As Mitt Romney accepts the Republican presidential nomination to run against Barack Obama, his first test is to explain how he can revive the American economy and put people back to work — the dominant issue in the election. But Romney also faces a second test — how will he lead the world’s most powerful country on the global stage? In two runs for the presidency, Romney has revealed little about his world view, his grasp of global politics, and the choices he would make as president on the most complex national security agenda in decades.
Skeptics insist Americans don’t care about foreign policy and that it won’t be much of an issue in the campaign. That is hard to square with the reality we face overseas, from the failing war in Afghanistan to Iran’s menacing nuclear campaign, a Middle East in turmoil, the euro debt crisis, and China’s challenge to American power in Asia. There is indeed a foreign policy debate underway, which prompts the question — how is Romney faring so far?
Comments
The title of this column is misleading. It should say, "How Romney can avoid completely discrediting himself in the foreign policy debate." Romney already has displayed his incompetence in foreign policy with his recent trip abroad. He might gain back some credibility by doing what Prof. Burns says about the economy, but he would also have to reverse himself about Russia, show he can avoid getting us into another Middle East war (with Iran), and avoid antagonizing other nations with ridiculous (and avoidable) pronouncements. He would also have to transform himself into an honest, moderate, independent person of good judgment, which is never going to happen.
This comment has been removed.
Romney seems to be doubling down on everything dumb and ridiculous. I worry most about his foreign policy statements. Will the American public ever get tired of all the tough-guy posturing? Our collective IQs drop with every politician walking around with the arms lifted to the sides as if there was so much man-muscle there that simply resting at the side of the body is necessarily prevented.
This comment has been removed.