Would Hillary Be Better Than Donald For America’s Foreign Policy?

There is a sentiment among conservatives skeptical of Donald Trump that as horrible as Hillary would be for domestic leadership, at least she would be more dependable in advancing America’s national interest overseas.

This position has some superficial merit.  Against the GOP nominee’s affection for Russia’s dictator, for instance, Mrs. Clinton is viewed as being decidedly more hawkish than our incumbent president and Trump.  According to Obama Administration insider accounts, including from former Defense Secretaries Robert Gates and Leon Panetta, she argued for the use of military force to advance U.S. interests in Syria and opposed the complete pull-out of American forces from Iraq so dearly desired by President Obama.  On neither of these important matters did she prevail.

Does she deserve credit for trying?  Yes.  But does a “hawkish” perspective while in another chief executive’s administration mean that this would carry over into hers?  That’s a different question.

Hillary Clinton has proven to be very amenable to criticism from the Left.  She responded to the challenge of Bernie Sanders by moving to co-opt his positions.  She has heaped fulsome praise on Barack Obama, including his foreign policy, and pledged to continue his programs (“third Obama Administration”?).

Would Hillary forsake her dovish base in order to allow her “firm, resolute” side, her supposed real self, to come forth?  Maybe.  Certainly her commitment to loyalty –like truth – is a problematic thing.

But the former Secretary of State is not known for political courage.  If she thought – in inner councils – that Barack Obama was wrong on certain significant issues, she obviously neither went public with her concerns nor resigned because she couldn’t carry out policies with which she strenuously disagreed.  To have done so, of course, might have endangered her quest to replace President Obama.  Does that mean she was willing to sacrifice America’s safety for her own ambitions?

Courage would be required in abundance to confront the onslaught that would befall President Clinton from the Left and its media handmaidens if she were to reassert America’s authority in the world.  A skeptic is justified in doubting that she would display it.

Readily understandable antipathy towards Donald Trump generates a hope that maybe Hillary Clinton won’t be as bad for America’s standing in the world.  That appears to be a hope grounded in wishful thinking.