Throughout American history, several pivotal moments have defined the trajectory of our country. The Revolutionary War, the Civil War and the fight against slavery, the two world wars and the Cold War were all struggles against despotism, whether foreign or domestic. And through these victories, the arc of history, for nearly 250 years, has always bent toward justice. But while these victories allowed us to prosper, they also ushered in a sense of complacency in American society, convinced that despotism had been defeated. The reality is that these evils never went away; instead, tyranny was gathering strength, preying on societal fears and grievances to attack America and the world’s democracies.
We were not vigilant. The re-emergence of despotism as a political force is attributable to the apathy of American society, the growing belief that the voice of citizens does not matter, and a sense of complacency that all is well and that the Democracy has defeated America’s “-isms.” the world.
Today we face a defining moment that will either upend the American democratic experiment, undo the sacrifice of millions of Americans and allow despotism to spread across the globe, or ensure that our march toward justice continues .
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The stakes in this year’s elections are higher than in any recent election, as this year’s vote will determine the security realities of the United States and the world for decades to come; and the contrast between the two visions of America put forward by the candidates – former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris – has never been more stark.
Our enemies have become bolder and are working together to defeat democratic governance based on the principle of protecting individual freedoms. Russian autocrat Vladimir Putin summons dictators, authoritarians, and “undemocratic noses” to coordinate a campaign against the United States and our allies. The next American president could either amplify the dangers facing our country or meet the challenge of our enemies with determination and stronger alliances. The next US president can build on the momentum of the current administration and develop new alliances similar to that between Britain, Australia and the United States (AUKUS), or treat NATO as a protection racket and undermine our partners. The next president can appease our enemies and hope they leave us alone, or build a more powerful team of allies and friends to protect our national security. The next president can be easily manipulated through self-serving deals and ego pandering, or be respected by both our friends and our enemies.
In either case, the United States will face an increasingly coherent and concerted threat from adversaries engaged in disinformation, malign influence, hybrid warfare, and a slide toward military aggression. However, only one candidate is ready to work with our Democratic partners and allies to defeat this threat. The other candidate openly supports undemocratic authoritarian regimes and attempts to befriend them while simultaneously threatening our traditional partners. Do we really want to go it alone in a dangerous world, wait for democracies to collapse and be eliminated one at a time, and then face all the dangers ourselves?
In the case of the Russo-Ukrainian war, the risks of a wider war are particularly acute. One of the candidates will usher in isolationism, appeasement and withdrawal, inviting Russia to attack Europe. The cascading effect of the US withdrawal will lead to wider conflicts across the world: Iran will employ its terrorist proxies to attack the entire Middle East and China will be emboldened to conquer Taiwan. America’s absence will create a security vacuum and usher in a world at war. That would be the inevitable consequence of a candidate asserting that the strong can prey on the weak, welcoming a return to the rules of the jungle that provoked two world wars in the last century.
Even with this bleak geopolitical prognosis, perhaps the greatest threats to our national security may be domestic. Depending on how we vote, we risk losing the very character of America. We risk abandoning a nearly 250-year tradition of creating a more perfect Union, and instead embrace its antithesis. In just a few days, we will declare whether we are a principled society or a cruel society: either we will embody the values and virtues that we wish to instill in our children and make the world a better place, or we will sink into envy and malice. . and threaten our neighbors.
A fundamental lesson we learn throughout life is that there is strength in unity and that division only weakens us. While one candidate will represent all Americans and act in our national security interests, the other declares that immigrants are “poisoning the blood of America” and is eager to use the military to attack opponents. while simultaneously treating the soldiers as losers and losers.
One candidate showed the ability to reach across the aisle and unite conservative and progressive voices, the other was called a “fascist” by his former chief of staff, his former secretary of defense and its former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
One candidate promises opportunities for the working and middle classes, while the other promises tax breaks for the rich who are now trying to buy elections for him.
One candidate has policies to invest in the future, the other seeks to use the Project 2025 roadmap and deconstruct environmental protections, separation of church and state, access to education and the safety nets provided by the Affordable Care Act and Social Security.
One of the candidates promises that the best is yet to come and that a better future is possible, the other organizes an “America First” hate rally at Madison Square Garden that recalls the American fascist movement which should only remain a dark chapter of our history. story from almost a century ago. We must understand that attacks on individual rights and freedoms, the elimination of reproductive care, equal protection of our diverse communities, and free and fair elections are all threats to our national security.
In my testimony to Congress, I said good matters. If Donald Trump is elected, we will all live in a much more dangerous world where “right” no longer matters. But I am convinced that we will not face this kind of petty reality. I believe America can once again defeat despotism. And that with President Harris, our best days are yet to come, because this is America and here, good matters!
Alexander S. Vindman, U.S. Army Lt. Col. (ret.) was director of European affairs for former President Donald Trump’s National Security Council, when Vindman reported Trump’s abuse of power leading to Trump’s first impeachment. Vindman holds a doctorate in international affairs, is a leading voice on national security, and a best-selling author. Its substack, “Why is it important,” can be found at avindman.com.
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author.
