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UID:2349@witherlelibrary.net
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260701T170000
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URL:https://witherlelibrary.net/events/foreign-affairs-discussion-group-66
 /
SUMMARY:Foreign Affairs Discussion Group
DESCRIPTION:\n\n\nThe Witherle Library foreign affairs discussion group wil
 l meet by zoom on Wednesday July 1 from 5-6pm. The topic is a 250 year rev
 iew of America’s 10 best and worst foreign policy decisions\, and what c
 ommon elements have made memorable policies. All are welcome. Suggested re
 adings follow.  To request the Zoom link for the first time please email 
 kathryn@witherlelibrary.net.\n\n\n\nhttps://www.cfr.org/ten-best-ten-worst
 -us-foreign-policy-decisions/\n\n\nThis is the key reading\, based on a su
 rvey of members of the Society for Historians of American Foreign Relation
 s undertaken in late 2023 by the Council on Foreign Relations. It covers t
 he period from the signing of the Declaration of Independence through the 
 first Trump administration. The link above requires no subscription.  The
  Methodology section contains the full list of decisions voted on.\nhttps:
 //www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/28/trump-iran-analysis-us-foreign-p
 olicy-george-bush\nThis 2/28/2026 article in The Guardian (UK\, left\, lef
 t center leaning) notes that the CFR survey of the 10 worst foreign policy
  decisions took place in late 2023 before Trump’s 2nd administration and
  the 2026 Iran War\, and argues for the Iran War as the #1 worst foreign p
 olicy decision of America’s 250 year history.  Clickable without subscr
 iption.\nhttps://www.economist.com/interactive/america-at-250\nPublished b
 y The Economist (UK\, right of center)\, this is an ongoing series of “C
 hapters “ on 250 years of US policy that now stops at the pre-Trump era.
  Interesting to date\, but stay tuned. Clickable without subscription.\nht
 tps://www.pbs.org/video/has-america-upheld-the-principles-formulated-250-y
 ears-ago-iyzkdl/\nWith sound bite brevity\, this 6-minute clip from PBS Wa
 shington Week with the Atlantic of 6/12/26 discusses what distinguishes Tr
 ump’s foreign policy from nearly 250 years of previous American history.
 \nhttps://america250.aei.org/volume/the-american-revolution-and-americas-r
 ole-in-the-world/\nThis is a long series of essays from the American Enter
 prise Institute (right leaning) with views from the think tank and scholar
 ly conservative and neoconservative right\, heavily based on the authors
 ’ interpretations of (selected) founders’ thinking and their historica
 l time.  If you have the time and inclination\, the essays are interestin
 g in how they avoid mentioning Trump’s foreign polices.  However\, they
  also represent a persistent strand of thinking and historical interpretat
 ion that will remain a part of the American dialogue well beyond Trump.  
 Note especially attitudes on treaties\, taxation\, national economic inter
 ests\, and the role of the executive.  Clickable without subscription.\n\
 n\n
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CATEGORIES:Adult Event
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