It’s a long running discussion in Democratic and progressive circles — is internationalism good or bad?
I’ve been sort of lonely on this site defending internationalism — in trade especially. But also in terms of defense policy. In many ways I became timid about the issue and I regret that.
Trump’s full throated attack on the most important alliance of the last 100 years — the Atlantic alliance— means this must change.
I don’t have time now but I will engage in an issue by issue defense of internationalism in the coming weeks. I’ll try to be respectful. In fact, I’ll probably just write diaries and stay out of the comments.
But I can’t guarantee patience with “#TrumpRussia is a distraction” arguments. That argument is ignorant and irresponsible.
Understand this — #TrumpRussia is about defending internationalism. Putin is gunning for pushing the United States back into isolationism on every level. It attacks everything that the United States has worked for since World War II.
If the process of blatant foreign interference in our elections is not enough of a concern for you — think about WHY Russia interfered in our election — to destroy the United States’ role as the leader of the Free World.
Trump’s just concluded foreign trip was a big step towards realizing Putin’s goal. German Chancellor Merkel just sounded the alarms on this point.
Just consider one issue- climate change. Trump wants to pull out of the Paris Accords. If you imagine any meaningful action can occur on climate change without American leadership, then you are a fool.
The election of Donald Trump was a catastrophe for the Nation and the World.
This foreign trip, more than anything else, imo, demonstrates why.