Former president Donald Trump and Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy have attacked former governor and U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley for being a "neocon" on foreign policy. Haley's seen a surprising bump in the polls since her last two debates not in spite of her foreign policy experience, as opponents might imply, but likely because of it. Unlike other candidates, Haley is in a unique position to reframe "neocon" as a criticism and showcase that a strong American military and robust free market are the best path forward for America.
Opponents might smear Haley as a traditional "neocon"—someone who supports an interventionist foreign policy and a larger military—but she's no Dick Chaney, regardless of what Ramaswamy might say. Haley's experience as governor of South Carolina, ambassador to the U.N., and as the wife of a commissioned officer in the South Carolina Army National Guard sets her apart from Ramasway's isolationist policies and Trump's spur-of-the-moment foreign policies, which are muddled at best and contradictory at worst.
Thanks to President George Bush's Operation Iraqi Freedom, "neocon" came to mean not just a warmonger but a failed one. Critics who harp on never-ending wars don't have a good response to what they would have done after 9/11 (Ramaswamy was 16 when it happened) and opponents of a "neocon" worldview rarely can articulate how they would have dealt with the new, unique tactics of an enemy like Al Qaeda.
Critics mostly hated Operation Iraqi Freedom after it was clear it would last longer and be more expensive than anyone predicted. People forget everyone wanted to exact revenge on the Taliban on 9/12. Criticism in hindsight is easy. Knowing how to address an enemy, in real time, that managed to murder nearly 3,000 people on our soil is much harder. Even so, Haley is no Bush/Cheney impersonator and there's no reason to think she would be.
Ramaswamy is a clear isolationist who's suggested that the U.S. remain uninvolved with our allies, hidden away in a corner of the world where we make and thrive in our own utopia. This is not even a possibility for the U.S. in 2023, nor should it be. In fact, isolationism often encourages war—that is where a "live and let live" mantra takes us when it comes to foreign policy.
On November 13, Ramaswamy tweeted that "Neocon ideology cost the US trillions $$ and killed millions in pointless wars that didn't advance our interests. Time to move to a realist future." He went on to say that his administration would avoid World War III and commit to putting U.S citizens first.
"A strong America doesn't start wars," Haley said at one debate. "A strong America prevents wars." Isolationist policies would have America do the opposite. Haley supports our allies and believes the U.S. should use its military might to do so. The U.S. is not an island, nor should it govern like one. This stance is neither "neocon" nor warmongering—it's just good policy.
Let's consider three foreign crises happening right now: Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Hamas, and China. By supporting the idea of offering weapons to Ukraine, Haley is in no way beating the drum for World War III. After all, her husband would likely be fighting in it. By contrast, Trump already said that he'd deal with the Ukraine/Russia conflict by just halting U.S. support immediately once he began another presidential term. That decision would undoubtedly embolden Russia.
The Hamas/Israel conflict has further highlighted Haley's credentials. Her support for Israel while U.N. ambassador demonstrated a clarity of thought and courage in a difficult moment. This is what it looks like to be a strong ally, and this is what creates strong allies. As for China, Haley has advocated for directly confronting a country that's become one of our most aggressive adversaries.
Haley's foreign policy stances aren't just the strongest among her Republican foes—they're better than what Democrats offer too. President Joe Biden not only appears physically and mentally weak, but his foreign policy decisions have created mess after mess. His botched withdrawal from Afghanistan was a strategic failure. He has failed to handle, with any clear strength, the triangular threat Iran, China, and Russia present. Biden has also put U.S. national security at risk with his border policies, an extension of foreign policy by way of domestic disaster. The Biden administration is a cautionary tale of what happens if America continues down this path.
Trump and Ramaswamy might smear Haley as a "neocon." But wanting to aid our allies, maintain a strong military, and demonstrate strength to our adversaries doesn't mean itching to jump into another world war, and it's disingenuous to say it does. Voters would be lucky to have Haley's foreign policy experience, patriotism, and advocacy for a robust military in the White House. At least, by consistently addressing where the United States' position is in the world, she's living in reality.
Nicole Russell is a mother of four who has worked in Republican politics. Her writing has appeared in The Atlantic, The Daily Beast, and the Washington Examiner. She is an opinion columnist at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
The views expressed in this article are the writer's own.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Ignore the 'Neocon' Smears. GOP Isolationists Aren't Living in Reality
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29.11.2023
Former president Donald Trump and Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy have attacked former governor and U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley for being a "neocon" on foreign policy. Haley's seen a surprising bump in the polls since her last two debates not in spite of her foreign policy experience, as opponents might imply, but likely because of it. Unlike other candidates, Haley is in a unique position to reframe "neocon" as a criticism and showcase that a strong American military and robust free market are the best path forward for America.
Opponents might smear Haley as a traditional "neocon"—someone who supports an interventionist foreign policy and a larger military—but she's no Dick Chaney, regardless of what Ramaswamy might say. Haley's experience as governor of South Carolina, ambassador to the U.N., and as the wife of a commissioned officer in the South Carolina Army National Guard sets her apart from Ramasway's isolationist policies and Trump's spur-of-the-moment foreign policies, which are muddled at best and contradictory at worst.
Thanks to President George Bush's Operation Iraqi Freedom, "neocon" came to mean not just a warmonger but a failed one. Critics who harp on never-ending wars don't have a good response to what they would have done after 9/11 (Ramaswamy was 16 when it happened) and opponents of a "neocon"........
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