Power Isn’t the Problem — Credibility Is

I support most conservative policies. I believe in borders, law and order, fiscal responsibility, and a strong America that doesn’t apologize for defending itself.

But there’s a line between strength and recklessness, and lately that line keeps getting crossed.

The veiled threats toward Mexico, the talk around Greenland, and how the world views our involvement in Gaza — where we support eradicating Hamas but not the killing of innocent people — aren’t strength. They’re diplomatic sloppiness.

Intent matters, but perception shapes alliances — and right now, perception is costing us trust.

We’re talking about NATO allies, not enemies. Allies don’t get strong-armed or embarrassed publicly. That undermines diplomacy and erodes trust, and once trust is gone, it’s not easy to rebuild.

This matters because when we criticize China over Taiwan or Russia for what it’s done, our argument is supposed to be about sovereignty, consent, and rule of law. But if we start sounding like “might makes right,” we weaken our own moral ground. Even if our intentions are different, the optics blur — and that’s dangerous.

Look at Venezuela. Intervention was one thing, but we still don’t know whether it helped or hurt when it comes to drugs, stability, or the people living there. The same regime is still in power, the country remains unstable, and if the goal was long-term stability, putting that country at risk defeats the purpose.

The hard truth is this: we have a history of this.
Afghanistan.
Iraq.
Libya.

Each time, we were told it would be quick, clean, and necessary. Each time, the long-term consequences were worse than advertised — destabilized regions, power vacuums, and decades of blowback.

I’m not anti-America.
I’m not anti-strength.

I’m anti-careless power.

America doesn’t need to bully allies or float half-baked threats to prove anything. Real leadership is quiet, measured, and disciplined. When we lose that, we don’t just create enemies — we lose credibility.

And credibility is what actually keeps the world from sliding into chaos.

That’s not politics.
That’s common sense.