“We must ever mandate the principle that the people of this continent alone have the right to decide their own destiny.”
– James K. Polk
Ego and Overreach
All world leaders come with big egos. It’s a prerequisite for the job. These outsized egos compel presidents, prime ministers, supreme leaders, and other alphas to overestimate their abilities.
History is littered with leaders who believed they could bend the world to their will without any blowback. They draw lines on a map, launch a surgical strike, or artificially suppress interest rates, convinced that their strength or brilliance will dictate the outcome.
Yet time and again, the universe proves that every action triggers a chain reaction of unintended consequences. The initial triumph masks a hidden trap. What’s more, the true cost of a decision is rarely understood by the people who make it until it is far too late.
Look no further than the events of early 2026. When American forces captured and extracted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on January 3, the operation was hailed by the White House as a masterpiece of tactical boldness. It was swift, clean, and seemingly decisive. Continue reading
