Robert Nicholson 12 points twitter message
< < Go Back
1. One common response I see: "Soleimani was bad but taking him out requires a comprehensive strategy. Cycles of violence will solve nothing. We need a path to peace. We must address the causes of terrorism. We need a plan to win this war and achieve a state of lasting justice."
— Robert Nicholson (@rwnicholson_) January 4, 2020
3. It's possible — now hang on folks — there will be no peace in the Middle East for awhile. Americans eager for a grand settlement that puts every man at ease beneath his own vine and fig tree need to manage their expectations. We want justice, but it's not really up to us.
— Robert Nicholson (@rwnicholson_) January 4, 2020
5. Americans like me want to break the cycle but, again, that's not really an option. Rather than try to break the cycle we should master it, but in the context of our own values. This means balance of power politics. It means building alliances. It means ground game.
— Robert Nicholson (@rwnicholson_) January 4, 2020
7. Of course we could decide to withdraw from this mess altogether. But that's an ethical decision too. Conflict will occur whether we're engaged or not. Is it better to wield our power toward better (if imperfect) outcomes, or let nature take its course? Hard question.
— Robert Nicholson (@rwnicholson_) January 4, 2020
9. Absent shared values, power prevails. Competing narratives cannot reason from common principles. You can try to change the other's narrative but good luck. Better to obey the logic of limits: strike a balance, define boundaries, and enjoy the silence that stalemate brings.
— Robert Nicholson (@rwnicholson_) January 4, 2020
11. Ultimately this requires the occasional use of overwhelming violence. Wise statesman will be careful when and where they use it, but even the wisest cannot predict how the other side will react or when the cycle will end. Their wisdom lies in knowing the rules of the game.
— Robert Nicholson (@rwnicholson_) January 4, 2020