FOREIGN AFFAIRS

The Remains Of The Day

America‘s crisis of conscience

America’s reputation as a world leader is taking a hit as Taliban forces took over a country we had ruled for twenty years, in close to twenty hours. Pundits bemoan this latest blow to our good name as a knock on America’s reputation as beacon of confidence and hope. They whine that this doesn’t bode well for our standing as a trustworthy ally, who is committed to the things we set out to do. They’re right of course.

But acting like we just lost the war yesterday, or that our reputation would be fine otherwise, is missing the larger point. It ignores the fact that we previously elected a game show host who went out of his way to alienate allies and embrace despots and war criminals. An orange clown who all but defecated on democratic norms and treated the most powerful office in the world as his own personal criminal enterprise. A gloriously corrupt conman who surrounded himself with petty criminals, grifters and sycophants. A would-be strongman without the strength or courage to wield real power.

We were failing as a nation before we elected Donald Trump. He was the result, not the cause. The idea that electing Joe Biden could somehow magically erase all the damage already done, was foolhardy and naive. It was our best option, but it wasn’t a cure all.