Presidents of both political parties have asserted that the U.S. must umpire the world’s conflicts and that if it doesn’t, the world will not be safe.This policy helped create a more peaceful, prosperous, and cooperative world in most respects, but also came at a cost in blood, treasure, and moral uncertainty. American Umpire offers a balanced alternative to the partisan hyperbole of the 24-hour news cycle and Internet free-for-all that starkly paints foreign policy choices as either war mongering or isolationism. It features informed voices across the spectrum, from former Secretary of State George Shultz who thinks “if the US steps back from the role it’s played since WWII, the world will come apart at the seams,” to academics like Barry Posen of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology who believes America must devise a new framework of “restraint” and expect allies to take greater responsibility.
Author: February 11, 2026
Published at: 2026-02-11 00:00:00
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