Democracies and the Death Wish

Biden's debate performance can't be viewed in isolation. The West is in the grip of the Todestrieb.

“A decision to strike back in retaliation theoretically could be drawn out for days and weeks, but the protocol is designed to yield one in minutes. … In some high-threat situations, the StratCom commander’s briefing of the president may be compressed to as little as 30 seconds, and then the president may be pressed to “deliberate and decide” in six min…