America: Beware the Siren Song of Disengagement

America: Beware the Siren Song of Disengagement

America's global leadership may not be politically popular today. But it has hardly been more essential.

More than any particular policy, however, reenergized American engagement would manifest itself as a disposition—an outlook that avoids construing national interests too narrowly, that actively pursues enlightened self-interest and believes in the promotion of universal values. In these lean, weary days, such an approach may seem out of place and out of step with the national mood. But that’s no excuse for America to withdraw from the world. Protecting our security, freedom and economic dynamism in a tumultuous world requires the United States to stay engaged. U.S. global leadership may not be politically popular today. But it has hardly been more essential.

Richard Fontaine is president of the Center for a New American Security. He tweets at: @RHfontaine

Michèle Flournoy is CEO of the Center for a New American Security.

Image: Flickr/Sergio Vassio/CC by 2.0