Foreign Policy Still Matters
By Bradley Blakeman
Newsmax.com
Although the 2012 election will most certainly
turn on the state of the domestic economy, Mitt
Romney cannot afford to ignore foreign policy. So
much of our economy is dependent on world affairs —
everything from trade, wars, and treaties, to global
economic stability.
Between now and the GOP Convention, Romney needs to
address the major foreign policy challenges that
America faces. He needs to tell the American people
what they can expect from a Romney administration
and he also needs to tell us whom it is that he
relies on for foreign policy advice and policy
formulation.
Mitt
Romney visited Israel, Poland, and the
U.K. in July. (Getty Images) |
The American people understandably want to know who
he is likely to tap for key foreign policy roles
such as secretary of state, U.N. ambassador, trade
representative, etc.
Since neither Romney or Ryan have a strong portfolio
and experience with foreign policy, it is incumbent
upon them to seek out the best and the brightest to
advise them and to formulate and disseminate a clear
vision and plan to deal with the wide-ranging
challenges they will face if elected.
Here are some of the questions they must answer
clearly, forcefully and decisively:
- How will you deal with the Middle East?
- How will you help protect Israel?
- Who should we be helping?
- How will you deal with Iran?
- How will you deal with the Russians? Are they a friend, foe, or competitor?
- How will you deal with China?
- How will you address trade, military, North Korea, and human rights issues?
- How will you deal with Europe with regard to economic challenges as well as security issues and concerns?
- How will you deal with Afghanistan and Pakistan?
- What is America’s role and commitment to Iraq?
- What message will a President Romney send from day one to our friends and foes?
Before the GOP Convention Romney should make a
thoughtful speech at A.E.I., Heritage or another
serious venue to lay out his foreign policy broadly
and concisely.
He should also appear with the people he relies upon
for foreign policy advice and counsel and then send
them out to speak to the media and in venues across
the nation that will echo his policies and vision.
Here is some additional advice for the Romney/Ryan
campaign:
As we enter the election homestretch after both
party conventions and Labor Day, the next
opportunity for Romney to go back to foreign policy
in a very substantive way will come during the week
of September 17.
On September 18 the U.N. General Assembly opens its
67th session in New York.
Hundreds of world leaders will descend on New York
that week to speak before the UNGA and attend
meetings.
President Obama most certainly will use this
opportunity to do what Romney cannot, and that is to
speak before the UNGA and to be seen meeting with
world leaders and attending events as the POTUS.
Romney should not cede a week of foreign policy in a
general election to Obama. He should be in New York
during the UNGA too.
While Romney should not, and cannot attend the UNGA,
he can certainly exploit the opportunities it
provides. Romney should make a major foreign policy
address that week at the Council on Foreign
Relations in New York.
In addition, Romney should make time at a Manhattan
hotel to conduct meetings with selected world
leaders.
The press Romney will generate will be substantial
and helpful. It will detract away from the
wall-to-wall coverage Obama would otherwise get.
It will be a missed opportunity if Romney is not
engaged in foreign policy during a week that we know
Obama will be.
Continuing to speak on domestic issues at a time
when Obama is surrounded by world leaders, will only
serve to enforce Obama attacks on the absence of
Romney’s foreign policy experience.
Every day of a general election is important. The
fact that the media will be focused on foreign
policy during the week of September 17 demands that
Romney be engaged in meaningful and important
foreign policy events and meetings.
There is also a high probability that world events
could have a direct effect on the election. What if
Israel were to attack Iran’s nuclear sites? What
happens if oil supplies are disrupted by Iran? What
if Syria were to use chemical weapons on its people?
North Korea could engage in further missile tests or
other provocations. Attacks in Pakistan or
Afghanistan on America’s personnel or property are a
real possibility. In addition, there is a real
continuing domestic terrorist threat to our
homeland.
In the presidential election of 2012 — foreign
policy matters. Our economic security and prosperity
is rooted in a stable and pragmatic world view and
policy.
Bradley A. Blakeman served as deputy
assistant to President George W. Bush from 2001-04.
He is currently a professor of Politics and Public
Policy at Georgetown University and a frequent
contributor to Fox News Opinion. Read more reports
from Bradley Blakeman —
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