Andrew Bacevich - Never feel sorry for the people in charge

                                                         

In this episode, Andrew Bacevich shares with us why "Ambition causes blindness", why you should "Never feel sorry for the people in charge" and describes the "Greatest sin of all".

About Dr Andrew J. Bacevich

Andrew Bacevich is Professor Emeritus of International Relations and History at Boston University. A graduate of the U.S. Military Academy, he received his PhD in American Diplomatic History from Princeton University. Before joining the faculty of Boston University, he taught at West Point and Johns Hopkins. Retired career officer in the Armor Branch of the United States Army, retiring with the rank of colonel.

Bacevich is the author of Washington Rules: America’s Path to Permanent War (2010). His previous books include The Limits of Power: The End of American Exceptionalism (2008); The Long War: A New History of US National Security Policy since World War II (2007) (editor); The New American Militarism: How Americans Are Seduced by War (2005); and American Empire: The Realities and Consequences of U. S. Diplomacy (2002). His essays and reviews have appeared in a variety of scholarly and general interest publications including The Wilson Quarterly, The National Interest, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, The Nation, and The New Republic. His op-eds have appeared in the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Boston Globe, and Los Angeles Times, among other newspapers. He is also the editor of a volume entitled The Short American Century:  A Post-mortem, which was published in 2012. His newest book, Breach of Trust: How Americans Failed Their Soldiers and Their Country, was published in 2013.

In 2004, Dr. Bacevich was a Berlin Prize Fellow at the American Academy in Berlin. He has also held fellowships at the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies, the John F. Kennedy School of Government, and the Council on Foreign Relations.

 

Episode Notes 

Lesson 1: The historian's duty is to REVISE history. 01m 24s.

Lesson 2: Thinking of yourself or your country as exceptional is the Big Lie that imprisons you. 08m 38s.

Lesson 3: War is Uncontrollable 17m:45s.

Lesson 4: To fear ideology is irrational. 21m 48s.

Lesson 5: Never feel sorry for the people in charge. 26m 56s.

Lesson 6: Greatest sin of all:  lack of empathy for others 30m 48s.

Lesson 7: Ambition CAUSES blindness. 33m 15s.

Lesson 8: Social media is inherently evil. 36m 37s.

Lesson 9: Money can't buy you love. 39m 39s.

Lesson 10: Want to stay married?  Take long walks together. 43m 25s.