His actions essentially invalidated twenty years of our nation's time, attention, money, and lives. Sure, maybe the investment wasn't panning out the way we wanted to, but if NOTHING ELSE, maintaining a presence there keeps Afghanistan from returning to a terrorist haven and costs us little by comparison.

And now? We have nothing. All of those resources and human capital completely, utterly wasted on NOTHING.

I think you meant W not Reagan. although they were around in the Reagan era, Rumsfeld and Cheney were not part of Reagan's administration. Cheney was a congressman and Rumsfeld did serve on a committee to establish relations in the middle east, particularly with Saddam Hussein in Iraq.

PNAC (The Project for a New American Century) was the neocon think tank that drove most of the W policies. I think Dick Cheney basically ran the Bush Administration. The affable "W" let him do so. Just like Biden is letting Obama run his administration by proxy.

@FrankZeleniuk

Both Rumsfeld and Cheney were active in the Reagan administration. Something that many people forget. Although they were not officially part of the administration it's clear that Reagan trusted and consulted with them.

"As a member of Ronald Reagan’s transition team, his power in Washington was once again evident. Reagan was sworn into office on January 20, 1981, and the next day G. D. Searle resubmitted their request for approval of aspartame as a food additive. By using his political prestige and experience shortly after the new President’s inauguration, Rumsfeld encouraged Reagan to replace the current FDA commissioner, Jere Goyan. Reagan, under the guidance of Rumsfeld, appointed Arthur Hull Hayes Jr. as the new FDA commissioner in April 1981. Hayes had no experience with food additives before accepting his job with the FDA. Despite his lack of qualifications, Hayes did have a relationship with Rumsfeld from working together on chemical warfare for the Department of Defense. Just two months after his appointment on July 15, 1981, Hayes disregarded the unanimous decision and recommendations of the Public Board of Inquiry by approving aspartame for use in dry foods.33 Hayes did admit that he wished more studies had been completed, but he did not think there was enough evidence present to delay the manufacturing of aspartame any longer. “I’m not prepared to say there is no risk from aspartame, but I thought it had been demonstrated that there was not a significant risk,” Hayes concluded.34 G. D. Searle immediately began marketing aspartame as a safe alternative to saccharin. Products containing aspartame did need to be clearly marked, but unlike saccharin, did not require a warning label stating possible side effects. Even with their recent success, G. D. Searle was not satisfied with the approval for dry use only and immediately began the process to obtain approval for use in carbonated beverages as well."

[vtuhr.org]

Corporatism is a necessary component of neo conservatism.

@wolfhnd I'm sure Rumsfeld and Cheney wanted Reagan's ear and unfortunately he, as you point out, did listen to some of their advice.

That aspartame thing started under the Carter administration. "Science" was already badmouthing saccharin and sucralose and it was banned. Ta Da! There was a viable alternative waiting in the wings! It's a sad state of affairs for Republicans when, after fast tracking and ensuring the approval of aspartame, a few of them left politics and became board members and big shareholders in Searle to help market the new sugar substitute. These guys were unscrupulous. Paved the way for the approval of aspertame and then enriched themselves by investing and managing its distribution. The bastards.

Today saccarin and sucralose are making a comeback and aspertame is in the doghouse. We now have natural sugar substitutes like stevia and monkfruit. Xylitol is acceptable and used alot.

The Dems since Woodrow Wilson have always tried to implemement socialist policies and programs.They have long despised the checks and balances of the Constitution and make end runs around it whenever no one's watching too closely.

But Lincoln, was probably the first to totally override the Constitution. The difference between his actions and those of the Dems is in intent. Lincoln wished to preserve the Union and the Dems totally want to "re-imagine" America as a socialist Utopia. As if that fantasy existed.