Pentagon policy chief rejects US as ‘great empire’ in Munich

The “America First” strategy is one of “common sense,” Colby contended, saying the pragmatic vision extends to countries such as China, which the administration is “looking at in a clear-eyed way, with the goal of a favorable balance of power and stability.” “We’re not communists in the Trump administration,” he said. “But it’s also not our job to say what the government of China is.” Instead, Colby pushed for a “stability model,” where the U.S. ups its military as a deterrence and allies take ownership in respective regions, including by stepping up defense spending and incentivizing foes against forming alliances…