Charting a Course to History’s Dead End

Michael SchmidtMichael Schmidt is a born and raised Wisconsin boy. He is a 1993 graduate of the University of Wisconsin with a BA-History. In January 2016 he started a blog called Conservative Thinker in order to open up people's eyes and hearts to saving our republic. He resides in Cullman, Alabama, and in his free time enjoys photography, hiking, and traveling.

It is said that there is nothing new under the sun. History is nothing more than a compilation of dates, events, and recordings of previous generations’ successes and failures. There isn’t anything new that hasn’t already been tried in one way, shape, or form.

If we are wise and discerning we choose to learn the lessons of history. If we are ignorant and reckless we choose to embark down roads that lead to dead ends at history’s unmarked grave of failed ideological policy approaches.

Domestic policy can only defeat us; foreign policy can kill us. ~ John F. Kennedy

On the Biden Path

In Biden’s repudiation of everything President Trump did over the last four years we find him charting America on a very dangerous course. There were plenty of red flags during the campaign. From vague answers to dodging and deflecting reporter’s questions, to say the writing was on the wall on the policies Biden would actively pursue if elected president would be an understatement to anyone paying close attention.

From re-entering the U.S. in the Paris accords to shutting down the Keystone XL pipeline to signing over fifty executive orders and actions in his first month in office we have seen a clear lurch to far-reaching leftist policies. It is a move back to the Obama administration policies with a more hard-core fervor and mindset. The additions of former Obama administration acolytes to the Biden administration only serve as reinforcement.

Biden, whether fully cognizant or not, is seeking to go down as the most leftist president in American history, outdistancing Woodrow Wilson, FDR, and his former boss, Barack Obama. It’s a bold and dangerous departure from the Trump years.

Biden intends to make every effort to re-engage Iran by restoring the Iran Deal and give implicit support to the Palestinians in an attempt at a two-state solution, which would isolate Israel and destabilize the Middle East. In addition, the almost vanquished ISIS is reemerging and gaining momentum once again. There can be no doubt that the change of administrations in Washington hasn’t gone unnoticed by ISIS. They see new opportunities now to reassert their role and re-establish a caliphate.

Even more concerning will be how the Biden administration handles China. Under Obama, China increased its aggressiveness with limited, if any, determined push back from Washington. China worked to fortify islands in the South China Sea and step up its presence in one of the world’s most important shipping lanes. China has continued its crackdown in Hong Kong on a once free and open society and continues to persecute the Uyghurs in what many decry as an ongoing genocide. The Chinese have also made it perfectly clear of their intentions to take Taiwan and incorporate that nation into the Chinese realm.

Donald Trump’s Pathway

President Trump, for better or for worse, was a polarizing figure. His brashness and straightforward personality were difficult for some to digest. However, that brashness and bravado served as a genuine deterrent to rogue nations. In a simple manner, Trump’s personality put other countries on their toes.

Ronald Reagan spoke often of “peace through strength” in foreign policy. PresidentTrump, different in demeanor and eloquence from Reagan, managed to foster peace through strength after a very unsettling eight years of an Obama administration. That rough New York-style attitude of Trump made rogue nations think twice about pushing the limits with America.

There is no security, no safety, in the appeasement of evil.  ~ Ronald Reagan

Trump was the first president in fifty years to challenge China and confront their hegemonic path. Through targeted tariffs and an increased military presence in the South China Sea territory, the Trump administration put Beijing on notice. Thus, it was no secret that China wanted Joe Biden in the White House. In Biden, China sees a passive spectator who won’t challenge Beijing and will generally pursue a policy of appeasement.

Actions have consequences. Inaction has consequences as well. Foreign policy requires an understanding of human nature and rational thought. Misreading adversaries and miscalculations have, and do, lead to wars. There is an old saying that perception is reality. If your enemies perceive you as weak then they will act in a manner to expose and exploit your weaknesses. Weakness invites aggression. It doesn’t matter whether that weakness is real or perceived.

Joe Biden is the wrong man at the wrong time in history. His aura is that of weakness. He is the antithesis of Donald Trump. What we need at this point in history is Winston Churchill. What we have is a Neville Chamberlain.

Repeating History’s Dumbest Mistakes

Some say history repeats. That is open for debate. History does give us parallels though. Modern-day China is much akin to 1930’s Germany. Left unchecked and appeased we run the risk of China pushing its hegemonic path further and further to the brink.

Neville Chamberlain and European leaders were passive spectators and pursued a foreign policy approach of appeasement with Hitler and Germany. We saw the disastrous results of that approach. Must we go down that path again?

[photo by: Gabriel Soto]

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