Five Takeaways From Trump’s National Security Strategy

Foreign Policy ^ | December 18, 2017 | Peter Feaver

[drop 50 and fire for effect]

“America First” is officially all grown up.

President Donald Trump unveils his National Security Strategy (NSS) today in a big set-piece speech at the Reagan Center. There is a lively debate about the utility of these documents among experts and I am squarely on the side of those who argue that they provide an important window into the thinking of an administration. As I explain below, such windows may be especially important for this administration and so this is a document worth studying. Such deeper reflection may change my assessment, but I have a more-positive-than-expected reaction, however, as reflected in five quick takeaways:

(NOTE: Full discussion of each takeaway at the original source. -rg84)

1. Give the administration credit for some unusual achievements related to the NSS.

2. Give the administration credit for an NSS that is, to a surprising degree, well within the bipartisan mainstream of American foreign policy.

3. Give the drafters credit for trying gamely to reform Trump’s problematic catch phrase label – “America first” – by reinterpreting it to mean something more benign.

4. That said, this is a bleaker, less optimistic NSS than the last several – in that respect, something of a throwback to Bush’ 2002 NSS, which was written in the wake of the 9/11 attacks.

5. The devil will be in the details of execution, which will require bridging gaps between the rhetoric of Trump’s NSS and the reality of the policies pursued thus far.

[drop 50 and fire for effect]

I was somewhat surprised by the tone of this article. Foreign Policy staff writers and contributors generally consider Mr. Trump either a fascist bent on either world domination with Russia or a complete laughingstock that the adults in charge of other countries have to tolerate.

Mr. Trump, Twitter rhetoric aside, has conducted a sober and successful foreign policy that has begun to reverse the damage inflicted upon our stature by Mr. Obama. This document, does not so much change our national foreign policy, but rather restates it in terms of our own national interest. From what I have seen, it is good broad guidance on our role in the world.

[Bigg Red]

Give the drafters credit for trying gamely to reform Trump’s problematic catch phrase label – “America first” – by reinterpreting it to mean something more benign.

(((
Is the writer saying that there is something malignant in the slogan “America first”? Globalist, I suppose.

[drop 50 and fire for effect]

The phrase was used by the World War II era isolationist movement. So there is some legitimate baggage with the phrase.

However, Mr. Trump’s policies have not been isolationist. He has approached our foreign policy from a different angle, and not taken previously stated policy on faith.

But ultimately, this NSS is evolutionary, not revolutionary. The overall goals remain the same, but with a more realistic and less idealistic emphasis.

[jjotto]

Wikipedia has an entry on the America First Committee just prior to WW2. Its proponents included future SC Justice Potter Stewart, the Kennedy clan’s Sargent Shriver, and future US President Gerald Ford.

[Bigg Red]

Okay, thanks.

[Bigg Red]

Okay, thanks.

[Bigg Red]

Interesting.

[TNoldman]

Good job President Trump. Take a break you seemed a little tired. MAGA.