On The Record On the Best and Worst U.S. Foreign Policy Decisions
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Jan 16, 2026 
In this engaging discussion, James M. Lindsay, a leader in U.S. Foreign Policy research, and Mary L. Dudziak, a legal expert on civil rights, delve into the best and worst U.S. foreign policy decisions. They analyze why the Marshall Plan is hailed as a top decision while the 2003 Iraq invasion is criticized as a major blunder. Christopher M. Nichols adds historical insights, revealing surprises from a recent survey of historians. The panel also discusses the implications of civil rights on foreign relations and the influence of misleading intelligence on poor decisions.
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Marshall Plan Tops; Iraq Is Worst
- The Marshall Plan emerged as the clear top 'best' U.S. foreign policy decision among historians.
- The Iraq invasion topped the 'worst' list, outranking Vietnam-related decisions by a wide margin.
Iraq Stands Out For Long-Term Cost
- The invasion of Iraq is viewed as uniquely catastrophic because it led to a prolonged occupation and heavy costs.
- Historians treat it as more consequentially negative than combined Vietnam-era mistakes.
Midcentury Multilateralism Dominates
- Top ten 'best' decisions cluster around multilateralism and postwar institution-building.
- Items include NATO, Bretton Woods, UN creation, Lend-Lease, and handling of the Cuban Missile Crisis.
