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Culture War Roundup for the week of October 3, 2022

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America hasn't flexed its military might since 2004 beyond nation building and drone strikes. It's hard to know what it's still capable of. One could have made a similar argument that America pulling out of Vietnam was a low in terms of credibility, yet America still completely dominated in Iraq twice.

America's credibility in foreign policy was never lower (in the 21st century) than the start of 2022. America had repeatedly since 2016 renegged on commitments to putative allies the Kurds, secular afghanis, various other partners.

I doubt it. The targeted airstrike on Soleimani shows that the US is still playing for keeps

America's credibility was at its lowest point in the 21st century doesn't mean it was zero, any more than the massive reassessment of Russia's military capabilities means the NAFO jackoffs who think Estonia could take Russia straight up are right.

One could have made a similar argument that America pulling out of Vietnam was a low in terms of credibility, yet America still completely dominated in Iraq twice.

...which is exactly the point I made. People did make that exact argument, but those who bet on it being true were quickly proven wrong.