Foolish Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds

 

Unfortunately, that trite expression brings Donald Trump to mind.

During his campaign of four years ago, the President pledged to “bring home” Americans involved in battles overseas.  As a consequence, U.S. troops stationed in Syria and elsewhere were pulled out with unsurprising, harmful results.  Our allies, like the Kurds in the Middle East, were vulnerable to assaults by their – and our - enemies.  Donald Trump was able to say, nonetheless, that he was keeping his promises to America..  But doing so didn’t mean that he acted in our country’s best interest.

The Administration’s recent pledge to reduce the U.S. troop presence in Afghanistan to 2,500 by Inauguration Day is a case in point.

Previously, President Trump tied troop withdrawal to the Taliban’s observance of a cease fire while peace negotiations were ongoing and a disavowal of Al Qaeda.  Neither has occurred.  Yet, the draw-down is scheduled to proceed.

Ironically, that policy shift brings to mind President Obama’s forecast of America’s withdrawal of our troops from Iraq.  The resurgence of ISIS was the consequence.  That action, too, was in conformity with the Democrat’s campaign promise.

A president should act consistently to serve America’s best interests – which certainly includes keeping our word to allies and friends.  (We can’t expect future support and aid if we don’t.)

Consistency in fulfilling campaign promises, in isolation, is admirable.  But not when doing so conflicts with the President’s higher obligation to act consistently in the nation’s best interest.