Understanding policy takes time, and it is easy to get wrong or caricature. First, policies often embody multiple strategic, bureaucratic, and political interests. Second, an administration may provide conflicting or confusing signals as to what its true policy is. Third, the resulting complexity makes coding difficult. Fourth, policies are often bad because alternative policies are worse; criticism should recognize this reality.
D. Byman, 2024. “Writing Policy Recommendations for Aca- demic Journals.” International Security 48 (4): 140–1.
Let me highlight that last statement: “policies are often bad because alternative policies are worse; criticism should recognize this reality.” Indeed, that is the critic’s duty of care.
WHEN COMPLEX IS AS SIMPLE AS IT GETS 
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