What is the greater threat to America?

[White Trash]

Which of these should be the primary focus of our foreign policy?

[SATW]

Clearly, Islamic Terrorism. Defeating ISIS, Hamas, Hezbollah, al-Shaabab, al-Nusra, Boko Haram and other dangerous radical islamic groups should be the number one priority of our foreign policy. These groups are a legitimate threat to the western world and especially towards liberal democratic organs.

Even if these groups don't have a direct impact on the United States (I, however, believe they do, but also believe our country smartly created a system in our NatSec that protects us better) they have a massive impact on our allies in Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

The European Union's pathetic and sluggish response to Islamic terrorism has led to the rise of extremely polarizing populist/illiberal parties on both the right and the left. These parties are now not only polling well in their countries but are starting to pull off stunning electoral victories.

 The mainstream right and the  mainstream left in the EU are equally at fault. They have no principles, they have little care for the opinions of the average person and they idiotically defend policies that have been proven failed to work against terrorism. The left of course, are apologists for terrorists and Islamic radicals and want to take in more refugees (i.e. Sweden) while the right is content with making fake "stands on principle" by backing minor "EU reforms", claiming to back "reforms on immigration" or supporting small or limited "anti-terror airstrikes" when convenient 

This tectonic rift in EU politics is allowing  Putin-style parties and figures to rise up and gain power (Viktor Orban, anybody? Or the Czech Republic's close ties to Moscow? Bulgaria's economy being tied to Russia's hip?). Which brings me to my next point:



I also believe Russia is a major geopolitical threat and headache.

That being said, the American left's attempts to start world war III over Putin is despicable and ironic. We (Romney Republicans) warned you in 2012 that Russia was problematic. You didn't listen, you don't get to write the narrative on Russia now. Sorry not sorry.

Obama weakened our national security and international standings and now we have to work with Russia to try and secure stability in the Middle East (via Syria). I believe this is necessary to protect our image in the Middle East. If we don't do something to regain our image there, Russia will waltz in and shift our historical allies into their coalition. But, of course, the American Left (especially BRTD) will ramble about how if you even work with Russia on one thing then you are a Putin apologist.


We must continue to oppose their aggressive and expansionist policies in Europe. We must solidify NATO's legitimacy by questioning, investigating or potentially suspending Turkey's membership. Turkey has become autocratic and, now, in an attempt to secure its place in the world, is trying to align itself with Russia and the Shanghai Bloc.

But, of course, American leftists just want to whine about Turkey and not actually address the situation. Of course, American leftists think Russia's expansionism is bad, but are the very people who left Ukraine for dead. They are the very people who supported a President who THREATENED Ukraine into voting for an Anti-Israel resolution, like a "Russian thug" (your words, not mine, leftists) would.

American Leftists how literally no ounce of wisdom on any foreign policy or national security issues post-2008. It's honestly pretty sad how Democrats have controlled the white house since 2009 but are continuously blaming  Republican ideology or foreign policies for the world's current situation.

Also, no, global warming/climate change is not a major national security threat. Believing so is literally why the left is failing across the world and why Hillary lost to Trump.

Is global warming/climate change a problem? possibly. Is it more of a tangible threat towards people's lives at the moment? Absolutely not. 

[America Needs R'hllor]

On a large scale, definitely Russia. The Islamic Terrorism is a serious problem and every life lost to them is a tragedy, but they don't have nukes and aren't nearly as likely to seriously threaten democratic U.S. allies (Israel will never forget succumb, but the Baltic states and Finland for example are very much threatened).

[fhtagn]

Pretty clearly Russia, though both dwarf in comparison to climate change, which is by far the greatest risk to our national security.

[JA]

Pretty clearly Russia, though both dwarf in comparison to climate change, which is by far the greatest risk to our national security.

[President Johnson]

Islamic terrorism. Putin doesn't kill American citizens at home.

[dead0man]

Islamic terrorism. Putin doesn't kill American citizens at home.

indeed.  But obviously neither are a threat to America.  We are our own biggest threat.

[Ljube]

Islamic terrorism.

Putin is a friend.

[America Needs R'hllor]

Islamic terrorism. Putin doesn't kill American citizens at home.

Putin would watch millions die and never blink. The terrorists would too, sure, but he's actually capable of doing it.

[Green Line]

Russia, by far.  Putin is evil.  The only threat we face from Islamists is lone-wolf attacks. 

[🦀🎂🦀🎂]

It's a difficult question to answer without risking oversimplification. Certainly Russia has the potential to cause a lot more havoc than random Sunni mercenaries, who only really proliferate as a consequence of the power vacuums that have resulted from incompetent MENA governments and interference from abroad. Although WW3 would be in nobodys interest it could easily happen in a situation when global geopolitics is significantly more tense than now.

I think right now, Islamist terror is more of a threat more from the knock on effects of destabilising countries and the regional spillover that would occur if further countries start to become unable to guarantee citizens security.

[Since I'm the mad scientist proclaimed by myself]

Russia, by far.  Putin is evil.  The only threat we face from Islamists is lone-wolf attacks. 

