2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumMitt Romney's Neocon War Cabinet
Its safe to say that foreign policy was not the strong suit of this years contenders for the GOP presidential nomination. Rick Perry labeled the Turkish government Islamic terrorists. Newt Gingrich referred to Palestinians as invented people. Herman Cain called Uzbekistan Ubeki-beki-beki-beki-stan-stan and memorably blanked when asked what he thought of NATOs incursion into Libya. Michele Bachmann pledged to close the US embassy in Iran, which hasnt existed since 1980. Rick Santorum gave a major foreign policy speech at a Jelly Belly factory in California.
Yet though the candidates and their views were often hard to take seriously, their statements on foreign policy reflected a more disturbing trend in the GOP. Despite facing a war-weary public, the candidateswith the exception of Ron Paul, an antiwar libertarian, and Jon Huntsman, a moderate internationalistpositioned themselves as unapologetic war hawks. That included Mitt Romney, marginally more polished than his rivals but hardly an expert. Given Romneys well-established penchant for flip-flopping and opportunism, its difficult to know what he really believes on any issue, including foreign affairs (the campaign did not respond to a request for comment). But a comprehensive review of his statements during the primary and his choice of advisers suggests a return to the hawkish, unilateral interventionism of the George W. Bush administration should he win the White House in November.
Romney is loath to mention Bush on the campaign trail, for obvious reasons, but today they sound like ideological soul mates on foreign policy. Listening to Romney, youd never know that Bush left office bogged down by two unpopular wars that cost America dearly in blood and treasure. Of Romneys forty identified foreign policy advisers, more than 70 percent worked for Bush. Many hail from the neoconservative wing of the party, were enthusiastic backers of the Iraq War and are proponents of a US or Israeli attack on Iran. Christopher Preble, a foreign policy expert at the Cato Institute, says, Romneys likely to be in the mold of George W. Bush when it comes to foreign policy if he were elected. On some key issues, like Iran, Romney and his team are to the right of Bush. Romneys embrace of the neoconservative causeeven if done cynically to woo the rightcould turn into a policy nightmare if he becomes president.
http://www.thenation.com/article/167683/mitt-romneys-neocon-war-cabinet?
Poll: How long would it take a Romney presidency to have the USA involved in WWIII...?
1 vote, 0 passes | Time left: Unlimited | |
First year | |
0 (0%) |
|
Second | |
1 (100%) |
|
Third | |
0 (0%) |
|
Fourth if we have one..... | |
0 (0%) |
|
0 DU members did not wish to select any of the options provided. | |
Show usernames
Disclaimer: This is an Internet poll |
Gman
(24,780 posts)8 2/3 months in office, but I have every bit of confidence he can do it.