Clinton is probably just calling for airstrikes in Syria because she believes in airstrikes in Syria but I would really like to believe she’s calling for airstrikes in Syria in the hope that Trump will reflexively do the exact opposite of that. It would be so satisfying. I think this is the emotion underlying the proclamations that Trump is playing 8-dimensional chess or whatever; it’s much nicer to believe that we’re in good hands and the scary stuff is the prelude to a better plan than to believe that the people in power are cruel, violent and bad at their jobs.
There was an extremely good book about how pinprick bombing designed to “send a message” to the enemy and look strong at home, without a clear path forward in mind, slowly dragged us into Vietnam even though most military assessments knew that ultimate victory was not possible.
Really, I do recommend the book, which is only boring in how thoroughly the author collects evidence to prove his case. Dereliction of Duty. It’s exactly the sort of book you would read and think “I wish the people in power read this too.”
It was written by HR McMaster, who is the current National Security Advisor, and is credited with kicking Steve Bannon off the NS Council.
So I, uh… really don’t know what to think.
My first guess is “McMaster does not call the shots within the Trump regime security apparatus.” And, really, it’s hard to see why he would. There are a lot of people to whom Trump seems a lot likelier to listen.
But who the hell knows? Not me, that’s for sure.
(I vouch for @bambamramfan‘s description of Dereliction of Duty.)