Right Change: Romney’s Strong Foreign Policy Stance

Mitt Romney kicked off an overseas trip today on which he will visit Israel with a speech to the Veterans of Foreign Wars. President Obama addressed the same group just the day before. Governor Romney did not pull any punches when it came to attacking the voluminous national security leaks, Obama’s American apology tour and the across the board budget cuts to Defense.

From Berlin to Cairo to the United Nations, President Obama has shared his view of America and its place among nations.  I have come here today to share mine.   I am an unapologetic believer in the greatness of this country. I am not ashamed of American power.  I take pride that throughout history our power has brought justice where there was tyranny, peace where there was conflict, and hope where there was affliction and despair.  I do not view America as just one more point on the strategic map, one more power to be balanced.  I believe our country is the greatest force for good the world has ever known, and that our influence is needed as much now as ever.  And I am guided by one overwhelming conviction and passion:  This century must be an American Century. …

Today, we are just months away from an arbitrary, across-the-board budget reduction that would saddle the military with a trillion dollars in cuts, severely shrink our force structure, and impair our ability to meet and deter threats.  Don’t bother trying to find a serious military rationale behind any of this, unless that rationale is wishful thinking. Strategy is not driving President Obama’s massive defense cuts.  In fact, his own Secretary of Defense warned that these reductions would be “devastating.”  And he is right.

It is reported that Bob Gates, the President’s first Secretary of Defense, bluntly addressed another security problem within this administration. After secret operational details of the bin Laden raid were given to reporters, Secretary Gates walked into the West Wing and told the Obama team to “shut up.” He added a colorful word for emphasis. Lives of American service men were at stake.  But astonishingly, the administration failed to change its ways. More top-secret operations were leaked, even some involving covert action in Iran.   This isn’t a partisan issue; it’s a national security crisis. And yesterday, Democrat Senator Dianne Feinstein, Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said, quote, “I think the White House has to understand that some of this is coming from their ranks.”

Romney’s speech on foreign policy was unabashedly strong and shows that he has an extremely firm grasp not only on the economy, but on defense and national security as well. This powerful speech will only serve to help Romney as he continues his rise in the polls and outpace Obama on the fundraising trail.

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