Ben Sasse on Afghanistan and Reflections on September 11
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In today's episode, Sarah and Steve talk with Sen. Ben Sasse about the botched withdrawal from Afghanistan and what to do next. For a longer summary of the interview, check out an article on The Dispatch website. Plus, Steve talks with Peter Wehner who was a speechwriter for President George W. Bush on September 11, 2001. They share reflections on that day at the White House and the last 20 years.
Show Notes:
-“The Vanishing American Adult” by Ben Sasse
Sarah and Steve, thanks so much. For me, this was the best interview podcast yet, thanks to your good work and both of your guests. Senator Sasse has a remarkable ability to combine his intellect, his experiences as a Senator, and aspects of his faith in a pleasant, non-confrontational manner. His response to Sarah's question about raising the 14-month-old was superb.
Thank God for Ben Sasse. His plainspoken intelligence and even-keeled temperament are an example to us all. His explanation of the the appropriate (and working) light footprint strategy was clear, specific and concise. But for this very reason, I think his statements about political and thought leadership were most trenchant:
"We would have needed to make the case for it… Over the last 19 plus years, we failed to explain to the American people what we were doing in Afghanistan. We were stunningly successful in our mission in Afghanistan; we were *calamitously failing in terms of explaining to the American people* what we were actually doing… The question is why didn’t we do the right thing to explain to the American people why an asset light, forward footprint was the most cost effective way to defend American interests?"
70 - 80 percent of the American people have not supported this war for at least the last decade and it seems a majority of the public still viewed it as a "forever war". Suddenly there is a chorus of political leaders and thought leaders maligning the forever war "bumper sticker" and performing righteous anger over our betrayal of our allies. None of these "leaders" can claim ignorance of the where the American public was on this issue for the last decade. And very few of these "leaders" deemed it important enough to attempt to meaningfully change public opinion on this matter.
"Democracies depend on shared values and there aren't many shared values."
How can we have shared values when our leaders lie (particularly by omission) to us about foreign policy?
I do think Sasse (and our David French) have at least made attempts over the last few years, but most of the hawkish political and intellectual class has been either silent or much more muted than they are now on the matter. Also, both Sasse and French have expressed their disappointment with a certain level of humility and personal responsibility. Some other leaders with platforms have not, and their self-indulgent, unaccountable anger reflects poorly on their character.
God bless America. God bless us all. #neverforget