Thread by @EBKania

"Today, the gravest threats to U.S. national security come not from foreign adversaries and strategic competitors but from extremists and domestic terrorists who are attempting to subvert American democracy in support of Donald Trump." I started writing— foreignpolicy.com/2021/01/07/uni…

on the 6th of January, while I was shaking with rage and shock in watching the news, and after frantic, obsessive revisions, published this piece the next day, six months ago. I wonder sometimes if this is the most important commentary I've ever written, or perhaps the only piece

of work that I've produced that truly matters. And I am no less frightened at present for the future of our democracy. I fear that we continue to fail to reckon with the forces that subvert our founding principles and institutions in ways that have caused lasting damage already

"Over the past four years, American strategy has concentrated on “great-power competition” as a priority. But from today we should be more concerned about great-power self-destruction... after such attempted sabotage of our democracy."

I'm still struck by the cognitive dissonance when we talk about national security in a manner that centers external threats from foreign adversaries, while failing to reckon with and often blind to harms and threats from systemic racism, far-right and white supremacist extremism

, and the normalization of tactics of voter suppression that are inherently undercut claims to be and attempts to build a true democracy. Arguably, these trends have only worsened in the past half-year and may yet worsen further in the months and years to come given recent events

and personally, I still struggle with the question of how to stay engaged civically, as a citizen, and as someone engaged in/with the endeavor of "national security," beyond donating what I can and volunteering when I have time, even while recognizing that's never nearly enough.

I don't know. Frankly, I've debated changing the focus of my life/work dramatically sometimes. For the time being, I hope there are ways those of us in this space can have positive impact in personal and professional capacities and remain engaged in these fights on several fronts