Biden outlines plans to reset U.S. foreign policy after Trump

[brooklynite]

Middletown Press

Democratic presidential front-runner Joe Biden offered a sweeping overhaul of U.S. foreign policy after four years of Donald Trump's leadership.

The former vice president said he would focus on restoring America's central role in mobilizing democracies against global threats by restoring alliances and relationships that have been damaged by the administration. He also emphasized domestic priorities such as recasting immigration policies, reinvigorating U.S. democracy and equipping Americans to better succeed in the global economy.

"Political wisdom holds that Americans, the American public, doesn't vote on foreign policy," he said in New York. "But I think that's an old way of thinking. In 2019 foreign policy is domestic policy in my view. And domestic policy is foreign policy."

Biden is coming off several difficult weeks on the campaign trail where he's faced criticism for his record. The attempt to reset the conversation follows a rocky performance at the first Democratic debates, a weekend speech to apologize for comments he made about segregationist senators, and efforts to explain some of the many potential policy landmines from his six terms in the Senate.

Biden and his advisers see foreign policy as an area of clear strength for him given his long experience and voters' understanding of his powerful role in the administration of President Barack Obama.

[bluewater]

1. Foreign Policy is a Biden strength

from the OP:

"But focusing on his international expertise might not bring much political gain: In June, just 3% of Americans surveyed by Gallup said foreign policy and national security-related issues were the country's most important problem. Biden has already come under fire from some of his rivals as the only candidate in the race who voted in 2002 to authorize the use of force in Iraq. The other 2020 contender who was in Congress at the time, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, was against military action.

And rivals are likely to point out that Obama didn't always follow Biden's foreign policy advice. In 2009, the president sided with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton over Biden in approving a troop surge in Afghanistan. Biden urged Obama not to go forward with the May 2011 raid that killed Osama bin Laden. But Obama approved the mission, which Biden has since touted as an accomplishment of their administration."

[emmaverybo]

4. Biden has never denied he did not go along with the raid. In fact, he has noted it as an example

of the fact that though Obama sought his advice at times, he always was his own man, and Biden concludes that story with “and Obama was right.” So you are making an issue—that Biden takes credit for the raid—when this is NOT TRUE.

[MineralMan]

2. It's good to see one of the Presidential Primary candidates

talking about foreign policy. That is one of the President's jobs, after all.

A broad-based discussion of everything the President does seems to be something we should all be looking for.

[emmaverybo]

5. One of the most important presidential jobs and never more so than now with the numbers of

countries with nuclear capacity, and the tricky geo-politics between countries and regions, that Trump has been playing with, like a kid jumping up and down on a powder keg, while being
totally ignorant of them.

I hope moderators will begin to pose questions that evoke thoughtful debate on foreign policy, and as you say, MineralMan, “everything the president does.” As we have learned from Trump's abuse of them, the president has many powers.

[peggysue2]

3. This is right in Biden's wheelhouse

He is the only candidate with hands-on foreign policy experience. Good line here:

"In 2019 foreign policy is domestic policy in my view. And domestic policy is foreign policy."

This proposal is indeed sweeping and underscores the massive damage in need of repair.

AGO4JOE 2020