Advice to War Presidents

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“War presidents” are a common theme in modern American history, with every president since Wilson engaging in conflicts while striving for peace. Angelo Codevilla argues that this paradox stems from leaders envisioning the world as they desire rather than as it truly is. They treat war as an anomaly rather than a tool of statecraft, assuming that all nations aspire to American ideals. Consequently, these leaders pursue grand objectives while undermining their own goals. Using examples primarily from the Bush II administration but also covering the past century, Codevilla presents a guide to enduring principles of foreign policy. He emphasizes the importance of focusing on practical aspects like diplomacy, alliances, war, economic statecraft, intelligence, and prestige, rather than relying on vague concepts such as “international community” and “collective security.” Codevilla does not align with realism, neoconservatism, or liberal internationalism; instead, he draws from the insights of historians like Thucydides and Churchill, who examined international relations without imposing misleading frameworks. The work aims to encourage future presidents to ground their strategies in reality rather than idealism, to avoid perpetuating cycles of violence.