While almost anything would be an improvement on Trump's "shithole" approach to Africa, I wouldn't give Biden-Harris much credit on that front. Too many inside the beltway are stuck on seeing Africa through the lens of what you rightly criticize as a self-fulfilling "new Cold War" competition. Few US administrations have done well on and by Africa, although Bush's PEPFAR is a striking exception. In demographic and other terms Africa is an important part of our species's future. I hope a Harris administration will do significantly more and better to encourage investment, build infrastructure, reduce trade barriers, and repair relations with countries in the Sahel. Serious efforts to end the interminable, destructive, and contagious war in DRC are also essential, which will mean pressure on US friends like Rwanda and Uganda.
Agree that Biden/Harris’ foreign policy has been nothing short of amazing. Biden’s decades of experience allows him to see the larger patterns at play in ways I think few others have grasped in modern history. It also dovetails with energy policy. We’re eating China’s lunch, Biden broke OPEC & the US has reclaimed its role as the world leader. Sadly, touting these foreign policy wins is a difficult endeavor as the shortest of summaries won’t fit in 280 characters. Trump’s foreign policy (if you can even call it that) is “America first,” and “I like dictators & dictators like me.”
To illustrate the difference, I present people with this scenario: It’s January 21, 2025 and Putin has invaded Poland. Whose side are we on if Harris wins? Easy, NATO’s. If Trump wins? We’ll be on the side of a dictator & Putin will be free to roll across Europe with no pushback from the US.
I was heartened by how you brought your arguments together near the end of your comments by citing Nato expansion to Norway, Finland, and Sweden. I think this is something to celebrate because it rebukes both Putin and Trump. Old SCIFless faces criminal charges for the misappropriation and wilfull retention of national security documents bearing the highest n levels of classification, arguably placing our national security at risk in his still inexplicable collapse before Russia's brutal dictator. I only wondered about the grammatical construction of what President Harris would do, over the more assertive formulation what President Harris will do, if elected. I am not a scholar I am just smart and I can link ideas together. I feel honored to be in the outer periphery of your posts here.
A great summary. I agree completely that the plug should have been pulled on Bibi long ago. I only hope Palestinians and Israelis will avoid paying for generations for his sins. He and Trump are the same man. They’ll do anything, cause any manner of havoc to gain and keep power and stay out of prison.
What a wonderful summary of the foreign policy achievements of the Biden-Harris administration, Mr, Rothkopf. Yes, the failures you describe are profound and have, alas, been costly in terms of human lives. Would you agree, however, that the administration was blindsided by the excesses of the reprehensible Netanyahu regime? Also, that by staying engaged, our administration has managed to retain a degree of influence that it might not otherwise have had - an influence that might yet result in a comprehensive ceasefire which, in turn, could lead to a long term resolution of old and seemingly intractable positions that affect the entire Middle East? President Biden, it is worth adding, plays a long game with, both, domestic and foreign policy
Thank you for your comprehensive post and for sharing your expertise, and your optimism, with us.
I think you would be hard-pressed to find an instance where US influence on Netanyahu played a significant role.
Even if a ceasefire is forced through, it will never last, given the incomprehensible levels of devastation.
The one thing the Biden administration did well was to engage with surrounding Arab countries. Otherwise, it's been a debacle. Anyone with 5 minutes of familiarity with Netanyahu would fully expect his subsequent actions.
A much needed, informed and articulate summation of Biden-Harris foreign policy. Thank you.
Yes
While almost anything would be an improvement on Trump's "shithole" approach to Africa, I wouldn't give Biden-Harris much credit on that front. Too many inside the beltway are stuck on seeing Africa through the lens of what you rightly criticize as a self-fulfilling "new Cold War" competition. Few US administrations have done well on and by Africa, although Bush's PEPFAR is a striking exception. In demographic and other terms Africa is an important part of our species's future. I hope a Harris administration will do significantly more and better to encourage investment, build infrastructure, reduce trade barriers, and repair relations with countries in the Sahel. Serious efforts to end the interminable, destructive, and contagious war in DRC are also essential, which will mean pressure on US friends like Rwanda and Uganda.
Agree that Biden/Harris’ foreign policy has been nothing short of amazing. Biden’s decades of experience allows him to see the larger patterns at play in ways I think few others have grasped in modern history. It also dovetails with energy policy. We’re eating China’s lunch, Biden broke OPEC & the US has reclaimed its role as the world leader. Sadly, touting these foreign policy wins is a difficult endeavor as the shortest of summaries won’t fit in 280 characters. Trump’s foreign policy (if you can even call it that) is “America first,” and “I like dictators & dictators like me.”
To illustrate the difference, I present people with this scenario: It’s January 21, 2025 and Putin has invaded Poland. Whose side are we on if Harris wins? Easy, NATO’s. If Trump wins? We’ll be on the side of a dictator & Putin will be free to roll across Europe with no pushback from the US.
Agree.
I was heartened by how you brought your arguments together near the end of your comments by citing Nato expansion to Norway, Finland, and Sweden. I think this is something to celebrate because it rebukes both Putin and Trump. Old SCIFless faces criminal charges for the misappropriation and wilfull retention of national security documents bearing the highest n levels of classification, arguably placing our national security at risk in his still inexplicable collapse before Russia's brutal dictator. I only wondered about the grammatical construction of what President Harris would do, over the more assertive formulation what President Harris will do, if elected. I am not a scholar I am just smart and I can link ideas together. I feel honored to be in the outer periphery of your posts here.
Spoken like a knowledgeable man who knows his limitations. Bravo.
I will stop adding disclaimers even when it's easy for me to sound authoritative.
A great summary. I agree completely that the plug should have been pulled on Bibi long ago. I only hope Palestinians and Israelis will avoid paying for generations for his sins. He and Trump are the same man. They’ll do anything, cause any manner of havoc to gain and keep power and stay out of prison.
What a wonderful summary of the foreign policy achievements of the Biden-Harris administration, Mr, Rothkopf. Yes, the failures you describe are profound and have, alas, been costly in terms of human lives. Would you agree, however, that the administration was blindsided by the excesses of the reprehensible Netanyahu regime? Also, that by staying engaged, our administration has managed to retain a degree of influence that it might not otherwise have had - an influence that might yet result in a comprehensive ceasefire which, in turn, could lead to a long term resolution of old and seemingly intractable positions that affect the entire Middle East? President Biden, it is worth adding, plays a long game with, both, domestic and foreign policy
Thank you for your comprehensive post and for sharing your expertise, and your optimism, with us.
I think you would be hard-pressed to find an instance where US influence on Netanyahu played a significant role.
Even if a ceasefire is forced through, it will never last, given the incomprehensible levels of devastation.
The one thing the Biden administration did well was to engage with surrounding Arab countries. Otherwise, it's been a debacle. Anyone with 5 minutes of familiarity with Netanyahu would fully expect his subsequent actions.