Car accidents(30000 a year) kill hundreds of times more people then terrorists(500 a year at best, even 9/11 only killed about 4000 people, and it dwarfs all of the other attacks made since easily. Terrorism is good at inducing rage, but it doesn't currently kill that many people). As was said before, Putin has the power to kill millions and would use it without the slightest care if it helped him.

[100% pro-life no matter what]

Pretty clearly Russia, though both dwarf in comparison to climate change, which is by far the greatest risk to our national security.

I always thought it was just self-parody when liberals said that "climate change" (notice that you don't use "global warming" anymore) is the greatest threat to our national security.

But, the obvious answer is radical Islamic terrorism.

[🦀🎂🦀🎂]

Pretty clearly Russia, though both dwarf in comparison to climate change, which is by far the greatest risk to our national security.

I always thought it was just self-parody when liberals said that "climate change" (notice that you don't use "global warming" anymore) is the greatest threat to our national security.

But, the obvious answer is radical Islamic terrorism.

Do you believe the Pentagon is a nest of liberals?

[Associate Justice PiT]

     Putin could kill people. Islamic terrorists do kill people. An important distinction, unless we want to talk about the real threat to America: asteroids!

[Since I'm the mad scientist proclaimed by myself]

a. I'm not a "liberal", so please don't label me as such. Thanks.

Why do you care so much about being called "progressive" instead of liberal?

[Horus]

Russia of course. Long game, people.

[Santander]

1. China
2. Islamic terrorism

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

    Putin could kill people. Islamic terrorists do kill people. An important distinction, unless we want to talk about the real threat to America: asteroids!

The only asteroid showing up on the Torino scale has a 1 in 100,000 chance of hitting in 2110. There's plenty of time to develop technologies to divert that in the unlikely case it actually would hit Earth. Climate change is much more of a threat.

[Beet]

1. China
2. Islamic terrorism

Why is China a threat?

[Storebought]

Islamic terrorism is a grave threat to Muslim-majority countries because the terrorists have the ability and means to overthrow legitimate government for one that espouses militant Islam as a stated goal. Jihadists, however, have no ability to overthrow the government of any western country, and, to be honest, little ability to carry out mass attacks against the west except by recruiting drifters and felons for suicide attacks.

Compare that to Russia: Russia has already engaged in territorial expansion against two Soviet ex-republics and openly threaten the Baltic states. (And they have little concern with civilian casualties when they do engage in direct military action). They have 8000+ nuclear warheads pointed against the US. They deploy countless spies and double agents and hackers to compromise our ability to defend ourselves. And to top it all, Russia spreads disinformation through paid trolls to legitimize Russian aggression ("Killiary is going to start WWIII") and encourage diabolical nonsense like isolationism in the US and breaking up the EU.

Nobody calls what Russia does to the US and our allies "terrorism", but it is far more terrorist in practice than anything our unemployed "jihadis" have done in Boston or Paris or Brussels.

So, yes, Islamic terrorism causes loss of life in dramatic fashion but is not ultimately a threat to the west. The danger of Russian terrorism, however, is real and grave.

[Ljube]

1. China
2. Islamic terrorism

Why is China a threat?

It is a present and long term threat to US world dominance. Therefore, enemy No.1

Trump got it right.

And in our struggle against China, Putin is ally No.1

Trump got that right, too.


Threat No.2 is Islamic terrorism.

Russia is not a threat. Russia is our ally. Or it should be one (and probably will be one soon).

[Storebought]

1. China
2. Islamic terrorism

Why is China a threat?

It is a present and long term threat to US world dominance. Therefore, enemy No.1

Trump got it right.

And in our struggle against China, Putin is ally No.1

Trump got that right, too.


Threat No.2 is Islamic terrorism.

Russia is not a threat. Russia is our ally. Or it should be one (and probably will be one soon).

Nonsense. China is Russia's strongest ally, and vice versa.

[Beet]

1. China
2. Islamic terrorism

Why is China a threat?

It is a present and long term threat to US world dominance. Therefore, enemy No.1

Enemy? No. Last I heard we are at peace.
Present- Lol, they have no territorial ambitions outside their own backyard, military spending way below ours.
Long term- Low birthrate, slowing economy, headed toward being the next Japan. Is Japan a threat to US dominance?

The only threat posed is that of war which would do tremendous damage to our country and possibly even destroy it, plus earn the enmity of 1.4 billion people.

[Ljube]

1. China
2. Islamic terrorism

Why is China a threat?

It is a present and long term threat to US world dominance. Therefore, enemy No.1

Enemy? No. Last I heard we are at peace.
Present- Lol, they have no territorial ambitions outside their own backyard, military spending way below ours.
Long term- Low birthrate, slowing economy, headed toward being the next Japan. Is Japan a threat to US dominance?

The only threat posed is that of war which would do tremendous damage to our country and possibly even destroy it, plus earn the enmity of 1.4 billion people.

Your lack of vision is disturbing. That trait is shared by many Democrats.

Fortunately for us, we have Reagan II as our next president.