What to Expect From American Foreign Policy

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR: Has America, Peter, had enough in these last 20 years of being the exceptional nation? Is 9/11 so much more than a day, an event and really an era defining, shape shifting, empire changing event of 20 years? What do you think?

PETER BAKER, WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT, “THE NEW YORK TIMES”: Yes. I think it is that, exactly. Susan and I were both in Afghanistan shortly after 9/11 to do reporting on the ground for the “Washington Post” and we were both there. We saw up close what the country that had been ruled by the Taliban was like. It wasn’t a pretty sight. It had brutalized people. And the idea that here we’re coming up to this 20th anniversary with them back in charge, with the Taliban flag flying over the presidential, you know, headquarters in Kabul, it was pretty unimaginable back then. But, you’re right, I think America has gone through an awful lot in these 20 years. Is redefined and re-examining its place in the world, re-examining how it wants to shape or not shape, as the case maybe, international affairs. You heard President Biden says, it’s the beginning of a new era, we’re basically nation building. We’re out of the business. We’re out of the business of using military force to shape other countries. He wants to be an internationalist unlike his predecessor. But like President Trump, he also is tapping into that very American sentiment right now of America First, the idea that we need to spend more time focusing on our own issues at home rather than those of other people abroad. And I think that is a very big change from 20 years ago when America was reacting to this terrorist event and asserting itself on the world stage. And there’s been a lot of cost in the interim.

AMANPOUR: Except, Susan, he also said, the world is changing. We’re engaged in a serious competition with China. We’re dealing with the challenges of multiple fronts with Russia. How much of an issue of competition is that going to be for America in the way that Peter has laid out and certainly President Biden seems to see it going forward?

SUSAN GLASSER, “THE NEW YORKER”: Well, I think you are right to spotlight that, Christiane. You know, this is a moment where Biden really sees being more focused and strategic, I would say, in foreign policy, the idea that because there are so much more significant, great power thrusts in the United States now than there were 20 years ago. Remember, we were essentially coming out of the Cold War and out of the 1990s as the lone super power. China was nowhere near the economic powerhouse it is today and China has invested more in its military over the subsequent two decades than any other power (INAUDIBLE) the United States. Russia was still reasserting itself. That’s where Peter and I were based when 9/11 happened. And so, you know, you flash forward 20 years and I think the idea — part of the idea that Biden has tried to make the case for the Afghan withdrawal is the idea that the U.S. needs to be more focused and more strategic on these other great power threats. But, you know, the question I have, 20 years later is, what is the state of American democracy?