THOUGH THE POPE IS IN ROME, NOT ISTANBUL:

Take Me Back to Constantinople: How Byzantium, not Rome, can help preserve Pax Americana. (EDWARD LUTTWAK, NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2009, Foreign Policy)

I've spent the past two decades poring over these texts to compile a study of Byzantine grand strategy. The United States would do well to heed the following seven lessons if it wishes to remain a great power: [...]

IV. Replace the battle of attrition and occupation of countries with maneuver warfare -- lightning strikes and offensive raids to disrupt enemies, followed by rapid withdrawals.

We accept on an intellectual level that folks would rather govern themselves, but lack confidence that they'll effect this desire in our absence. Best to topple rotten regimes but then let the populace sort things out.

Posted by Orrin Judd at November 23, 2009 6:41 AM