(DCNF)—Vice President Kamala Harris will be stepping on to a fracturing world stage as a “novice” foreign policy tactician should she win the 2024 presidential race, which experts warned would pose a serious risk to U.S. national security.
Harris has quickly become the presumptive Democratic nominee in the 2024 presidential race, having captured major endorsements and roughly $80 million in new campaign donations since President Joe Biden announced Sunday that he would not be seeking reelection. But Harris’ inexperience and policy stances make her unqualified to conduct serious national security and foreign policy, raising the risk that she will be comparably poor or worse than Biden on such critical issues, former U.S. officials and defense experts told the Daily Caller News Foundation.
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“Kamala Harris was a foreign policy and national security novice in 2021 and still is, even after a concerted effort to beef up her credentials on the international stage,” Michael Bars, former White House senior communications advisor and National Security Council official, told the DCNF. “Things will only get more perilous for the U.S. and our allies with Harris in the Oval Office.”
Since becoming vice president in 2021, Harris has mostly been in lockstep with Biden’s approach to foreign policy and national security, according to multiple reports.
In an open letter with over 350 signatories, as obtained by The Washington Post on Tuesday, former foreign policy and national security officials applauded that Harris had met “with more than 150 world leaders” and represented the U.S. on a global stage on international trips during her tenure as vice president.
Among the signatories on the letter were former secretaries of state Hillary Clinton and John Kerry, former national security adviser Susan Rice and former intelligence official James Clapper, who declared that Harris was the “best-qualified person” to serve as the 47th president of the U.S.
“Absolutely not,” Victoria Coates, senior defense executive at the Heritage Foundation and former White House national security advisor, told the DCNF when asked if Harris could conduct competent foreign and national security policy, pointing to Harris’ “failure” to address the root causes of illegal immigration even after being specifically tasked to do so in 2021. “Biden at least had decades of dealing with these issues and was a known quantity. Harris’ default mode appears to be extreme progressive policies that are damaging to our standing abroad.”
“Politically, I suspect she will be unburdened by what has been,” Justin Logan, director of defense and foreign policy studies at the Cato Institute, joked to the DCNF, referencing a frequently-used line by Harris.
Logan told the DCNF that Harris’ potential national security and views on foreign affairs may shift depending on what is politically favorable should she be elected in November, noting that he did not anticipate that she would dramatically “break” from what has typically been seen under the Biden administration. “With a few exceptions, she governed like a replacement-level Democratic senator and then a replacement-level Democratic vice president… Where you stand depends on where you sit. Presidents differ from presidential candidates, who differ from senators.”
On the Russia-Ukraine war, Harris has vocally promoted Biden’s continued military support to Ukraine, of which there has been roughly $175 billion since 2022, according to Politico. Former U.S. officials and defense experts have expressed concern that the Biden administration does not have a plan to peacefully end the war and ensure the security of the Ukrainian people, as Russian forces continue to dig in and make small territorial gains despite Ukraine being equipped with Western weapons.
Harris said at the Munich Security Conference in February that she would support Ukraine’s fight against Russia “as long as it takes,” according to CBS News. She also reinforced during the February conference her “ironclad” commitment to NATO, a transatlantic defense alliance that some experts fear is dragging the U.S. further into conflict with Russia.
Harris made her position on the Russia-Ukraine war clear in the early days of the conflict in 2022.
“Ukraine is a country in Europe. It exists next to another country called Russia,” Harris said during a radio interview in March 2022. “Russia is a bigger country. Russia is a powerful country. Russia decided to invade a smaller country called Ukraine. So, basically, that’s wrong, and it goes against everything we stand for.”
On the Israel-Hamas war — which started on Oct. 7 after Hamas invaded Israel and killed roughly 1,200 people — Harris has largely stood by Biden in calling for an end to the conflict, which neither Israel nor Hamas have thus far agreed to. Harris has issued strong calls for an “immediate” ceasefire in the war and has reportedly privately pushed the administration to be more sympathetic to the Palestinian cause and harsher on the Israeli government as the death toll in Gaza continues to rise.
Harris said in a July interview with The Nation that pro-Palestinian protesters are “showing exactly what human emotion should be,” noting that she rejected some of what they were saying but understood “the emotion behind it.” Pro-Palestinian protests have consumed the country since Oct. 7, with some turning into displays of antisemitism or violence.
