Why We Intervene in Other Countries and Why It Matters, Host, Anthony Arnold

The main objective of any foreign policy decision is to give America an edge. You may view the Paris climate accords as a way to make the world better. But the people executing foreign policy also see it as a way for America to lead, and thus burnish our reputation. No serious foreign policy thinker is going to be interested in advancing ideas that don’t serve our needs first. At its best, military intervention can inspire. It can generate a sense of healthy pride in people. Not the irrational nationalism that can lead to a feeling of superiority, but the kind of pride that causes citizens to believe the country is capable of great things. But ...it’s hard to feel pride for something that nobody can explain to us.