The US poses 'the most serious danger' to global security: Retired Council on Foreign Relations president

02 July 2023

Outgoing Council on Foreign Relations President Richard N. Haass retired from his post on Friday after nearly twenty years of service. On Saturday, chief White House correspondent Peter Baker of The New York Timespublished an interview with Haass in which the departing think tank leader shared his assessment of the state of global affairs.

"Haass has come to a disturbing conclusion," Baker wrote. "The most serious danger to the security of the world right now? The threat that costs him sleep? The United States itself."

Haass told Baker that "it's us," referring to the US and the rapid degredation of its democratic institutions.

"Our domestic political situation is not only one that others don't want to emulate," Haass said. "But I also think that it's introduced a degree of unpredictability and a lack of reliability that's really poisonous. For America's ability to function successfully in the world, I mean, it makes it very hard for our friends to depend on us."

Despite the turmoil — and progress — of the Twentieth Century, "Haass sees this moment as even worse," Baker noted, alluding to "periods of discord" that include "Jim Crow, McCarthyism, Vietnam, civil rights, Watergate," and what many believe to be "the worst year ever" — 1968.

But even those "were not threats to the system, the fabric," Haass opined. "That's why I think this is more significant."

Haass also recalled how he vastly underestimated the havoc that former President Donald Trump would wreak during his four-year term:

Where I was dead wrong is I assumed the weight of the office would moderate him or normalize him, whatever word you want to use — that he would be more respectful of traditions and inheritances. And I was wrong on that. If anything, he became more radical. He doubled down.

Baker's report is available here (subscription required).

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