There used to be a wealthy man named J.R. Simplot who made his fortune in potatoes supplying the product in the rise of fast food stores during the late fifties and sixties. One of his favorite sayings when advisors contradicted his opinion was “I have eyes to see what’s happening”. Combine this with Lord Acton’s, British politician, admonition “power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely’ and you have the makings of huge disasters when ignored.
I recommend a book I read years ago and pulled out to read again. The book, The March of Folly from Troy to Vietnam by Barbara Tuchman and Pulitzer Prize winner from 1984. It covers the disasters attacking nations have suffered over the years attempting aggressive wars that ignored the advantages of their adversary. Tuchman describes folly as the pursuit by the government of policies contrary to their own interests, despite the availability of feasible alternatives.
As Clint Eastwood said in one of his Dirty Harry movies, “a man has got to know his limitations” and wise national leaders know the same principle applies to nations. Probably the greatest example of this in my lifetime was President George Herbert Walker Bush’s decision to refuse a military drive on to Bagdad, declare victory and go home.
