Mitt Romney Delivers Foreign Policy Address: “Hope Is Not a Strategy”
Posted by Jim Hoft on Monday, October 8, 2012, 11:02 AM
Mitt Romney delivered a powerful speech on foreign policy strategy in Lexington, Virginia today.
Mitt offered a clear separation from his strategy and the foreign policy of the Obama Administration.
This is what makes America exceptional: It is not just the character of our country—it is the record of our accomplishments. America has a proud history of strong, confident, principled global leadership—a history that has been written by patriots of both parties. That is America at its best. And it is the standard by which we measure every President, as well as anyone who wishes to be President. Unfortunately, this President’s policies have not been equal to our best examples of world leadership. And nowhere is this more evident than in the Middle East.
I want to be very clear: The blame for the murder of our people in Libya, and the attacks on our embassies in so many other countries, lies solely with those who carried them out—no one else. But it is the responsibility of our President to use America’s great power to shape history—not to lead from behind, leaving our destiny at the mercy of events. Unfortunately, that is exactly where we find ourselves in the Middle East under President Obama.
The relationship between the President of the United States and the Prime Minister of Israel, our closest ally in the region, has suffered great strains. The President explicitly stated that his goal was to put “daylight” between the United States and Israel. And he has succeeded. This is a dangerous situation that has set back the hope of peace in the Middle East and emboldened our mutual adversaries, especially Iran.
Iran today has never been closer to a nuclear weapons capability. It has never posed a greater danger to our friends, our allies, and to us. And it has never acted less deterred by America, as was made clear last year when Iranian agents plotted to assassinate the Saudi Ambassador in our nation’s capital. And yet, when millions of Iranians took to the streets in June of 2009, when they demanded freedom from a cruel regime that threatens the world, when they cried out, “Are you with us, or are you with them?”—the American President was silent…
… The President is fond of saying that “The tide of war is receding.” And I want to believe him as much as anyone. But when we look at the Middle East today—with Iran closer than ever to nuclear weapons capability, with the conflict in Syria threating to destabilize the region, with violent extremists on the march, and with an American Ambassador and three others dead likely at the hands of Al-Qaeda affiliates— it is clear that the risk of conflict in the region is higher now than when the President took office.
I know the President hopes for a safer, freer, and a more prosperous Middle East allied with the United States. I share this hope. But hope is not a strategy. We cannot support our friends and defeat our enemies in the Middle East when our words are not backed up by deeds, when our defense spending is being arbitrarily and deeply cut, when we have no trade agenda to speak of, and the perception of our strategy is not one of partnership, but of passivity.
The greater tragedy of it all is that we are missing an historic opportunity to win new friends who share our values in the Middle East—friends who are fighting for their own futures against the very same violent extremists, and evil tyrants, and angry mobs who seek to harm us. Unfortunately, so many of these people who could be our friends feel that our President is indifferent to their quest for freedom and dignity. As one Syrian woman put it, “We will not forget that you forgot about us.”
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SeniorD commented:
Personally, I’d like to see him adopt the “Ryan Doctrine” – no matter where you hide, no matter what your belief system is – harm or kill an American you pay the price. We WILL find you, we WILL extract that price. Period. End of Statement.
Patty commented:
“Unfortunately, this President’s policies have not been equal to our best examples of world leadership.”
This statement pretty much says it all.
When there ISN’T LEADERSHIP, America will Fail.
We need to press the, “reset” button. Now! We are going in (if it was for the use of bad English, I would say) THIS HAS GOT TO BE THE “most” WORSE, Presidency in U.S. History.
When wrong has been repeated over and over again by anyone, “time for DR. DO!
Romney, he gets it, Americans get it, THINKING ABOUT A STRATEGY “WON’T” get the job done.
Ragspierre commented:
An excellent, powerful, well-reasoned speech by Romney.
SoLongSong commented:
It will be SO NICE to have a REAL President of the United States again!!!!!
