THREAD: Today we just released a new CAP report outlining an alternative vision for US foreign policy – one that embraces our democratic values, instead of shunning them. 1/ americanprogress.org/issues/securit…
After Trump, a new American administration is going to have to work hard to rebuild international credibility. We can’t just pay lip-service to Human Rights and democracy. We can't just talk the talk, we will need to walk the walk. 2/
This report calls for a “democracy rebalance” where we focus on building relationships with democratic states – diplomatically, economically, and militarily. 3/
This means putting our democratic values at the heart of strategic thinking – and then putting our resources behind it. We call for a "democratic strategic advantage initiative" to help support democratic states. 4/
It also means doing much more to counter the authoritarian playbook and taking steps to strengthen our democracy at home. 5/
This report also firmly rejects neocon efforts to advance democracy at the barrel of a gun. That isn’t how you advance democracy. 6/
Democracy promotion had been taken over by neocons who equated support for dem values as support for military intervention. That was BS. You can strongly oppose military intervention AND support democratic values. 7/
But the debate about promoting democracy often became one centered on military intervention, while ignoring all the other elements US foreign policy has to advance policy. Neocons militarized the debate. This seeks to reclaim it. And refocus US foreign policy. 8/
Lastly, this report acknowledges America’s foreign policy mistakes – the times we have betrayed our values. We shot ourselves in the foot too many times by ignoring our values. Exhibit A: amazon.com/Blood-Telegram…
The answer isn’t to retreat from the world b/c we’ve made terrible mistakes in the past. But to do better. To learn those lessons and to pursue a foreign policy that aligns w/ values. 10/
In doing so, we are in fact embracing a FP that advances America's geopolitical standing and therefore our core national interests. Standing for a more liberal and democratic values is not a burden, it is our comparative advantage. 11/11
