The Foreign Affairs Interview Biden, Trump, and Washington’s Wishful Thinking
Jun 27, 2024
Former Obama adviser and author Ben Rhodes discusses the risks of a second Trump term, praises Biden's foreign policy focus on alliances, critiques conventional thinking. Topics include US-Israel relations, ceasefire challenges in conflict zones, Iran deal implications, and navigating complexities in foreign policy and diplomacy.
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Critique of the Blob
- The "blob," or national security establishment, exhibits reflexive interventionism and overestimates American influence.
- This mindset defaults to military force or sanctions as solutions, hindering effective foreign policy.
Career Shift
- Ben Rhodes's career trajectory changed after 9/11, leading him to work for Lee Hamilton.
- He witnessed the Iraq War's failures, developing skepticism towards the national security establishment.
Biden's Foreign Policy Contradiction
- The Biden administration's foreign policy is characterized by a contradiction: clinging to past primacy while adapting to a changing world.
- Positive adjustments include rebuilding alliances, focusing on technology competition with China, and integrating domestic and foreign policy.