December 03, 2018
American Foreign Policy Could Use More Prudence
During George H. W. Bush’s single term in the White House, the Berlin Wall fell and Germany reunified peacefully, the Warsaw Pact dissolved, the Soviet Union crumbled and the Cold War ended. The American military ejected Manuel Noriega from Panama and liberated Kuwait from Saddam Hussein. The United States emerged as the world’s preeminent power after four decades of superpower standoff.
This outcome was the product of both long historical forces and key actors, including Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev. But it was not inevitable.
As the world order shifted dramatically, George H. W. Bush steered the ship of state with experience, expertise and—though it launched a million gibes—prudence. America emerged from his tenure stronger than before, with its adversaries weakened or transformed. “I’m certainly not seen as visionary,” he wrote in his diary. “But I hope I’m seen as steady and prudent and able.” That oft-mocked prudence was key to Bush’s success.
Read the full article in The Atlantic.
More from CNAS
-
Transatlantic Security / Energy, Economics & Security
Bloomberg Tech | Day 1 | Opening Night DebateGeoffrey Gertz, senior fellow, joined Bloomberg Tech's opening night debate and attempted to answer the question “Is Europe Too Late to Compete in the Chip War?” The U.S. and ...
By Geoffrey Gertz
-
A Tale of Two Russias: Views from Former Intelligence Officers
Four years into its war in Ukraine, Russia continues to escalate attacks on the Ukrainian population while also dialing up its hybrid campaign against Europe. In the last six ...
By Andrea Kendall-Taylor, Jim Townsend & Peter Schroeder
-
Trump Needs to ‘Make Putin Hurt’ to Achieve Peace
“Trump’s going to have to really make it hurt, and these Tomahawks can be a pretty good tool to bring some hurt to Putin.” In order for Trump to replicate the Gaza ceasefire w...
By Jim Townsend
-
Defense / Transatlantic Security
MWI Podcast: Europe’s Airspace Violations and the Counterdrone ChallengeJohn Amble is joined on this episode of the MWI Podcast by Dr. Stacie Pettyjohn, a senior fellow and director of the Defense Program at the Center for a New American Security....
By Stacie Pettyjohn