Posted on 04/19/2015 5:26:29 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
No presidential decision is as politically hazardous as the war decision. That’s because voters are quicker and more ferocious in turning on their chief executives when wars go awry than when events become troublesome in other areas of governance. Woe be to the president who finds himself in a war he can’t win and can’t get out of, or finds that the price of war far outweighs the promised benefits, or learns that the rationale for war doesn’t hold up.
Herewith, then, a catalogue of the country’s five worst wartime presidents, men who took their country to war, or continued an inherited war, but couldn’t bring success to the war effort. In four instances, we see what kind of price they paid, or their parties paid, for their lack of success. In the fifth instance, the case of Barack Obama’s war decisions in Iraq, Afghanistan and surrounding Mideast lands, it’s still an open question what kind of price will be paid.
Of the country’s forty-four chief executives, thirteen were serious war presidents, four through inheritance and the rest through initiation. They are: Madison, Polk, Lincoln, McKinley, Wilson, Franklin Roosevelt, Truman (by inheritance and initiation), Eisenhower (by inheritance), Lyndon Johnson, Nixon (by inheritance), George H. W. Bush, George W. Bush, and Obama (by inheritance).
Of these, the clear failures were Wilson, Truman, Johnson, and George W. Bush. Obama occupies a kind of middle territory, but ultimately he must be placed in the circle of those who couldn’t bring success to their wartime management. (Madison is subject of ongoing historical debate as to his success or failure as wartime president, but I consider him, on balance, more of a success than a failure, for reasons outlined in my book, Where They Stand: The American Presidents in the Eyes of Voters and Historians.)
(Excerpt) Read more at nationalinterest.org ...
Bush and Obama didn't, that's for sure.
If your younger than 35 just say so.
I'll be 35 this fall. So?
Italian fascism without an equal level of competence.
Pakistan?
ALL presidents have a cadre of advisors and Clinton had destroyed the local intel that used to be available
Every President makes mistakes and NONE are miracle workers
Who'd'thunk someone would use airplaneS to commit mass murder and start a war ?
And they still wear no uniforms
The nature of war changed in a few hours
According to you we should have concentrated on Saudi Arabia.
You have no history of these events that forced us to respond. You have a ridiculous rationale for never fighting back against those that would harm us.
and yes, I know your age.
I have to opine. Does this list include the police action known as Korea? Also, what about Jefferson’s retaliation against the Muslims at Gibraltar and Ronald Reagan’s quick action in Granada? Then, there’s Clinton’s bombing of some huts and an aspirin factory to consider.
Are you trying to somehow compare communist rule in the east to Tower 1 and 2 crashing to the earth in mid-town Manhattan?
Please continue.
“In this sense, GW BUsh was a failure, not because he did not defeat the enemy, but because he failed to show the vindication for his rationale for going to war in Iraq.”
By keeping the discovery secret we did not have to guard them as primary targets, which would have taken needed troops from other tasks. Bush made a presidential call at the expense of his vindication. Amazing! Can you picture Carter, Obama or any Democrat doing the same?
"President Bush: Thank you all. I want you all to know -- it [bullhorn] can't go any louder -- I want you all to know that American today, American today is on bended knee, in prayer for the people whose lives were lost here, for the workers who work here, for the families who mourn. The nation stands with the good people of New York City and New Jersey and Connecticut as we mourn the loss of thousands of our citizens
Rescue Worker: I can't hear you!
President Bush: I can hear you! I can hear you! The rest of the world hears you! And the people -- and the people who knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon!
Obama is in a class by himself as our FIRST _resident TRAITOR.
RE: I have to opine. Does this list include the police action known as Korea?
Read on, that’s where Truman comes in.
Thanks.......
Liberals have small memories.
The Nation demanded a war and every damn democrat was on board. Now they claim they were not.
Liberals Lie.
Lincoln - other conflicts cannot top 625,000 military deaths. Inept leadership, disjointed cabinet, anaconda plan, liberian plan, etc. 420 deaths each day.
LOL! Don’t tell Morgan a Democrat dropped 2 Nucs on Japan.
He might wet himself.
Hitler wasn’t from Germany, or Italy, and Napoleon wasn’t from France.
If LBJ or Nixon had just hammered the VC into the stone age, the world would be a better place. Our failure there has encouraged too many groups, such as the muzzies. If we go to war, it should be all out. Every air raid should include a dozen daisy cutters. Either we defend liberty, or we stare at our feet with half measures. A daisy cutter on every known ISIS camp would dramatically improve the situation.
I understand. Let’s bomb Madagascar.
Hitler was a Jew.
Truman came in totally blindsided.
VP’s were just decorations before him who did ceremonial jobs, attended funerals and weddings when the President if he could not go.
NO President with out prior war experience is really prepared for War.
GWB had a peace time Brass and a Sec of State Colin Powell who was a weak kneed former Peace time Brass. DOD is still infested with the likes who should be made to retire. They are still fighting 2 wars ago, not today’s terrorist war.
Why were those cash making Poppy fields not SCORCHED EARTHED from the beginning? And kept that way? Take a lesson from Sherman, SCORCH it.
0 isn’t even JR Varsity, he is kindergarten. Twice the number of Troops have been KIA under his administration, and the maimed are higher. He has screwed up their Disability, and the VA. He and his Witch use our Military for Photo OPs and bell boys. Just like the BILLARY’s did.
I’d go for Lt Col Allen West as President over any one but Cruz.
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