I don’t understand the effort to take down Bridge Colby, who is Trump’s nominee for under secretary of defense for policy.

I disagree with Colby on a number of things, but there’s no doubt that he’s thoughtful and serious, and completely qualified for this job. I’ve known him for years now and have consistently profited from his analysis. Occasionally, I’ve checked in with him to get the best version of an argument I may be critiquing, and often I’ve talked to him to better understand the shape of the building challenge from China.

It’s clear that the Trump administration is going to have a foriegn policy that is much closer to Colby’s than to that of his critics. That’s why it would be very strange for this administration not to have Bridge Colby in it in some significant role, and anyone who wishes it well should want him there.