| This week's curated content continues to cover the very best insight on the latest grand strategy topics such as the rise of China, troop withdrawals, and the preconditions for a lasting, sober foreign policy. One of those preconditions is electing the right leaders and getting those leaders to follow through while in office. Accordingly, as the presidential election approaches, we recommend Natalie Dowzicky's piece. Christopher Mott cautions us that both candidates may be committed to a particular kind of proxy war. Peter Van Buren analyzes President Trump and candidate Biden from the perspective of their China policies--important given the role that our relationship with China will play in shaping the 21st Century. Christopher Layne offers some advice on how to manage this relationship in a productive manner that does not lead to unnecessary conflict. And Chas Freeman argues that, despite the rhetoric, our relation to China does not replicate the conditions of another Cold War. Of course, the preconditions for a sound sober foreign policy have to do with economic incentives. To further understand these incentives readers will benefit from Barbara Boland's piece, as well as Elena Crespo and Elizabeth Fray's piece on the perverse incentives of arms sales. The perverse financial bottlenecks to a sound foreign policy are deeply intertwined with the ideological sense of America's role in the world. For fresh reassessments of this topic, we recommend Andrew Bacevich's piece on "Internationalism" as well as Stephen Wertheim's provocative piece calling into question the necessity and desirability of American power. Original Posts Annelle Sheline, RealClearWorld If Joe Biden becomes the next U.S. president, many anticipate that his administration will offer a “return to normalcy,” for better or for worse. Despite the ways in which the Trump ... Luke Nicastro, RealClearDefense As its power declines, America must ditch dreams of primacy and embrace a humbler realpolitik During the vice-presidential debate on October 7th, the 2020 campaign saw its first (and... Essential Reading Paul Pillar, Andrew Bacevich, Annelle Sheline, Trita Parsi, Quincy Institute Bottom line: The dominant foreign policy paradigm that American troops in the Middle East make the U.S. more secure is misguided. U.S. meddling in this region and the propping up of ... In the News Natalie Dowzicky, Responsible Statecraft Christopher Mott, National Interest Doug Bandow, American Conservative Eli Clifton & Kelley Beaucar Vlahos, Responsible Statecraft Stephen Wertheim, New York Times Jagannath Panda, Responsible Statecraft Daniel DePetris, Defense One Christopher Mott, National Interest Rabyaah Althaibani, Responsible Statecraft Doug Bandow, Antiwar.com Bonnie Kristian, RealClearWorld Matthew Petti, Responsible Statecraft Hunter DeRensis, Responsible Statecraft Daniel DePetris, Washington Examiner Daniel DePetris, National Interest Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft The outcome of Intra-Afghan talks will prove consequential for the region as a whole, especially as the American public increasingly desires the withdrawal of remaining U.S. troops from Afghanistan. How will a drawdown of U.S. troops, combined with potential outcomes to the intra-Afghan talks influence regional actors going forward? Empire Has No Clothes Investigative journalist Gareth Porter talks about why he’s spent so much time trying to debunk the Russian hacking story and Washington's institutional bias against Iran. In the first segment, Dan, Kelley, and Matt talk about throwback Vice President Pence and tough talking Democrat Kamala Harris. None of the Above Stephen Wertheim traces America’s decision for global military dominance back to World War II in a widely anticipated book published this month Net Assessment Chris, Zack, and Melanie get together to talk about U.S. nuclear policy. Should the United States have a “no first use” policy? If so, would that affect choices our allies and partners, as well as adversaries, might make? Has the volatile presidency of Donald Trump shown that more checks are needed in the nuclear weapons launch process? Background Briefing Then finally we speak with Stephen Wertheim about his new book just out Tomorrow the World: the Birth of U.S. Global Supremacy in World War II and his article at The New York Times “The next president, whoever he is, will not determine the future of America’s role in the world. Joe Biden does not recognize a problem. President Trump has no answers.” Empire Has No Clothes Matt, Kelley, and Dan spoke with Bonnie Kristian from Defense Priorities about the absence of an antiwar movement despite 19 years of endless war, the "snapback" debacle at the U.N., and the prospects for progressive/conservative cooperation in opposing wars in the future. | 
