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Well, they're taking kids out of the country and sending them over there, National Guard kids and Army Reserve. They're sending kids who are barely prepared for this, and they're sending them over there to kill people, which is a serious thing. And to kill not terrorists, but to kill insurgents. I sort of find myself in agreement, uncomfortably, with Patrick Buchanan, who writes about this in his book, Where The Right Went Wrong. And writes that great powers, the way they skidded off the road, was getting involved in wars. That it's the role of great powers to stay out of wars.

Garrison Keillor#2

Foreign policyMilitaryPolicyPreparationSoldiersWar

About this quote

What does it mean?
Sending underprepared soldiers to fight insurgents is problematic, aligning with the view that great powers should avoid foreign wars to stay on the road.
In plain terms
Sending unprepared kids to kill insurgents is bad, and great powers should avoid getting into wars.
What can you take from it?
Great powers should avoid foreign wars to prevent unnecessary suffering.

Where it applies

  • policy debate
  • military service
  • activism

Putting it to work

  • advocating for peace
  • voting on policy
  • educating on war

Questions to consider

  • When is war justified?
  • How should great powers act?

Another view

Some interventions might be necessary to stop worse outcomes like genocide.

More from Garrison Keillor

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  3. The party of Lincoln and Liberty was transmogrified into the party of hairy-backed swamp developers and corporate shills, faith-based economists, fundamentalis…

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