the results of wishful thinking

varifrank:

The result of wishful thinking after World War I was World War II and the deaths of 52 million people. The result of our long costly effort in Europe after World War II is a continent populated by a generation that has no experience in war, which given the long bloody history of that region is quite remarkable...

As a student of human history I know that wars are often started by well-meaning, peace-loving folks who intended to do just the opposite. Rest assured, that to me the intentions of the next President will make no difference at all if in 6 years time, my son is called into service to fight to liberate Iraq for a third time because of a desire to leave hastily and in chaos just to meet a campaign promise...

...we should all agree that the best policy to follow in the future is the policy that insures that we never have to go back and fight, and that with the right course of action, the middle east might someday be as quiet and peaceful as Europe. This is possible, but only if we do the right thing and not the thing that makes us "feel good".

We left Europe in haste in 1918, it felt good. We embargoed Japan's oil in 1940, and it felt good too. We did both those things beliving it would result in peace, but 52 million people around the world paid the true price for wishful thinking.

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