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Back to To the Point

To the Point

Military escalation… without diplomacy

President Trump wants the Pentagon to "fight to win," and battlefield commanders now make decisions that used to come from the Obama White House. There's been increased action in Yemen, Syria and Iraq, and a dramatic rise in civilian casualties — providing fodder for Islamic State propaganda.

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By Warren Olney • Apr 3, 2017 • 1 min read

President Trump wants the Pentagon to "fight to win," and battlefield commanders now make decisions that used to come from the Obama White House. There's been increased action in Yemen, Syria and Iraq, and a dramatic rise in civilian casualties — providing fodder for Islamic State propaganda. What's missing is diplomacy and political planning for what to do when the wars are over. But even Trump's critics say Obama didn't have any "endgames" either. We hear about America's increased involvement in murky wars where victory might be possible… but not sustainable.

  • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

    Warren Olney

    former KCRW broadcaster

  • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

    Yael Even Or

    Producer, 'Press Play'

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    Luke Vander Ploeg

    Producer, 'To the Point'

  • KCRW placeholder

    Christine Detz

    Producer, 'To the Point'

  • KCRW placeholder

    Ben Hubbard

    New York Times

  • KCRW placeholder

    Peter Mansoor

    retired U.S. Army colonel, professor of military history at The Ohio State University

  • KCRW placeholder

    Richard Schmierer

    Middle East Policy Council

    NewsNationalPolitics
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