Thread by @djrothkopf

As a trained foreign policy professional who has worked at a fairly high level on these issues in DC for nearly three decades, I would like to give you my in-depth assessment of @POTUS' foreign policy speech: It was excellent.

I will not be writing an article about the speech because, well, I don't have much more to say than that. @JoeBiden brings more high level foreign policy experience to the Oval Office than any of his predecessors. By far. And it shows. Experience matters.

He is fluent in the issues. He is well advised by an exceptionally good team. And he has not only a clear vision for America's role in the world but he seeks to restore the best of American values to our international actions and policies.

He is committed to restoring and revitalizing the international order, to working with our allies and strengthening our partnerships everywhere, to stand up to international bullies, to mitigating risks, to opposing wrong-doing and advancing our interests.

He also understands that none of this would be possible without a trusted and empowered @StateDept and @SecBlinken, a solid team led by @JakeJSullivan at the NSC, faith in our leadership at DoD and in the Intel Community.

He is not afraid of tough issues. He understands the hard work that maintaining US leadership will require and his also keenly aware that we can't simply hit reset on foreign policy, we have to evolve and innovate to keep up with the rapid pace of global change.

I have not heard another president instill more confidence in his going-in approach to U.S. foreign policy in my lifetime. (And I say this as someone who thinks, generally speaking, that the U.S. has had a very mixed record at foreign policy during the past forty years.)

So, as I say, excellent. Ok, maybe what I just wrote is more than just the simple declarative statement I was going for. But, the point's the same. The grown-ups are in charge again. The US is back again as a force for good in the world & our interests will be well looked after.