Israel s War and the Need for Strategic Cool – WSJ

A clinical look back must recognize that surrendering Afghanistan to the Taliban, appeasing Vladimir Putin over Nord Stream 2, and trying to purchase Iranian moderation may not form a pattern in Joe Biden s mind but they have elicited a pattern of response in the world. A presidency can turn the page. Mr. Biden is trying. But the age problem and Hunter Biden aren t going away. Not entirely fortuitous may be the fact that a full month will elapse between next year s GOP convention in July and the Democratic convention in August. If you think some Democrats aren t already noodling how they might jettison Mr. Biden after Republicans have stuck themselves with Mr. Trump, you underestimate Democrats.

With that and other hopes in mind, however, the odds are still good the country will get a Trump-Biden race, and Mr. Trump may win.

For those whose concern about the Constitution isn t a put-on, the dangerous refrain now, from Bill Kristol and James Carville to Hillary Clinton and every MSNBC pundit, is that a legal, legitimate Trump election would be the end of democracy. The alleged spirit of democratic resistance is in serious danger of becoming, if it hasn t already, the monster against which it rages.

For years, this temptation has been rampant in the media, the universities, the CIA and the FBI. The corruption of institutions, not the corruption of one man, is the real menace to our democracy. The candidate truly of the moment would be the candidate of either party (though it would take more courage from a Democrat) who understands the fight at home as well as he or she understands the fight abroad.

via www.wsj.com

Holman Jenkins. I love this guy.