Patterns and trends can often lead us astray

Tuesday marked the 10-year anniversary of the passing of my old boss, William F. Buckley Jr., the founder of National Review (where I am a senior editor). This is not a column about Bill but about life and time -- and how they don't move in tandem.

In 2001, Linton "Lin" Wells, a former Navy officer turned in-house Defense Department intellectual, was asked to offer his thoughts for the Quadrennial Defense Review.

Here's an extended excerpt:

-- If you