The fact that Johnson overruled Westmoreland actually shows the power of the so-called taboo in this case.https://twitter.com/kroenig/status/1048599315193778176 …
-
Hard to differentiate between the strategic vs. taboo-centric interpretations in a case where strategic reasons for non-use were extremely strong -- far larger than not wanting a wider war w China (derailing détente, NPT, domestic political reaction, international revulsion).
Yes I agree, on the aggregate, esp. since strategic justifications are convenient cloak no matter what (because they are given a lot of weight in this context). I think on individual level you can sometimes see them switch into a moral mode of discussion that is telling.
-
-
Plus there's a gray area: much of the global & domestic political reaction could have been based on a taboo against use, even if US policymakers were thinking instrumentally.
-
And of course one need not believe that there are such fine lines between strategic, moral, instrumental, etc., lines of thought. They're all messy human beings, after all! But this is the historian in me speaking, I know. :-)
End of conversation
New conversation -
Loading seems to be taking a while.
Twitter may be over capacity or experiencing a momentary hiccup. Try again or visit Twitter Status for more information.