Alexander Vindman: A Last Glimmer of Hope in the Shadow of Despotism | Opinion

Throughout American history, several crucial moments have defined our country’s trajectory. The War of Independence, the Civil War and the fight against slavery, both World Wars, and the Cold War have all been struggles against despotism, whether foreign or domestic. And through those victories, the arc of history, for nearly 250-years, has always bent towards justice. But while those victories allowed us to flourish, they also ushered in a sense of complacency in American society that despotism was vanquished. The reality is that those evils never disappeared; instead, tyranny was mustering its strength, preying on fears and grievances in societies to strike out at America and the democracies of the world.

We have not been vigilant. The reemergence of despotism as a political force is attributable to American society falling prey to apathy, the growing belief that citizens’ voices don’t matter, and a sense of complacency that all is well, and democracy had defeated the “-isms” of the world.

Now, we face a defining moment that will either upend America’s experiment in democracy, undo the sacrifice of millions of Americans, and allow for despotism to surge around the globe, or ensure our arc toward justice continues.

The stakes in this year’s elections are higher than in any other recent election because this year’s voting will determine the security realities for the United States and the world for decades to come; and the contrast between the two visions of America put forward by the candidates—former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris—has never been more stark.

Our enemies have grown bolder and are working in concert to defeat democratic governance grounded in the principle of protecting individual liberties. Russian autocrat Vladimir Putin convenes dictators, authoritarians, and the “anti-democratic-curious” to coordinate a campaign against the U.S. and our allies. The next American president may either amplify the dangers to our country or meet the challenge of our enemies with resolve and stronger alliances. The next American president can build off the momentum of the current administration and develop new alliances similar to the one between Britain, Australia and the U.S. (AUKUS), or treat NATO like a protection racket and shake down our partners. The next president can appease our foes and hope they leave us alone, or cultivate a more powerful team of allies and friends to protect our national security. The next president can be easily manipulated through self-serving deals and pandering to ego, or be respected by both our friends and enemies.

In both futures, the U.S. will face an increasingly coherent and concerted threat from adversaries engaged in disinformation, malign influence, hybrid warfare, and a slide toward military aggression. However, only one candidate is ready to work with our democratic partners and allies to defeat this threat. The other candidate openly embraces anti-democratic authoritarian regimes and tries to make friends with them while simultaneously threatening our traditional partners. Do we truly wish to go it alone in a dangerous world, wait for democracies to unravel and be picked off one at a time, and then face all the danger ourselves?

In the case of the Russo-Ukraine war, the risks of a larger war unfolding are particularly acute. One candidate will usher in isolationism, appeasement, and withdrawal, inviting Russia to attack Europe. The cascading effect of U.S. withdrawal will result in wider conflicts across the world: Iran employing its terrorist proxies to lash out across the Middle East and China emboldened to conquer Taiwan. America’s absence will create a security vacuum and usher in a world at war. This would be the inevitable consequence of one candidate saying that the strong can prey on the weak, welcoming a return to the rules of the jungle that have caused two world wars in the last century.

Even with that dark geopolitical prognosis, the greatest threats to our national security may perhaps be domestic. Depending on how we vote, we risk losing the very character of America. We risk discarding a nearly 250-year tradition of creating a more perfect Union, instead embracing its very antithesis. In just a few days, we will declare whether we are a principled or a cruel society—we will either embody the values and virtues we wish to instill in our children and make the world a better place, or we will recede into envy and malevolence and threaten our neighbors.

A foundational lesson we learn throughout life is that there is strength in unity and division only makes us weaker. While one candidate will represent all Americans and act on our national security interests, the other declares that immigrants “poison the blood of America” and is eager to employ the military to assault opponents while simultaneously calling soldiers suckers and losers.

One candidate has shown an ability to reach across the aisle and unite conservative and progressive voices, the other has been called “fascist” by his former chief of staff, his former defense secretary, and his former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

One candidate offers the promise of opportunities for the working and middle classes, and the other promises tax breaks for the wealthy who are now attempting to buy the election for him.

One candidate has policies to invest in the future, the other seeks to employ the roadmap of Project 2025 and deconstruct environmental protections, the separation of church and state, access to education, and the safety nets provided through the Affordable Care Act and social security.

One candidate promises that the best has yet to come and a brighter future is possible, the other organizes a hate-filled “America First” rally at Madison Square Garden that harkens back to the American fascist movement which should remain only a dark chapter of our history from nearly a century ago. It should be understood that the attacks on individual rights and liberties, the elimination of reproductive care, equal protections for our diverse communities, and free and fair elections are all threats to our national security.

In my testimony in Congress, I said right matters. If Donald Trump is elected we will all be living in a far more dangerous world where “Right” no longer matters. But I am confident we will not face that kind of mean reality. I believe America can once again defeat despotism. And that with President Harris, our best days are ahead, because this is America and here, right matters!

Alexander S. Vindman, lieutenant colonel, U.S. Army (Retired) was the director for European affairs for former President Donald Trump’s National Security Council, when Vindman reported Trump’s abuse of power leading to Trump’s first impeachment. Vindman holds a doctorate in international affairs, is a leading voice on national security, and a best-selling author. His substack, “Why It Matters,” can be found at avindman.com.

The views expressed in this article are the writer’s own.