This nation’s foreign policy has fallen weak in the last few decades. Our nation’s adversaries are pushing the limits of American interests, from Iran to Russia and from China to Pakistan. In the past, we have used the economic and military strength of the U.S. to spread democracy and put third-world nations back on their feet, but today it seems like our government is willing to negotiate with nations and people who would want to see our country destroyed. Russia is perhaps the best example: the president’s closeness with Putin, a dictator who rules on rigged elections and fear, is a shining illustration of the government to back down on issues that affect us and our allies. 

Waning support for North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is one of the most troubling signs for our nation. It shares a key similarity with the insanity that thrust anti-vaccination rhetoric into the public eye in that it is a victim of its own success. NATO may have been originally designed to discourage the Soviet Union from pressing further into Europe, but its use on the international playing field cannot be undercut. It has created a major opportunity for nations to work together and create trusting bonds, as well as train nations to better defend themselves from threats like terrorism so that the U.S. does not have to step in and spend its time, effort and in many cases, lives. The U.S. is the cornerstone of the bond between NATO countries and easily the most powerful. When the president claims that it may not be worth it, it weakens the institution that has brought peace to Europe and North America since the end of World War II. 

We can no longer allow Russia and Iran to make moves on the sovereignty of our allies and crucial states. Iran has struck down our drones, seized tankers and fired missiles into Saudi Arabia with nearly zero consequence from the U.S. except the foreign policy equivalent of a “strongly worded letter” meaning nothing and signifying no change. Russia has made attempts, and almost certainly progress, to damage our democratic process in their favor and now Mitch McConnell refuses to let a vote even come on the Senate floor regarding election security. This sort of toxic hyperpartisan nonsense is what got us into this situation in the first place and it is time that the government does something about it. It is necessary to the security of our free state. Or do those words only mean something to Mitch McConnell and Donald Trump when it affects them personally? 

Photo from rocksunderwater via Flickr