War is uncompromising. Despite modern attempts to predict it, understand it, quantify it, contain it, reduce it, and eliminate it, it remains the same as it ever was. Only the tools of war change—from rocks, arrows, and chariots to nuclear weapons, aircraft carriers, and drones. Dig around in the earliest fossils of human bones and one will find men killed by other men. War has always been here and there is no reason to believe it will ever be eliminated. The best we can hope for is to avoid it when possible, reduce or contain it when plausible, and, failing that, win it by all means necessary. America has shown itself in its 238 years of existence to be adept at it.

But not so much recently. America has built the most competent and capable military force in human history, yet finds itself struggling in the post-9/11 era to win wars, even when it wins battles. This has to do with how America’s political leaders have chosen to apply force. America’s tools of war are the best anywhere; it is the operators that are failing. Why? Because war is uncompromising and politics is all about compromise.

The Art of Compromise

When asked what they look for in an elected leader, the willingness and ability to compromise is often listed by American voters among the most desirable attributes for a politician to have. President Obama throughout his time in office—despite being labelled as an extreme liberal by his conservative critics—has shown willingness to reach compromises with congressional Republicans, who have more-often-than-not rebuffed his offerings. He has also come under fire from liberals who believe he has not leaned left enough on many issues. Despite rhetoric from the extreme left and right, on most domestic issues, taken as a whole, President Obama has shown himself to be a moderate. Setting aside his campaign motto of ‘Change’ and ‘Yes We Can’, the President’s moderation and willingness to compromise had much to do with his electoral victories. Compromise is good in politics.

The members of congress who garner the most respect from their colleagues in their own party and across the aisle are those who have built relationships with those they do not always see eye-to-eye with in order to forge compromises. Senators John Kerry, Richard Lugar, John McCain, Joseph Lieberman, and Lindsey Graham, among others, are or were known for having, at various times, reached out to members of the other party for support on non- or bipartisan issues or to hammer out compromise legislation. During the 2009 negotiations regarding the Affordable Care Act, a ‘Gang of Six’ Senators—three Democrats and three Republicans—attempted to hammer out a compromise. Another bipartisan ‘Gang of Six’ attempted to reach compromise over the budget in 2011.

No matter what presidents decide on national security and foreign policy, they have an eye on domestic politics when making decisions on the use of forceDomestic politics, often about the art of compromise, has a strong influence on Presidents choices regarding war.

This is the way sausages are made in Washington, though there has not been much in the way of sausage production lately. Hate or love the result, with the midterms over perhaps Congress will finally get back to work and it seems likely that compromise will have to be on the GOP’s agenda. They do not have a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate and a Democrat still occupies the White House. Compromise is what is needed in Washington, at least as far as domestic politics is concerned.

Historically, those Senators or Governors who are successful in reaching compromises with the other party in Congress or in state legislatures are those who rise to national attention, sometimes culminating in a run at the White House. For example, Lyndon Johnson was known as a masterful marshal of congressional support before moving to the executive branch. However, once they sit in the oval office, this strength, which often helped them to get there and often continues to aid them in guiding domestic legislation, can lead them into trouble when it comes to the use of military force.

The Art of War

The unpopularity of America’s recent, controversial, and ongoing wars in the Middle East—stoked once again by the Senate Intelligence Committee’s report on CIA’s interrogation program—have made the job of Commander in Chief and deciding when the country goes to war an even more difficult task than usual. America currently suffers from