Redwine commented:
Excellent speech. He will not only wipe the floor with Comrade Hussein in the next debate, which will be on foreign policy, he will wipe the walls and ceiling, too. Then he’ll flush the whole thing down the toilet.
democraps suck commented:
Let’s see how omooslime spins and makes lies out of that…..it’s the only thing lib-turds and Marxists can do
Patty commented:
Obama launches pre-emptive strike ahead of Romney’s foreign policy speech
PREEMPTIVE? OBAMA DOESN’T KNOW WHAT THE WORD MEANS.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/oct/8/obama-launches-pre-emptive-strike-ahead-romneys-fo/
Patty commented:
ot
Obama’s staffers changed election strategy during Denver debate
{……………]
Those messages are increasingly aggressive and negative — and risky, because they may alienate some of remaining uncommitted voters. Those uncommitted voters tend to be non-ideological people who say they dislike negative ads.[.............]
Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2012/10/08/obamas-staffers-changed-election-strategy-during-denver-debate/#ixzz28jCCoUc4
Bill Mitchell commented:
GALLUP, SERIOUSLY WTF?
So Gallup announcing this morning that in the 3 days since the debate, Obama and Romney are tied amongst registered voters, and yet, today Gallup also announces Obama EXPANDING his lead to 5 points on the 7 day moving average?
How the hell does THAT math work?
Also, both Gallup and Rasmussen have Obama approval SURGING?
jpmn commented:
Do not arm the Syrian Rebels. Assad is a bad guy, but the Rebels are just as bad if not worse. The best we can hope for is a drawn out civil war leaving both sides drained when it’s over.
Liz commented:
So Obama is taking in hundreds of thousands of illegal campaign contributions from foreigners, aided by his corrupt buddies that he gives access to the White House to. Isn’t this what impeachment was designed to remedy? Jail time even.
Patty commented:
#11 October 8, 2012 at 12:07 pm
Bill Mitchell commented:
Well, I wouldn’t put credibility in any poll these days. And I feel hopeful that more of America is sickened by Obama’s failures and want a new president. Time is going to tell us in just a couple of weeks or so.
Get make to you on my comment after the Elections.
SUSYQUE commented:
Mitt Romney, the next 45th President of the United States of America, looked soooooo handsome
and sooooooo presidential giving his speech that once again nailed ooo and his destructive policies.
Romney is easy to listen to when he gives a speech. He is one classy guy and it is going to be
our pleasure to have him at the helm of the USA ship. I am sure the military leaders were pleased
with his plans for the military. Romney will appoint men and women of character with credentials in their field of endeavors. ooo’s choice of czars from the “hood” were an embarrassment to this country. Millions of people are praying that we will have a new president because we have been in mourning since ooo entered the White House. On Nov. 6, 2012 at ll:59 p.m. we will be rejoicing!
bg commented:
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just one of the pebbles Obama’s sandcastle is built on..
Obama didn’t join Wright’s church to follow Jesus
“Obama may say he’s a Christian, but he’s not,” said the
member, identified for this story as “Rose.” “Joining Trinity
for Obama was a political decision, not a religious one.”
no no no, that cannot be, Obama is some sort of god!!
bit more..
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lizzy84 commented:
Listening to Mitt’s speech @VMI..http://www.therightscoop.com/watch-live-mitt-romneys-foreign-policy-speech/
~via right scoop.
He is sounding good.
The next debate is going to be epic.
bg commented:
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October 8, 2012
[Never send the village idiot to a MENSA Convention.
That’s an apt sentiment to describe what our country has endured and what the world has witnessed for nearly four years of the Obama Debacle, a haphazard grab-bag of deceitful sound bites and self-promotion that turned out to be little more than a tutorial symbolizing the difference between marketing and managing.]
much more at link..
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Patty commented:
#17 October 8, 2012 at 12:33 pm
bg commented:
AND OF COURSE, his favorite lady “back then” Oprah. A member until she let just before campaigning for Obama.
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