Trump gave in to the Pentagon, Gareth Porter reports. He writes that “John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson and Barack Obama had all been skeptical about war proposals on Vietnam and Afghanistan, respectively.” This skepticism may or may not have been a fact. I prefer to say that, other things equal, they preferred to avoid war. But they didn’t. They gave in to the Pentagon and war. Why do presidents choose war? Why don’t they stay out? Why don’t they say “No” to the generals and to war? The particular features of the Trump reversal that Porter provides cannot possibly … Continue reading Why Do Presidents Give In to the Pentagon?