Experts - Are They Really Experts Or Just Credentialed?
I marvel at the number of people who claim to be, or are presented as “experts,” when at best they are credentialed. The difference is that an “expert” has special skills or knowledge that make them a master of a particular subject. A person who is “credentialed” is one who has received recognition, such as a license or degree after completing a course of study.1
Most experts are credentialed, but most who are credentialed are not experts. We should not, but often do, confuse the two.
For example, this is one of the “experts,” supposedly in foreign policy and conservative thought:
There is so much that is so wrong with this statement that it boggles the mind that an “expert” would make it.
As a threshold matter, it is too late for the Biden Administration to succeed. The best it can do is somewhat lessen the damage to Afghanistan, the U.S., and the world caused by the disasters their incompetency has unleashed, including, but certainly not limited to:
The Afghanistan crisis that is unfolding. It is to late for Biden to prevent this disaster he created from causing horrendous harm to the U.S. and the world, with the greatest harm falling on Afghanistan and its people;
The southern boarder debacle. The situation there is both a humanitarian and national disaster created by a combination of this Administration’s rhetoric and policies, none of which were well thought out;
Biden’s Energy Policies that are forcing the U.S. back into dependency on OPEC+. Recently Biden asked (begged?) OPEC+ to increase oil production. They said no. Reduced U.S. oil and natural gas production will have a ripple affect that will drive prices up around the world;
Surging inflation. Inflation stood at 5.4% (excluding food and energy) at the end of June 2021. Gas prices increased over 40% in the same time period. Increasing U.S. inflation has a negative affect not only on Americans, but economies around the world;
The resurgence of terrorist organizations in Afghanistan. Contrary to Biden’s statements, Al-Qaeda is still in Afghanistan and so is ISIS. ISIS is reportedly the group that has surrounded the Kabul International Airport. The implications for not only America but the world is scary.
These are all issues a foreign policy “expert” should be aware of. Keeping a “Trumpist” from being elected President should be last on his list, if at all.
This brings me to my next point - is Mr. Kristol really an expert or just credentialed?
Mr. Kristol Biography shows he earned a Ph.D. in political science (Harvard in 79), then immediately entered academia teaching at the Univ. of Pennsylvania and Harvard until 85. After that, he seems to have become a Republican strategist and served as Chief-of-Staff for Education Secretary Bennett and then for Vice President Quayle. In 95 he founded the Weekly Standard, which became a successful conservative political magazine…until he became a never-Trumper, and was forced out. He also has appeared on Fox News quiet a bit, at least until he became a never-Trumper. He is now with the Bulwark.
No doubt Mr. Kristol is intelligent. However, his experience and knowledge is limited to academia and politics. He has never served in the military nor has he ever served as a foreign service officer with the State Department. Yet, he claims expertise in foreign policy - including the use of military force. A review of his writings shows there has never been a war he didn’t justify, and we were not involved in wat was advocating that we should be for a variety of reasons. What’s worse, he has been consistently wrong throughout his career as an “expert,” which may explain why he never volunteered to fight any of the wars he advocated for or justified.
Like so many “experts,” Mr. Kristol is not really an expert but credentialed. He has no specialized knowledge or skill in the area of foreign affairs and the use of military force - as shown by his biography and more importantly by being consistently wrong when speaking on these areas.
My points are (1) don’t accept that a person is an “expert” merely because he claims to be, or is introduced as one.; (2) don’t confuse being an “expert” with being “credentialed;” and (3) even the best experts can, and have been wrong. Though a person may give the opinion of a true expert greater weight than the opinion of others, it should not be blindly accepted -evaluate it yourself before accepting it.
“Expert” is defined as: “(1) one with the special skill or knowledge representing mastery of a particular subject; (2) having, involving, or displaying special skill or knowledge derived from training or experience.” “Credential” is defined as: “Recognition by licensure, certification, or award of a degree in a field in which a person has met certain educational, professional, or occupation requirements.”