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**tgs** · 10-02-2008, 10:53 PM

There is a deeper reason as well. The United States does not simply decide on policies. It responds to a world that is setting America’s agenda.

Presidents are not to be judged by how they make history. They are to be judged by how gracefully they submit to the rules that history lays down.

Mostly, they are trapped in realities not of their own making.

Tell George what you think

I just don't buy it. In the self deprecating West, we are always extrapolating away both critical decisions and historical vectors. If there are systemic constraints, then all the actors are so constrained, hence there is no history. If there are allowances then all parties are allowed to act in their best interest in their optimal time and place. Rationalistically, the biggest and/or most capable typically act accordingly.

Yes it's hard to tease out causes and effects, but brushing it under the carpet isn't helpful either. It takes time and effort to understand who did what and were it was wholly advantageous to the acting country. It's studied in History for a reason; play by play is real hard to do, but we should try it anyway. We do it here everyday after all. To boot: the "system" is most certainly more visible to a commander and chief of a nation state then to non affiliated citizens.

10-02-2008, 10:53 PM	#5
tgs Join Date Mar 2007 Age 48 Posts 5,125 Senior Member	There is a deeper reason as well. The United States does not simply decide on policies. It responds to a world that is setting America’s agenda. Presidents are not to be judged by how they make history. They are to be judged by how gracefully they submit to the rules that history lays down. Mostly, they are trapped in realities not of their own making. Tell George what you think I just don't buy it. In the self deprecating West, we are always extrapolating away both critical decisions and historical vectors. If there are systemic constraints, then all the actors are so constrained, hence there is no history. If there are allowances then all parties are allowed to act in their best interest in their optimal time and place. Rationalistically, the biggest and/or most capable typically act accordingly. Yes it's hard to tease out causes and effects, but brushing it under the carpet isn't helpful either. It takes time and effort to understand who did what and were it was wholly advantageous to the acting country. It's studied in History for a reason; play by play is real hard to do, but we should try it anyway. We do it here everyday after all. To boot: the "system" is most certainly more visible to a commander and chief of a nation state then to non affiliated citizens.
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