Overreliance on proximate explanations

In the case of "this plane is departing late because the incoming flight was delayed", the reason for the delay in the incoming flight is outside the scope of the explanation and yet is the real reason for the departure delay and prevents any focus on an appropriate solution. Similarly, "bombing Kosovo to save the victims of aggression" may indeed prevent further aggression in the short-term, but in no way supplies an appropriate strategy for the longer-term.