Reflecting on the last eight years

File under "nice to think about": MOAB Makes Foreign Adventurism Less Likely Because Less Necessary

. . . "For deterrence to work, three conditions must be met. First, the party that seeks to deter an adversary must have the capability to do what it threatens to do. Second, the deterring party must demonstrate the will to follow through on a threat. Finally, there must be an element of uncertainty at work.

"Our adversaries became more aggressive during the Obama years because of the absence of the last two factors. The Obama administration made it clear that it lacked the will to carry through on threats, e.g. Obama’s “red line” in Syria. Obama’s predictable behavior also lessened our adversaries’ uncertainty.

"Trump’s actions have restored the missing two elements (our will to use force and the enemy’s uncertainty) to the concept of deterrence." . . .

"Mackubin Thomas Owens is dean of academics for the Institute of World Politics in Washington DC, a Senior Fellow of the Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI) in Philadelphia, and editor of Orbis, FPRI’s quarterly journal. He recently retired after 29 years as Professor of National Security Affairs at the US Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island." . . .

Former Intel Officer on MOAB: 'The Next 4 Years Will Be Different Than the Last 8'

. . . "He said it's difficult to use precision strikes on such a complicated system of caves, canyons and tunnels, so a massive bomb like the MOAB is a much more effective option.

"Pregent explained that the bomb is intended to destroy surface-level tunnels, denying our enemies the ability to use them.

"He added that the devastating effects of the weapon will also make ISIS fighters think twice about using such tunnels.

"Why did the Obama administration allow this complex to exist for all these years? Tucker asked.

"Pregent said the MOAB is a "bravado weapon," and the past administration was focused on handing the fight off to the Afghan people and pulling Americans out.

"He said that the decision to deploy the bomb sends a message to our adversaries around the world: "The next four years will be different than the last eight.' " . . .

Krauthammer: Russia Now Knows '8 Years of Free Lunch Is Over' 

 "Syndicated columnist Charles Krauthammer responded to the meeting between American and Russian diplomats by saying he was encouraged by its "iciness.

"Krauthammer said Secretary of State Rex Tillerson made it clear to the Kremlin that "the eight years of [a] free lunch is over."

"He said Tillerson struck the perfect tone of reserve and glumness, while telling Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov exactly where America stands on the Syrian attack and other issues.

"Krauthammer said Tillerson was a refreshing change from former Secretary of State John Kerry (D-Mass.), who went "around like a puppy dog" telling the world Russia was listening to the West.

"He called the meeting "beautiful" and was "encouraged... by its iciness."

"While he would not call the icy relationship a "cold war," Krauthammer said the temperature has definitely "begun to fall" since the Georgian invasion six years ago." . . .

Another option:  Hollywood Director: We Can Only Defeat ISIS With Love

. . . " "Atrocity. Murder. Abomination. When will we learn that only love stops hate, and bombings only create more ISIS," Fox wrote in a tweet.

" 'Love your enemy. Don't create more of them. Teachers, diplomacy, culture and aid helps peace. Bombs don't," he added." . . .

His movies: "Josh Fox is a director and writer, known for GasLand (2010), Gasland Part II (2013) and How to Let Go of the World and Love All the Things Climate Can't Change (2016)."