Scimus autem quoniam diligentibus Deum omnia cooperantur in bonum, iis qui secundum propositum vocati sunt sancti. And we know that to them that love God, all things work together unto good, to such as, according to his purpose, are called to be saints.

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Honor in a bedlam comprises keeping one’s word once given and speaking the truth once known. Those two acts every man, woman, and child can do without assistance or backup from another, man, woman, or child. No one needs an army to make them or help them keep their word and tell the truth. They can do it themselves, on their own, and immediately upon the need or occasion.

We say in these heartbreaking times, do what you can locally, and that is sound advice for good practice. The two things each one of us can do locally, without waiting for anyone to lead or direct us, are: keep the word once given, and, tell the truth once known.

The one who does these things steadily, despite hardships, is known throughout the world as an honorable man, woman, or child. They may be liked, they may not. But they will be regarded as honorable, which is all that really matters.

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The cynical, chargeable deception you mention starts deeper than you mention. Some many years ago, GOs and ADMs renounced their traditional responsibility to provide POTUS with strategic and theological counsel. They contented themselves to say, those are civilian matters, all we have to do is make the bullets hit the targets we are given.

This left the US foreign policy establishment blind regarding seismic shifts in geo-political formations and thus opportunities for achievement inhering therein. GOs and ADMs got good at killing and rejected both interest in and ability for reasoning why, which is the main reason for starring them.

Now GOs and ADMs have reduced their acknowledged remits so far south of honorable — gender issues, yet — that the whole world sees it and wants their heads. They are getting what they deserve, which is more severe than a kick in the pants, but meanwhile, our hearts are broken and our spirits laid low, and bigly, because our GOs and ADMs, on whom our nation — including GOs and ADMs — relies for strategic wisdom and theological discernment, long since renounced that primary responsibility of theirs.

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I dispute the assessment of incompetence. Every time you write “crisis by design,” you dispute it too, Glenn. One or the other, which is it? To see the rout at Kabul as consequence of incompetence is heartbreaking. To see it as intentional humiliation of a great people — us — and our nation by supposedly our own is . . . I have not the word for it. Too terrible to ponder, like one imagines the fires and fumes of Hell to be. But it is one or the other, cannot be both. I am going with by design, thus, the real and dreadful infernal regions right under us, even over us, nipping at our heels and heads, and hearts . . . by design.

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An unruffled mind is very necessary for every aspirant who is marching forward; it is one of the beneficial qualities. Such a mind gives real strength and happiness. Strive to gain it. Though you may fail even in seven attempts, you are sure to succeed in the eighth if you refuse to be dispirited. The story of Bruce, who drew inspiration from a spider and won the honours of victory at the eighth attempt, is worth remembering. What gave him victory? Peace, the unruffled mind. He did not yield to despair, cowardice, or helplessness; he was calm throughout, and he secured success. Even if calamity befalls, the aspirant should not lose heart. The mind must ever be pure, untarnished, calm, and full of courage. No weeping for the past, and no faltering in the performance of the task at hand – that is the mark of an aspirant. Be prepared to gladly face any obstacle in the path. Only such a one can realise the goal!