affect the course of events. Theories of accidental war are, as Geoffrey Blainey has said, "a description masquerading as an explanation."[1] Instead of explaining historical events, the myth of accidental war provides an intricate puzzle for intellectuals, a justification for moralists to fear military subversion of political decisionmakers, and an evasion of culpability for those decisionmakers…"

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Armand

"Those who don't study history are bound to repeat it." … Of course the Military and Intel advisors can recommend CoAs, etc. to the POTUS, etc. But does not mean the POTUS and his Admin will have to follow it. E.g. the horrific A'stan withdrawal …

"Those who don't study history are bound to repeat it." … Of course the Military and Intel advisors can recommend CoAs, etc. to the POTUS, etc. But does not mean the POTUS and his Admin will have to follow it. E.g. the horrific A'stan withdrawal …