Isolationism is not an option: Lessons from Munich, Saigon & Kabul

"Be careful with what you wish, because it can become true"

The fall of Kabul and the collapse of Afghanistan shows several of the unavoidable consequences of being a global power:

1. You can't "opt-out" 
2. Safety can only be achieved through strength
3. You cannot negotiate with totalitarian extremists
4. You cannot "build" institutions for others
5. You must trust but verify
6. Powell Doctrine, Truman Doctrine, Monroe Doctrine, TR doctrine are all proven true 
7. Blockades, permanent military occupation, and immigration control are the lesser of evils against evils
8. "Multinational government" doesn't work, economic globalization combined with strong military power and alliances does.
9. There is no shame in being a global power. There is shame in appeasement and self-blame
10. Ignorance is lethal. Pandering to ignorance and conspiracy theories must be criminalized. 

I can expand later on all these 10 points, but they are self-explanatory. 

Churchill, FDR, JFK, Thatcher, Truman, Reagan did the right thing in confronting all-out the enemies of the West.

The enemies of the West are also the enemies of the basic principles and freedoms that its foundations:

1. Rule of law
2. Division of Power
3. Checks and balances
4. Independent Judiciary, Monetary authority
5. Magna Carta, Bill of Rights, Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948

Those 5 elements cannot be negotiated. They must be defended and imposed at any cost. There is no "pacific coexistence" with regimes or civilizations that don't share them.