Topic: Andrew Bacevich

A report on "triple tap" drone strikes in Afghanistan details the deaths of 17 civilians, including local elders and those attempting to recover bodies. Retired Army Colonel Andrew Bacevich appears on Democracy Now! to discuss his book, America's War for the Greater Middle East. Bacevich argues that U.S. military interventions since the 1980s have failed to achieve stability or democracy.

A panel of former defense officials debated the efficacy of sending 450 additional trainers to Iraq. Colonel Andrew Bacevich expressed skepticism, noting that a decade of U.S. training has failed to instill a "will to fight" in Iraqi forces. General Anthony Zinni added that the U.S. consistently overestimates Iraqi capabilities while underestimating ISIS.

The "Long War Doctrine," formulated by the Pentagon around 2004, outlines a multi-decade conflict against Muslim extremism spanning up to 80 years. This strategy, discussed by Andrew Bacevich and Tom Hayden, suggests a timeline involving 15 presidencies and trillions of dollars. The logic mirrors the Cold War, focusing on defeating an ideological enemy across numerous global battlefields over several generations.

The hosts discuss an interview with military analyst Andrew Bacevich on the Moyers show, guest-hosted by Phil Donahue. Bacevich criticizes the Obama administration's push for war in Syria, contrasting John Kerry's current "war promoter" role with his past as a Vietnam veteran anti-war activist. The segment also critiques Kerry's use of the "Munich moment" analogy, which equates the Syrian situation to 1938 Nazi appeasement.

Andrew Bacevich returns in a clip to challenge the moral consistency of U.S. foreign policy. He asks why the U.S. is compelled to act in Syria due to civilian deaths but remained largely silent when the Egyptian army killed hundreds of protesters weeks prior. Bacevich argues that if the concern were truly humanitarian, the U.S. would focus on refugee aid rather than missile strikes.