That is a brilliant examination of the historical cause and effect relationships of appeasement versus real or imagined aggression!
One thing I will say is that there are a number of people in the Republican primary race who would be perceived as aggressors of the Reagan/”cowboy” variety. Trump would scare the hell out of our enemies, as would Cruz. Likewise, I don’t see Rubio or Christy backing down to the challenges we’re likely to face, but I’m not so sure about Kasich, Bush, Paul or even Carson.
I like to see Dr Carson as Secretary of Health and Human Services and hope whoever from our side becomes president will chose him.