As for the broader Middle East region, Harris has been supportive of the Biden administration’s diplomatic efforts to contain Iran and revive the Obama-era nuclear deal that aimed to curtail the country’s nuclear program, albeit unsuccessfully, according to Al-Monitor. These efforts have appeared to largely fail as Iran has raked in billions of dollars under the Biden administration’s sanctions relief while orchestrating its terror network to attack U.S. and allied forces throughout the region.
In the Asia-Pacific, Harris has reinforced the U.S. commitment to fair competition with China — the second largest economy in the world — while maintaining that the country must act less hostile to the West and refrain from engaging in military conflict to achieve its goals, particularly when it comes to annexing Taiwan, according to Politico. As part of her several international trips while vice president, Harris has traveled to Eastern Asia four times since 2021 and met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in September while abroad, according to ABC News and the Post.
But experts who spoke to the DCNF were doubtful that Harris could attend and add substance to international summits or hold productive meetings with world leaders on her own, especially leaders who have tense relations with the U.S.
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“While not as frail or compromised as the President, Harris does not present as a serious person, and I cannot imagine her handling a difficult negotiation with a hostile foreign head of state such as Xi,” Coates told the DCNF. “There’s also no evidence she would have the tough conversations we need to have with NATO allies about Europe taking the lead on European security.”
In addition to receiving endorsements from lawmakers, media figures, Democratic operatives and Biden himself, major foreign policy officials part of the Democratic establishment have thrown their support behind Harris in recent days. Though Biden only dropped out on Sunday, Harris has already surged to the frontrunner position for the Democratic nomination.
The Democratic National Convention (DNC), where a nominee will be formally chosen, will take place the week of Aug. 19.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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Five Things New “Preppers” Forget When Getting Ready for Bad Times Ahead
The preparedness community is growing faster than it has in decades. Even during peak times such as Y2K, the economic downturn of 2008, and Covid, the vast majority of Americans made sure they had plenty of toilet paper but didn’t really stockpile anything else.
Things have changed. There’s a growing anxiety in this presidential election year that has prompted more Americans to get prepared for crazy events in the future. Some of it is being driven by fearmongers, but there are valid concerns with the economy, food supply, pharmaceuticals, the energy grid, and mass rioting that have pushed average Americans into “prepper” mode.
There are degrees of preparedness. One does not have to be a full-blown “doomsday prepper” living off-grid in a secure Montana bunker in order to be ahead of the curve. In many ways, preparedness isn’t about being able to perfectly handle every conceivable situation. It’s about being less dependent on government for as long as possible. Those who have proper “preps” will not be waiting for FEMA to distribute emergency supplies to the desperate masses.
Below are five things people new to preparedness (and sometimes even those with experience) often forget as they get ready. All five are common sense notions that do not rely on doomsday in order to be useful. It may be nice to own a tank during the apocalypse but there’s not much you can do with it until things get really crazy. The recommendations below can have places in the lives of average Americans whether doomsday comes or not.
Note: The information provided by this publication or any related communications is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. We do not provide personalized investment, financial, or legal advice.
Secured Wealth
Whether in the bank or held in a retirement account, most Americans feel that their life’s savings is relatively secure. At least they did until the last couple of years when de-banking, geopolitical turmoil, and the threat of Central Bank Digital Currencies reared their ugly heads.
It behooves Americans to diversify their holdings. If there’s a triggering event or series of events that cripple the financial systems or devalue the U.S. Dollar, wealth can evaporate quickly. To hedge against potential turmoil, many Americans are looking in two directions: Crypto and physical precious metals.
There are huge advantages to cryptocurrencies, but there are also inherent risks because “virtual” money can become challenging to spend. Add in the push by central banks and governments to regulate or even replace cryptocurrencies with their own versions they control and the risks amplify. There’s nothing wrong with cryptocurrencies today but things can change rapidly.
As for physical precious metals, many Americans pay cash to keep plenty on hand in their safe. Rolling over or transferring retirement accounts into self-directed IRAs is also a popular option, but there are caveats. It can often take weeks or even months to get the gold and silver shipped if the owner chooses to close their account. This is why Genesis Gold Group stands out. Their relationship with the depositories allows for rapid closure and shipping, often in less than 10 days from the time the account holder makes their move. This can come in handy if things appear to be heading south.
