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I'm John Bachelor with Ambassador John Bolton, former ambassador to the United Nations

former National Security Advisor, writing at the National Review Online about America

engaged in the world since the beginning, since George Washington's farewell address

and before. However, here in the 21st century, again, this word isolationism comes into play

because of decisions made by several presidents that have led to uncertain ends. John, you served

George Bush and you served Donald Trump as well. You concentrated in your essay about

the mistakes that Mr. Trump and his administration made, especially with regard to Afghanistan.

Is that isolationism, John, or was that just poor homework?

Well, it was certainly both. I think Trump is primarily responsible for this reemergence

of the isolationist virus. Not that he had any coherent policies. It was hard to know

what he would do on any given day. But he empowered people who basically didn't think they had

to pay any attention, let alone adequate attention to international affairs. And I think Afghanistan

was a good example of that. The way that he handled the negotiation with the Taliban,

I think, was catastrophic. He negotiated with this terrorist group and ignored the legitimate

government of Afghanistan that we had created with so much effort and so much cost to our

own country. And by doing that, really cut the legs out from under the government. Now,

...