America’s isolationist movement before World War 2 that failed to preserve the peace or keep the United States out of the war.
Trump is the most significant recent proponent of isolationism. If elected to a second term, he would have pulled the U.S. out of NATO, let Russia walk over Ukraine, and left the rest of Europe to fend for itself.
Mark Milley, America’s top general, sees things differently.
“We are now facing two global powers: China and Russia, each with significant military capabilities both who intend to fundamentally change the rules based current global order,” he says, and added, “We are entering a world that is becoming more unstable and the potential for significant international conflict is increasing, not decreasing.” (Read story here.)
That may sound like a pitch for increased military spending, and it probably is. But it’s grounded on a vastly changed situation. Russia is now waging an unprovoked war against a democracy on Europe’s doorstep, and has openly expressed both his hostility to democracy and his intention of advancing deeper into free Europe, while continually proving his own country is distinctly unfree.
As Ukraine’s leader, Volodymyr Zelensky, puts it, “Putin will not stop until he is stopped” (read story here). America and its NATO allies should do everything they can to help the Ukrainians stop him in Ukraine. If we won’t, and they can’t, the war will spread beyond Ukraine’s borders.
Generations of American diplomats have warned the only thing Russians understand is force. That’s probably true of a rapidly militarizing China, as well. Both countries act without moral or legal restraint, and are guilty of gross human rights abuses. Both are eager to replace America’s influence with their own. A world with a stronger Russia and China, and a weaker America, won’t be a better world.
Isolationism is the wrong policy for America and humanity. It will bring neither freedom nor peace; it’s a dead end. It will lead to less security and greater conflict.