Can anyone agree on what America’s ‘greatest threat’ is?

It’s one of the most persistent cliches of foreign-policy commentary, particularly since it’s an assertion that’s basically impossible to disprove. Here are some things that have been described, in various terms, as the greatest threat to U.S. national security or the American way of life in the past few months: A "lone-wolf" terrorist attack – ...

By , a former associate editor at Foreign Policy.

It's one of the most persistent cliches of foreign-policy commentary, particularly since it's an assertion that's basically impossible to disprove. Here are some things that have been described, in various terms, as the greatest threat to U.S. national security or the American way of life in the past few months:

It’s one of the most persistent cliches of foreign-policy commentary, particularly since it’s an assertion that’s basically impossible to disprove. Here are some things that have been described, in various terms, as the greatest threat to U.S. national security or the American way of life in the past few months:

A "lone-wolf" terrorist attack – President Barack Obama

President Barack Obama – Gov. Rick Perry

China’s nuclear arsenal – Director of National Intelligence James Clapper

The national debt – Former Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen

The economic crisisRetired Adm. Dennis Blair

Nuclear terrorism – Former Vice President Dick Cheney

Yemen Defense Secretary Leon Panetta

"Homegrown terror" – U.S. National Counterterrorism Center Director Michael Leiter

Cyber attacks –  FBI Director James Mueller

Iran – 63 percent of Americans 

The Haqqani Network Christiane Amanpour

Global warming – Sen. Barbara Boxer

Central American drug gangs – Assistant Secretary of State William Brownfield

The radical secular socialist machine – Newt Gingrich

Obamacare – Rick Santorum

Electromagnetic Pulse weaponsEMPact America 

The homosexual agenda – The American Family Association’s Bryan Fischer

So hard to know what to be most afraid of these days!

Joshua Keating was an associate editor at Foreign Policy. Twitter: @joshuakeating

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