Creating a Better Foreign Policy in the U.S. – One That Actually Makes America Safer
Both parties have pushed a foreign policy that undermines our security and forces our troops to do too much. Our partners are showing a better way.
A foreign policy that costs thousands of lives, wastes trillions of dollars, and hurts U.S. safety.
Create a better foreign policy — one of realism and restraint, relying on strength and smarts to ensure security.
Hundreds of diverse partners rethinking foreign policy and empowering veterans.
Ending the war in Afghanistan — America’s longest war ever — increasing veteran choice, sparking a foreign policy rethink.
America is the strongest country in the world. But the way we use that strength is often anything but smart.
Decades of foreign adventurism and endless wars have put America at greater risk, not less. Stand Together and our partners support creating a better foreign policy — one that empowers veterans, ensures our security, and protects our national future.
America has been fighting endless wars. It has been a surefire way to lose.
The Challenge
The roots of America’s foreign policy failures run deep.
Our national strategy has a dangerous bias toward using military force and mission creep. This approach is far too costly and comes with major unintended consequences.
The cost of the war in Afghanistan and Iraq for every American – $6 trillion total
U.S. service members killed in the War on Terror
Veterans who have filed disability claims since 2001
America has spent trillions of dollars fighting multiple wars that haven’t made us safer or more prosperous. Our men and women in uniform are being asked to do too much, and when they come home, they often have trouble accessing the care and benefits they earned.
Of Americans reject more military engagement around the world
Americans are sick and tired of the status quo. They rightly see that our engagement in the Middle East and elsewhere has hurt our security and our economy. No wonder 80% of people reject the idea of more military engagement abroad, and 60% support ending U.S. involvement in Afghanistan. They know our country can do better, and Stand Together couldn’t agree more.
The Partnership
Partners, from academic scholars to policy institutions to activist groups
We work with a diverse group of organizations to create a better foreign policy. Our community’s partners are academics, policy scholars, veterans, diplomats, journalists, elected officials, and many others. Together, we’re advocating a new approach, grounded in realism and restraint, that can truly keep our country safe.
Ideas: Academic partners at prominent universities such as Harvard, MIT, Notre Dame, and Texas A&M developing the next generation of foreign policy scholars.
Policies: Partners at major foreign policy institutions such as the Atlantic Council, Carnegie Endowment, Chicago Council, and RAND Corporation, injecting new ideas into the conversation.
The breadth and depth of our partnerships is key to our success. Our partners reinforce each other’s work. This unique approach enables us all to accomplish far more together than we could apart.
The Progress
There has been record movement toward a better foreign policy in recent years. Stand Together and our partners have played a leading role.
Our partners provided the intellectual arguments and changed the national conversation to make the end of the war in Afghanistan possible. Now we’re driving a broader foreign policy rethink. Within Stand Together itself, we’re offering thought leadership to shape the national debate and promote policies that reflect the national interest.
Concerned Veterans for America, part of the Stand Together community, has helped partners secure major victories to empower veterans, including historic legislation giving our heroes access to the medical care of their choosing.
Calls and emails to policymakers
Reach of videos and ads we’ve aired
Veterans with better access to health care
The war in Afghanistan after 20 years
It’s a long road to create a better foreign policy. But it’s a road that must be taken. Stand Together will continue to unite with and strengthen our partners to make lasting progress — because a safer, stronger, and more secure America is worth fighting for.
Getting America out of the war in Afghanistan is just the start. A better foreign policy is on the rise.
