Thomas Cromwell, destined to become prime minister under King Henry VIII, gave a speech in Parliament in 1523 opposing war with France, a war Henry was eager to pursue.
Cromwell’s decision to speak out against the war might appear odd. Warfare was endemic in that age; some nations were forever fighting other proto-states in Europe. Besides, Cromwell rose to power by facilitating King Henry’s wishes, not flouting them.
Cromwell’s reasoning was simple: Wars are expensive and unprofitable. England would be better off trading with its French neighbors than plundering them. Cromwell recognized a trend that has grown: Modern states seldom prosper from territorial aggrandizement.
Contemporary Washington is abuzz with schemes of conquest. Until recently, this trait was associated with our adversaries, not us. Russia coveted its neighbor’s territory and used force to take it, resulting in massive losses on both sides. Much like his predecessors in monarchical Europe and early America, President Trump publicly entertains territorial acquisition: Greenland, the Panama Canal, Canada and even the Gaza Strip, by force if necessary.
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