Hard bargaining can yield better trade or defense terms. A pointless insult only gives Canadian politicians more reason to resist us.
Nearly 40 years ago as an AP U.S. History student, I faced one of the most vexatious essay questions: whether the War of 1812 was a matter of “national honor” or “national interest.”
After days of debate with my classmates, we settled on national honor.
National honor can serve the national interest — but national vanity does not.
Honor is often a dumb reason to go to war.
Often — but not always! In reality, the war was fought for both honor and interest. The British were impressing American sailors, interfering with American commerce, and treating the sovereignty of the young republic as something they could disregard when convenient.
National honor and national interest were entangled.
Donald Trump is very big on national honor. He wants America respected. He hates the idea that foreign governments might laugh at us, exploit us, rip us off, or conclude that the United States is too weak or timid to defend its interests.
