Hindsight isn't always 20/20

A conservative colleague recently challenged me to back up my assertion that the US has often caused problems for itself with short-sighted foreign policy. The first item that came up was the early support for Saddam Hussein. Last night I was surfing around and happened upon a great example of not learning from our mistakes, though.

When questioned in 1998 about the CIA support and training of Osama bin Laden, Orrin Hatch said “It was worth it.” Was it, now?

I suppose we’ll not learn as long as we have ignorant leaders exercising divine right. [n.b. Slams toward leadership chosen based on position inside the Washington beltway, not party affiliation.]

I posted this in October 2003 during week 1546.

For more, you should follow me on the fediverse.