queries by a savvy reader
this is what dialogue allows
Cynthia Watson
Jun 19, 2025
En lieu of a Friday column, I want to share my responses to appropriately incisive questions from COL Dave Maxwell, a retired Army legend who’s forgotten more on Korea than I will ever know. Dave raised the following points in response to arguments I made yesterday in my column entitled “Powell’s 14th Rule”.
“with great trepidation I have some disagreement with my long time friend and mentor.
First, I fear the pottery barn rule is the excuse for not taking action when that action may be necessary. If we break it, do we really buy it? Do we have to buy it?
I do agree that externally imposed regime change is a folly because it leads Americans to make the strategic error of trying to rebuild the new nation in the US or western image.
But if a regime falls organically from within it will be up to the people of that sovereign nation to rebuild their own new country. Sovereignty and self determination of government (by the people themselves) are the principles we should believe in and adhere to. We should not conduct operations to externally impose regime change but we should take action if it is US and international security interests. Even if that means violating the sovereignty of a country like Iran to eliminate the nuclear threat.”
https://cynthiawatson.substack.com/p/queries-by-a-savvy-reader?utm=
