On the one hand, President Biden is attempting to lead a "fundamental shift in foreign policy and national security policy" two decades after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, his longtime friend and adviser Tom Donilon told Bloomberg. But the president may be turning the clock back in a sense, as well.
Bloomberg notes that on Sept. 10, 2001, Biden — who was then chair of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee — made remarks at a National Press Club event, during which he warned against the Bush administration's heavy focus, both in terms of time and money, on building a missile defense system. Biden, Bloomberg writes, thought at the time that zeroing in on one threat or adversary left the United States vulnerable. "The real threats come into this country in the hold of a ship, or the belly of a plane, or are smuggled into a city in the middle of the night in a vial of a backpack," Biden said at the time.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
How Britain's demographic is changingA 50-year record population increase was fuelled by greater migration
-
The story of Japanese jeweller TasakiThe Blend A revival in the use of pearls in fashion and jewellery design places heritage brand Tasaki centre stage
-
The world's most beautiful gardensThe Blend For the last word in gardening leave, our pick of the best scent-filled stays
-
Trump kept up with Putin, sent Covid tests, book saysSpeed Read The revelation comes courtesy of a new book by Bob Woodward
-
Liz Cheney campaigns with Harris in WisconsinSpeed Read The pair does not agree on much politically, but they share an anti-Trump stance
-
Biden, Harris visit storm-hit North Carolina, GeorgiaSpeed Read President Joe Biden and Kamala Harris took separate tours of the south to view the catastrophic damage from Hurricane Helene
-
Jack Smith filing details Jan. 6 case against TrumpSpeed Read The special counsel's newly unsealed brief argues Trump is not immune from prosecution and gives new details on his efforts to overturn the election
-
Will 'weirdly civil' VP debate move dial in US election?Today's Big Question 'Diametrically opposed' candidates showed 'a lot of commonality' on some issues, but offered competing visions for America's future and democracy
-
All the presidential assassination attemptsIn Depth American history is full of efforts to kill sitting and former presidents
-
Biden gives final UN speech, vows 'things can get better'Speed Read President Joe Biden addressed the United Nations General Assembly for the last time
-
1 of 6 'Trump Train' drivers liable in Biden bus blockadeSpeed Read Only one of the accused was found liable in the case concerning the deliberate slowing of a 2020 Biden campaign bus
