Is Washington ready to embrace restraint as the guiding principle of U.S. foreign policy? Several recent developments suggest that at least when it comes to some prominent debates over national security, the answer is a guarded yes. Last week, the Senate passed a bipartisan war powers resolution prohibiting the White House from going to war with Iran without congressional approval. The White House also reportedly signed off on a tentative deal with the Taliban last week to begin ending U.S. military involvement in the war in Afghanistan.
Advocates of restraint should still hold off on any victory laps just yet. President Donald Trump will surely veto the war powers resolution once the House passes it. And any deal with the Taliban is inherently fragile.
Still, at the very least, both developments suggest an emerging consensus to end the “Forever Wars,” and to avoid any new interventions in the Middle East to take their place.