Lots of Potable Water
One of the biggest shocks that hit new preppers is understanding how much potable water they need in order to survive. Experts claim one gallon of water per person per day is necessary. Even the most conservative estimates put it at over half-a-gallon. That means that for a family of four, they’ll need around 120 gallons of water to survive for a month if the taps turn off and the stores empty out.
Being near a fresh water source, whether it’s a river, lake, or well, is a best practice among experienced preppers. It’s necessary to have a water filter as well, even if the taps are still working. Many refuse to drink tap water even when there is no emergency. Berkey was our previous favorite but they’re under attack from regulators so the Alexapure systems are solid replacements.
For those in the city or away from fresh water sources, storage is the best option. This can be challenging because proper water storage containers take up a lot of room and are difficult to move if the need arises. For “bug in” situations, having a larger container that stores hundreds or even thousands of gallons is better than stacking 1-5 gallon containers. Unfortunately, they won’t be easily transportable and they can cost a lot to install.
Water is critical. If chaos erupts and water infrastructure is compromised, having a large backup supply can be lifesaving.
Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies
There are multiple threats specific to the medical supply chain. With Chinese and Indian imports accounting for over 90% of pharmaceutical ingredients in the United States, deteriorating relations could make it impossible to get the medicines and antibiotics many of us need.
Stocking up many prescription medications can be hard. Doctors generally do not like to prescribe large batches of drugs even if they are shelf-stable for extended periods of time. It is a best practice to ask your doctor if they can prescribe a larger amount. Today, some are sympathetic to concerns about pharmacies running out or becoming inaccessible. Tell them your concerns. It’s worth a shot. The worst they can do is say no.
If your doctor is unwilling to help you stock up on medicines, then Jase Medical is a good alternative. Through telehealth, they can prescribe daily meds or antibiotics that are shipped to your door. As proponents of medical freedom, they empathize with those who want to have enough medical supplies on hand in case things go wrong.
Energy Sources
The vast majority of Americans are locked into the grid. This has proven to be a massive liability when the grid goes down. Unfortunately, there are no inexpensive remedies.
Those living off-grid had to either spend a lot of money or effort (or both) to get their alternative energy sources like solar set up. For those who do not want to go so far, it’s still a best practice to have backup power sources. Diesel generators and portable solar panels are the two most popular, and while they’re not inexpensive they are not out of reach of most Americans who are concerned about being without power for extended periods of time.
Natural gas is another necessity for many, but that’s far more challenging to replace. Having alternatives for heating and cooking that can be powered if gas and electric grids go down is important. Have a backup for items that require power such as manual can openers. If you’re stuck eating canned foods for a while and all you have is an electric opener, you’ll have problems.
Don’t Forget the Protein
When most think about “prepping,” they think about their food supply. More Americans are turning to gardening and homesteading as ways to produce their own food. Others are working with local farmers and ranchers to purchase directly from the sources. This is a good idea whether doomsday comes or not, but it’s particularly important if the food supply chain is broken.
Most grocery stores have about one to two weeks worth of food, as do most American households. Grocers rely heavily on truckers to receive their ongoing shipments. In a crisis, the current process can fail. It behooves Americans for multiple reasons to localize their food purchases as much as possible.
Long-term storage is another popular option. Canned foods, MREs, and freeze dried meals are selling out quickly even as prices rise. But one component that is conspicuously absent in shelf-stable food is high-quality protein. Most survival food companies offer low quality “protein buckets” or cans of meat, but they are often barely edible.
Prepper All-Naturals offers premium cuts of steak that have been cooked sous vide and freeze dried to give them a 25-year shelf life. They offer Ribeye, NY Strip, and Tenderloin among others.
Having buckets of beans and rice is a good start, but keeping a solid supply of high-quality protein isn’t just healthier. It can help a family maintain normalcy through crises.
Prepare Without Fear
With all the challenges we face as Americans today, it can be emotionally draining. Citizens are scared and there’s nothing irrational about their concerns. Being prepared and making lifestyle changes to secure necessities can go a long way toward overcoming the fears that plague us. We should hope and pray for the best but prepare for the worst. And if the worst does come, then knowing we did what we could to be ready for it will help us face those challenges with confidence.
