The Iran deal

[Dill]

(05-08-2018, 07:49 PM)Bengalzona Wrote: Reputation is the key. This is why the progression of administrations since WWII did not diverge much from previous admins before them as far as diplomacy and foreign affairs. They established a brand and bought credibility and trust by maintaining that brand. That is reputation. Our allies knew they could count on us.

Unilaterally breaking international agreements, however, shows that we are chaotic and unpredictable. That we may have 'new' friends which we prefer over our traditional friends. Sort of like going out and paying younger women to sleep with you because you are tired of the demands your wife makes on you or think she is now too old. Those are our new values. The message this sends to everyone, 'former allies' and 'new friends', is "Hey! Don't get close to us! We aren't your friends, dude!".

Nail on the head.

But we are in this situation largely because so many Americans no longer see diplomacy, regional stability in the Middle and Far East, reliable US policy and credible US leadership as important to the domestic economy and US long-term security.