7 Comments
User's avatar
Doug Clapp's avatar

Thank you sir for this scholarly treatment of Trump's military knee jerk solution to every problem, examined through the lens of "The Just War Theory."

History through the ages suggests the best chances for successful resolution of international disputes is diplomacy and soft power first, kinetic military action last. Trump and Hegseth have rejected that amply proven wisdom in favor of raw brute force. So far the war paradigm has netted us a costly war with no end, a damaged world economy, and a breathtaking loss of international prestige, trust and respect for America.

"When the only tool one relies on is a hammer, he tends to see every problem as a nail." ~ Abraham Maslow

Jeffrey Jon Bode’'s avatar

I’ve shared your writing with a Trump voter prefaced with your biography.

Greg Rushford's avatar

This cries out for (thoughtful-but-thorough) congressional hearings. Thank you.

John McNellis Rich's avatar

Ambassador Ray, your clear narration and Dean Obedallah's current essay featuring Dr. Gardner's fullfillment of duty to warn of dangerousness coallesced into this essay, drawing parallels of Trump's malicious and generationally disruptive action to that of Andrew Jackson and Andrew Johnson. https://johnrich.substack.com/p/when-power-ignores-restraint-what?r=41pd0&utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web <> Thank you for all of your dedicated hard work.

Robert Bruce Adolph's avatar

Charles, Very well done! Thank you.