Refugees from countries ruined by U.S. policies in South America have arrived at our border with Mexico, causing political crises in the United States and helping Republicans win elections. Likewise, refugees from U.S. wars in the Middle East arrived in Europe and caused political havoc that resulted in the election of anti-immigrant and undemocratic right wing governments.
U.S. support for the mujahideen in Afghanistan prior to and during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan helped lead to the rise of Islamic extremism, including Al Qaeda, and to the subsequent U.S. twenty year misadventure in Afghanistan.
U.S. support for apartheid Israel and for repressive governments in Iran, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and elsewhere –including the stationing of troops and bases — contributed to the rise of Muslim extremism and the 9/11 attacks on the U.S.
According to Brown University’s Costs of War project, “Through Fiscal Year 2022, the United States federal government has spent and obligated $8 trillion dollars on the post-9/11 wars in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, and elsewhere.” That money could have been spent on a transition to green energy and on social and economic programs both domestically and internationally that would have decreased poverty, raised productivity, and assuaged supply chain problems.
The disastrous wars in Vietnam and Iraq led to electoral losses by Democrats in 1968 and Republicans in 2006 and 2008. The botched withdrawal from Afghanistan damaged President Biden’s poll numbers.  It remains to be seen whether that withdrawal and the war in Ukraine will aid Republicans in 2022 and 2024, but some Republicans are hoping that it does. By causing inflation, the war in Ukraine is helping Republicans.
