US foreign policy is unrealistically broad and ambitious: How to rein it in

Is there a sound strategic logic guiding U.S. foreign policy? Or is it more, as Harold MacMillan, on becoming prime minister in 1957, responded when asked what would guide his foreign policy: "Events, dear boy, events." Witness the current reality: The U.S. expands forces in Europe with a long-term Ukraine commitment, sends more ships and Marines to the Persian Gulf as Biden pushes a deal to make new security commitments to Saudi Arabia as a payoff if it normalizes ties to Israel, all as Washington expands its presence and alliances in Asia to counter China. You can be forgiven for…