There is a good analysis of the President’s speech on Afghanistan. It is worth reading but the part that got my attention was in the next to last paragraph.
“The U.S. military is not the leverage, the military helps creates leverage. The leverage itself is economic. Financial interests are always the best leverage to use because inherent within the fundamental principles of economics is ‘self-interest’. Actions taken generate financial benefits; those benefits are direct and immediate to the interests of those generating the results.”Trump is applying Adam Smith’s invisible hand. He is working to get countries like Pakistan to stand up against evil, not because we threaten them with our military might, but because it will work for them economically. Against military force they would plug in their machismo and dig in to prove they are men. When it comes to their pocket book they become all ears.
Bravo to The Last Refuge, President Trump and Adam Smith.
homo unius libri
I TRIED reading that book several years ago, but even though I found it interesting, it seemed repetitive to me and the sheer length overwhelmed my sound-byte mind.
ReplyDeleteI agree. It would sit untouched for months before I would get back to it. It does have some great sound bites though.
DeleteGrace and peace.