War

Ukraine wants to join NATO.

The invasion of Panama heralded all the US wars since.

"In and out. Fast and simple. An entrance plan and an exit strategy all wrapped in one. And it worked, making Operation Just Cause one of the most successful military actions in U.S. history. At least in tactical terms."

That was the model.

"But the invasion of Panama should be remembered in a big way. After all, it helps explain many of those events. In fact, you can’t begin to fully grasp the slippery slope of American militarism in the post-9/11 era – how unilateral, preemptory "regime change" became an acceptable foreign policy option, how "democracy promotion" became a staple of defense strategy, and how war became a branded public spectacle – without understanding Panama."

I don't remember Panama being a spectacle.

Former NSA and CIA director Hayden is cashing in at the Chertoff Group.