President Biden’s decision to withdraw all U.S. forces and personnel from Afghanistan on day certain was certainly mishandled. On the other hand, the decision to withdraw was not only correct but overdue. At the end of the day, U.S withdrawal may someday rank as one of the most important decisions in the history of U.S. foreign policy. For Biden and his presidency, however, it is not the appropriateness of his decision per se, it is the political and public relations fallout which it has generated.
It seems that Biden’s articulated position—despite the defiance in his speeches—may well stand with some of the most clearly defined foreign policy doctrines enunciated by other Presidents. George Washington’s farewell address warned America to “…steer clear of permanent alliance with any portion of the foreign world.” Thomas Jefferson, who would engineer the most remarkable real estate deal in history with the Louisiana Purchase, but he already had declared in his inaugural address to affirm Washington’s instructions stating that America should seek: “Peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations; entangling alliances with none.”
Theodore Roosevelt was the last leader to define America’s goals modestly in the world despite the pleasure he demonstrated in flexing U.S. muscle around the world. Woodrow Wilson—who would become the father of American internationalism—when he asked Congress to declare war against Germany in 1917 sought that this action would give America the ability to make the world “safe for democracy.” Franklin Roosevelt, following Wilson’s more pacific model, became the prototype for America helping its democratic friends and allies in need. Harry Truman would advance America’s entry into the United Nations but at the same time carry into peacetime America’s entry into the NATO defense alliance.
During the Cold War, except for fighting to defend South Korea, all of America’s global military engagements have been in support of non-democratic regimes. As far as responding to enemies and non-state terrorists, the last decades have found U.S. forces frequently unable to extricate themselves from combat zones; whether they succeeded or failed in their missions.
It was precisely this issue which President Biden articulated as he sought to orchestrate a major shift in U.S. foreign policy. What was construed by some as isolationist was a reworking of policies that had been discussed for years, especially since the end of the Cold War. Biden indicated that America would take its obligations and commitments throughout the world very seriously. The U.S. would protect U.S. interests--individual and corporate--throughout the world. It would seek to help America’s allies and friends but would not undertake missions to prop up dictatorships or non-democratic regimes. While the U.S. will continue to provide humanitarian relief, it will not seek regime change or quid-pro-quos. Biden appeared to be suggesting that the days of America being the policeman of the world are over.
The two major take-aways from this position are whether Biden can stick to this agenda and take the heat that it might engender in both Washington and around the world. It will be a test as well as for America’s friends and to a lesser extent its enemies to see if Biden will remain loyal and supportive of our allies. Some may be cynical about America’s turning inward, which will necessitate the President proving them wrong.
Ultimately the correctness of President Biden’s withdrawal from Afghanistan, his rationale, and his new course for U.S. foreign policy will be tested as time progresses. He has three years, and the party has 18 months to frame the doctrine so that voters will accept it. The public is not interested in an ideology or understanding how the Biden Administration’s vision fits into U.S. history. Biden’s challenge is to present to the American people a positive narrative to counter the image of the Afghanistan withdrawal as it will be portrayed by his political foes. Biden also will need press and social media commentary plus major grassroots support to sustain his message. Otherwise the Democratic Party may be hard pressed to avoid what could be a significant anti-Biden mid-term election result.
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