A special thank you to all America's men and women in uniform. Those who have fought our wars deserve our respect and support.
Also, happy 130th birthday to General George Patton. It seems fitting that his birthday is on Veteran's Day.
Finally, I think it is important to remember this day's initial meaning. Of all the stupid fights and wasted lives - of which there are sadly too many - the war that ended on this Day in 1918 is among the worst of them. Armistice Day marked the end of needless and senseless slaughter.
No surprises today in history, and as always, happy Wednesday and happy reading!
This Day in History
1918 – Armistice is declared after four years of combat in Europe. American history glosses over the complex roots of World War I and myriad issues facing Europe at the time, but there is much we could learn from closer study. World War I was decades in the making, the culminating event of a series of mishandled European political and military crises. The Great War may not have happened - saving millions of lives and sparing Europe decades of war - if more prudent leadership had been applied at any number of prior incidents. We see WWI as the forgotten war, but in its origins we'd be much better off remembering how not to behave.
The World Before the War
Some think the post-WWII decades of the Pax Americana may be nearing an end, and undoubtedly we live in a rapidly changing world. A century ago Europe spasmed from crisis to crisis, averting war without trying to build peace, until WWI erupted, and the bloody rearrangement of continent began.
The world has been relatively stable under American hegemony, however imperfect. But that world is changing around us, and at times it seems as though we are ossifying, not adapting (from the Atlantic).
In "The Post American World" Fareed Zakaria explores the rise of China and India, and wonders how America can remain a superpower in a world in which we aren't the only one. WWI shows the death of one world order can be an ugly affair. Confronting the changes around us requires that we adapt to them rather than always trying to conform things to our will.
Number One Geopolitical Foe
I laughed in 2012 when Mitt Romney said Russia was our number one geopolitical foe. I don't know if Romney was necessarily correct, but I'm no longer laughing at the analysis. He was spot on about about Vladimir Putin who needs unrest abroad for support at home (from the NYTimes).
Putin is Russia's image of itself on the world stage (from the NYTimes), For Putin, conflict is the linchpin of stability because it validates him as a ruler willing to stand up for Russia. Russia under Putin isn't dissimilar from Russia under the czars or the Soviets, fearful of any change that diminishes the grip on power, and willing to use force to justify repression.
Boots on the Ground
Organizations operating outside of the international diplomatic system have always disrupted the status quo. We often think of those groups as being on the wrong side of the fight, but sometimes the vigilantes are our friends.
Working with assistance from the US military the Kurds have been combating ISIS, and just as ISIS draws fighters from all over the world, so too are foreign fighters assisting the Kurds (from the NYTimes Magazine). I found it interesting how quickly and - relatively - easily these men could enlist and find themselves overseas and crossing borders. Cryptic, tedious, and dangerous though it may seem, this process facilitates a never before seen influx of non-military fighters into combat zones, creating new imbalances in the global system.
Who We Are Might Not Be Up Against
Know thy enemy, which in our most recent conflicts we have not done very well. Lacking knowledge of our enemies - not to mention our friends - sets us up for failure. Of course, both our friends and enemies are complex (from Strategy Bridge). Making policy and taking action are not simple tasks, but complexity does not always excuse inaction nor absolve accountability.
Boiling down the decades of turmoil that preceded WWI into simple explanations like "the alliance system" and "the assassination of Franz Ferdinand" don't teach the lessons we need to be able to navigate through rapid and destabilizing change we see today. Remember the war that ended this day, because there are important lessons for us in its origins, its outcome, and in each lost life that might have been saved.
International Dog of the Week
The Digest's first ever international dog makes her appearance this week! Chelsea and I met last week in Wellngton where her humans Kitt and Beth hosted my friend Andrew and me. As you can tell, Chelsea is energetic. She is an avid hiker, and spends a lot of time tramping, as the Kiwis say, with her humans. Fun fact: Chelsea is also bilingual; though not quite fluent, her Spanish is very strong. Big thank you to Beth and Kitt for sharing Chelsea and for hosting us in Wellington!
The Beaches of New Zealand
Were actually quite chilly, but still remarkably beautiful. New Zealand is a wonderful country, and absolutely worth a visit if you ever have the chance. Speaking of chances, did you have a chance to send a friend the opt-in form?
Last digest I promised pictures of sheep, but I'm saving those for a later time. If you have a problem with that, please refer to the feedback form.
