Democrats' War Fatigue: Is Change on the Horizon?

Matt Duss, a former advisor to Senator Bernie Sanders, now at the Center for International Policy, recently penned an op-ed in The Guardian. His main point? Americans are fed up with Democrats being the "party of war. " Duss argues that by supporting the current militaristic setup, Democrats left the anti-war stance for Republicans to capitalize on. He cites the 2024 presidential bid failure of Vice President Kamala Harris, whose embrace of former CIA director Leon Panetta and "torture advocate" Liz Cheney backfired. During the campaign, President-elect Trump portrayed himself as the "peace candidate, " leaving Democrats in a tough spot.

Duss suggests Democrats need a fresh vision for U. S. foreign policy. This new approach should prioritize global peacemaking, without overspending on defense. Leaders must reassess real security threats and avoid getting caught up in "toughness" contests. They should also link national security to global inequality and worker rights. But this shift requires tackling powerful lobbies pushing for their agendas. Duss doesn’t shy away from criticizing President Biden. He thinks Biden might have done more harm to the global order than Trump. Under Biden, support for Israel's actions in Gaza has violated international norms, leaving America's moral credibility damaged. Duss questions if Democrats truly want to lead by example, as Biden promised. He worries that the recent perception of Republicans as the anti-war party of the working class could become a reality if Democrats don’t correct their course. They must offer real alternatives and address the sources of insecurity.

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