Mitt Romney gave another foreign policy speech today and it was like all the speeches and Op-Ed’s before it – a lot of false platitudes about apologies and weakness. What policy there was sounded just like what Obama is already doing but apparently Romney is going to pound his chest harder.
In Syria I’ll work with our partners to identify and organize those members of the opposition who share our values and then ensure they obtain the arms they need to defeat Assad’s tanks helicopters and fighter jets. Iran is sending arms to Assad because they know his downfall would be a strategic defeat for them. We should be working no less vigorously through our international partners to support the many Syrians who would deliver that defeat to Iran, rather than sitting on the sidelines. It’s essential that we develop influence with those forces in Syria that will one day lead a country that sits at the heart of the Middle East.
Of course this is pretty much what Obama is doing. We are working with other gulf States to arm the Syrian rebels including CIA agents on the border. So what is Romney going to do differently – pound his chest harder.
Iran:
I will put the leaders of Iran on notice that the United States and our friends and allies will prevent them from acquiring nuclear weapons capability. I will not hesitate to impose new sanctions on Iran and will — and will tighten the sanctions we currently have. I will restore the permanent presence of aircraft carrier task forces in both the Eastern Mediterranean and the Gulf. And I’ll work with Israel to increase our military assistance and coordination. For the sake of peace, we must make clear to Iran through actions, not just words, that their nuclear pursuit will not be tolerated.
This sounds a lot like what the Obama administration has been doing for three years. So what is Romney going to do differently – pound his chest harder.
Perhaps the most striking thing about Romney’s speech was that it was even less specific than some of his previous statements. He was content to rule out “flexibility” on missile defense with Vladimir Putin, but neglected to mention that his own preferred policy toward Russia is one aimed at undoing all of the gains of improved relations with Moscow. Romney would like to benefit from the appearance of taking a harder line without having to address the likely consequences of that position, which could include reduced Russian cooperation in supplying the war in Afghanistan.
Romney like his FP advisers are still locked in a cold war mindset.
Like George W Bush Romney has little knowledge and even less interest in Foreign Policy and has surrounded himself with many of the same advisers that brought us Iraq and Afghanistan. There is every indication that he would let the tail, Israel, wag the dog, the U.S., once again. Even if he had plans to fix the economy it would be for naught since his probable Foreign Policy adventures would make them irrelevant.
Cross posted at Middle Earth Journal
Gorrila photo from Shutterstock