How American Politics Has Broken Foreign Policy: A Navy SEAL’s Perspective Amid the Presidential Election

The American political process is in shambles, and the impact on U.S. foreign policy has been catastrophic.

Some readers will say to me, “Brandon, why are you writing about politics, stick to what you know best.”

To answer this back…

I care about where America is heading. It feels like during this election year we are just rearranging chairs on the deck of the Titanic as it slowly sinks beneath the freezing water.

As a former Navy SEAL, I’ve seen firsthand how erratic and confusing strategies not only compromise our objectives in war but also endanger the lives of American warfighters and destabilize entire regions. Take your pick, Iraq, Afghanistan, Niger, Libya, Somalia and the hits go on like a Taylor Swift album.

The consequences of these flawed American policies, run by the fools in DC, have been felt around the world.

The Iraq Debacle: Igniting a Powder Keg

The second Iraq campaign is a prime example of political mismanagement leading to disastrous foreign policy. The war was sold to the American public on the premise of weapons of mass destruction and a supposed link between Saddam Hussein and al-Qaeda.

Once the regime was toppled, the lack of a coherent post-war strategy created a vacuum that allowed extremist groups like ISIS to flourish. This destabilization spilled over into Syria, fueling a brutal civil war and generating a massive refugee crisis that rippled across the EU.

The cost of the Iraq War is staggering, with estimates of direct expenses reaching over $2 trillion, not to mention the incalculable human cost and regional instability that continues to this day.

Libya: A Crescendo of Terrible US Foreign Policy Decisions

Libya remains a stark example of a failed state, descending into chaos and lawlessness since the NATO-backed, and US-led overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 that also took my best friend, Navy SEAL and CIA GRS Operator Glen Doherty.

The power vacuum left in the wake of his demise has led to a fractured nation plagued by warring factions, tribal conflicts, and the rise of extremist groups.

Despite international efforts to stabilize the country, Libya is mired in political turmoil and economic collapse, with its rich oil reserves often falling into the hands of militias rather than contributing to national development. The humanitarian crisis continues to deepen, with thousands of Libyans displaced and vulnerable, while the ongoing instability has made the country a hotspot for human trafficking and a breeding ground for terrorism.

Afghanistan: The Vietnam of Our Generation

Afghanistan is another glaring example of political grandstanding, Defense spending gone wild, and double-talk leading to an endless quagmire.

For two decades, American troops were mired in a conflict that lacked clear objectives and suffered from shifting strategies dictated by changing political winds in Washington.

The result?

A resurgent Taliban now controls more territory than they did before the 2001 invasion. According to the Cost of War Project at Brown University, the U.S. has spent over $2.26 trillion on the war in Afghanistan alone.

This figure includes not only direct military expenditures but also long-term costs such as veterans’ care. Thousands of American lives were lost or forever changed, with countless soldiers bearing physical and psychological scars from a war that many now view as futile.

Gaza: The Current Debacle

President Biden’s approach to the current Gaza conflict has been rightly criticized for its contradictory nature, illustrating a failure to bring about any semblance of peace.

On one hand, the U.S. continues to provide substantial military aid to Israel, reinforcing its defense capabilities amidst ongoing hostilities.

On the other hand, Biden’s administration pledges humanitarian aid to Gazans suffering from the relentless violence.

This dual strategy of arming one side while attempting to aid the other not only undermines American credibility but also exacerbates tensions, fueling a cycle of violence and mistrust.

The Biden approach is not only hypocritical but also ineffective, as it fails to address the root causes of the conflict and ultimately prolongs the suffering of civilians on both sides.

Political Dysfunction and Foreign Policy Chaos

The root cause of these foreign policy failures lies in the broken American political process and two parties that are facing expired shelf lives.

Political grandstanding, where elected officials prioritize their careers over national interests, has become the norm.

Double-talk and flip-flopping on key issues lead to inconsistent policies that confuse both allies and adversaries.

The partisanship that dominates Washington D.C. means that long-term strategies are often sacrificed for short-term political gains. This dysfunction is evident in the constant changes in foreign policy direction with each new administration, undermining the credibility and effectiveness of U.S. actions on the global stage.

This is a major issue facing the current American military and I’d go so far as to say it’s causing the current shortage of volunteers that many branches of the armed forces are facing for the first time in many decades.

The all-volunteer force is in the throes of what is widely and rightly termed a “recruiting crisis,” having now missed its annual intake goal by tens of thousands of recruits for the second year in a row. Dig a little deeper and the picture gets even darker. The Air Force’s pilot shortage continues to worsen. -Modern War Institute

The Cost of Political Failure

The human cost of these political failures is immeasurable. American soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines have borne the brunt of these misguided policies.

Lives have been lost, and many more have been irrevocably changed by the trauma of combat. The financial cost, running into the trillions, is a stark reminder of the economic burden placed on current and future generations.

Conclusion

As the 2024 Presidential election approaches, it is crucial for the American electorate to demand accountability and clarity from their candidates regarding foreign policy.

We need to tear down the current electoral process that is failing us all. Americans need to rebuild an electoral process that has the right incentives in place to attract quality candidates that want to make America the best country it can be.

One that produces the kind of leaders this country needs and deserves. Leaders who will prioritize coherent and strategic decision-making over political expediency.

But, I fear that, if history is a teacher, this usually ends in some form of revolution, and this itself should be a wake-up call to many.

The stakes are too high to continue on the current path of erratic and inconsistent policies.

Our broken political process has cost us dearly in blood and wasted taxpayer money.

It’s time for a reckoning.

As voters, we must pressure our politicians to fix a broken American political system that attracts flies to political shit and we must demand accountability for this where there currently is none.

Because if we fail to act now, the consequences will be dire.

We stand on the precipice of further chaos and destruction and if change doesn’t come soon, I fear we are headed towards an abyss from which America will be forever changed for the worse.

The stakes couldn’t be higher, and the future of our nation and the free world hangs in the balance.

—

Disclaimer: SOFREP utilizes AI for image generation and article research. Occasionally, it’s like handing a chimpanzee the keys to your liquor cabinet. It’s not always perfect and if a mistake is made, we own up to it full stop. In a world where information comes at us in tidal waves, it is an important tool that helps us sift through the brass for live rounds.