War Hawks Masquerading as "America First"

A Political Realignment

Over the past eight years, there has been a significant realignment within the two major political parties. This shift began with the election of Donald Trump in 2016, which marked a rejection of the neoconservative-establishment coalition that had controlled the Republican Party since George W. Bush's presidency. Trump's criticism of the Iraq war and his skepticism towards funding radical Islamists to overthrow the Syrian government led many staunch neoconservatives from the Bush era to abandon the Republican Party and oppose Trump's rise to power. However, their efforts were unsuccessful.

The Acceleration of Realignment

Trump's four-year term only hastened this political realignment. By the 2020 election, the political establishment had rallied behind Joe Biden. Despite this, Trump remained a prominent figure even after leaving office and is now the Republican nominee for President for the third time. This election cycle has seen a continuation of establishment support for Trump's opponents, including notable departures from former high-ranking Republicans such as Dick Cheney, who served as Vice President under George W. Bush. Whether this signifies a lasting change in the Republican Party or a temporary alliance against a single candidate will be determined by the events of the upcoming election. However, it's clear that the neoconservative grip on the American Right has weakened.

The Remaining Interventionists

While the departure of many prominent war hawks from the Republican Party is a positive development, it does not mean that the GOP has reverted to its non-interventionist roots. Some interventionists have remained, and they are actively working to resurrect the neoconservative foreign policy under the banner of a new "America First" doctrine. A notable example of this is former national security advisor Robert O'Brien's feature in Foreign Affairs. Despite presenting his article as a defense of Trump's foreign policy, O'Brien's proposed agenda is largely a rehash of traditional establishment interventionism.

The New Threats

According to O'Brien, Iran, China, and Russia are the primary threats that require a more assertive stance from Washington. He argues for increased military spending, particularly for the Navy, to exert pressure on Iran and China. He also advocates for heavy sanctions and trade restrictions to isolate and undermine the regimes in Tehran and Beijing. Furthermore, he calls for the US to more actively support foreign dissident movements that pose a threat to these rival governments.

The Old Agenda in New Clothing

O'Brien is not alone in his views. Many right-wing commentators and influencers have attempted to use the populist momentum behind the Trump movement to advance their careers while subtly promoting a traditional establishment foreign policy. This was evident at the National Conservatism conference in July, where several of these figures identified Iran and China as the primary threats to the American public. For years, Americans have had to foot the bill for numerous costly ventures, including countering a superpower that collapsed due to the failures of communism, attempting to build a country from scratch in Afghanistan, overthrowing the Iraqi government, and trying to topple several other countries to offset the destabilizing effects of the Iraqi government's overthrow. All these efforts have enriched the political establishment at the expense of the economic well-being and security of ordinary citizens.

Bottom Line

In recent years, many right-leaning Americans have started to question these actions. It's crucial that the same old establishment narratives do not lull them back into complacency. What are your thoughts on this matter? Share this article with your friends and let's continue the discussion. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is delivered every day at 6 pm.