How Romney Will Attack Obama

Looking ahead to the biggest foreign-policy debates of the general election.

BY JOSHUA E. KEATING | JANUARY 10, 2012

 

Don't believe the primary hype. In all likelihood, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney will exit New Hampshire with a head of steam, then go on to roll over his rivals in South Carolina and Florida, and have the Republican presidential nomination wrapped up by the end of January.

With his coronation now looking fairly ensured, Romney can now shift to the more challenging task of preparing for a general election against incumbent Barack Obama. While the U.S. president is probably most vulnerable to attacks on his handling of the economy, foreign policy is sure to come up as well. But the Obama entering this race is a very different national security candidate from the man who ran against John McCain in 2008. Here are five key areas where Romney is likely to go after the president.

Joe Raedle/Getty Images; EBRAHIM NOROOZI/AFP/Getty Images; ALEXEY DRUZHININ/AFP/Getty Images; Aaron Showalter-Pool/Getty Images; Mario Tama/Getty Images; Darren McCollester/Getty Images

 

Joshua E. Keating is an associate editor at Foreign Policy.

KHANJEE

1:13 AM ET

January 11, 2012

US Foreign Policy Presidential Debate

Human rights violations and attrocites in Indian - occupied Kashmir against unarmed people, demanding the right of self - detrmination promised to them by UNSC for deciding their future, are on increase. The unresolved Kashmir Dispute remains a nuclear flashoint between India and Pakistan, meriting serious efforts by US Administration for peaceful resolution. Besides on and off acrimonious relations between the two countries, the non - resolution of the Issue, and the implications thereof, is also impacting the success for US operations in Afghanistan imbroglio.
This point should have meirted inclusion as a major US foreign policy challenge for the next president.

 

PAUL ZLOTTY

10:29 AM ET

January 11, 2012

Human rights is but a synonym for Pak obsession

The Pak nation that includes both the military and civil society has always followed the search for Ummah, the collective association of Muslims worldwide, as its primary goal. This obsession has spawned the most evil practices of hatred and rage that has resulted in acts of violence. This nation practices hatred as a state policy and in doing so it is willing to traverse all civilizational gains that have been made in the past centuries.

By bringing up the theme of the state of Jammu & Kashmir and the constant harping of human rights, it attempts to draw attention away from its own dark deeds, which include the acts of violence in Baluchistan, after having illegally occupied the state of Baluchistan, as it has done in parts in the occupied areas of Jammu & Kashmir.

The supposed nuclear flashpoint is the "wolf call" that has been practised for over a decade. Anything to call attention and hold others ransom to their cause. Instead of taking the first step at solving their own problems, they continuously look elsewhere for help.

Neither the US President nor the US State is there to solve Pak's problems. It is time to see the writing on the wall.

 

KHANJEE

1:06 AM ET

January 12, 2012

Double Standards and Distortion of History / Facts

Sounds like a strongly Pakistan - obsessed Indian, notwithstanding the name, is trying to malign Pakistan. This is the traditional Indian mindset; leaving no opportunity to castigate Pakistan in total disregard to logic and facts. I thought enmity also has certain limits, but you are bent upon reinforcing the maxim that "Everything is fair in love and WAR".
Pakistan is undoubtedly one of the the most modern and enlightened Muslim countries(miniscule presence of extremeists notwithstanding, which every society has for one reason or the other) and teh fact is acknowledged by the objective analysts, including Americans, europeans and Indians. Calling names to Pakistan on this account is toal preposterous propaganda.
Pakistan's state policy is based on peaceful co-existence and peace, not hatred, as mongered in this comment.
International human watch organizations including Amnest International have brought out and highlighted the facts and figures of Indian military attrocities in the Occupied Kashmir many a times. Over 100,000 youth dead and thousands of women raped are the undisputed recorded figures. It is double standars if such massive human riights violations are ignored. A wrong should be wrong, wherever it takes place - unless, it is "realpolitk".
What is happening in FATA and Balochistan is a doing of RAW, using the Afghan soil; clear aim is to destabilize Pakistan. drawing parallel India - occupied Kashmir and Balochistan is a clear case of poor logic and historical understanding. Simply put, it is distortion of facts to mislead the people not aware with the facts.
Saying Kashmir as "nuclear flashpoint" is not a 'wolf call". No one else but the US presidents like Bill Clinton are on record to have said this. Everyone aware of the acrimonious history of Indo - Pakistan relations since 1947 knows this as a fact. If you want to downplay ths reality, you may, but the fact does not change by your perceptions.
Future US President must know the realities of South Asia and take stock of the issues like Kashmir Dispute, which continue to plague the security regime in this volatile region. obviously, immediate concern is situation in Afghanistan at the moment. Please read analyses of Christine Fair, Bruce Riedel, Lisa curtis and Philip P. Cohen to get educated on these important issues of the Region.....

 

MOHI212

2:22 AM ET

January 11, 2012

Omission of an important ally

Oh wow....JOSHUA, you forgot to mention one country....i cant remember its name....goes something like "Pakistan" or something ...

 

KHANJEE

2:44 AM ET

January 11, 2012

Omission

I's an obsession. I'm certain.

 

DIANA RELKE

2:26 AM ET

January 11, 2012

a big mistake

Obama will make a big mistake if he lets any of these five arguments force him on the defensive. It wouldn't take much to expose Romney -- or any of the other candidates who might surprise us by overturning Romney -- as a complete charlatan on foreign policy issues.

I hope there's a debate devoted to foreign policy issues, as I would like to see how well Obama takes advantage of the opportunities such a debate offers. But I'm not holding my breath.

 

STOGIEGUY7

3:00 PM ET

January 12, 2012

yes, it would be

Obama can regale us with storied of how he thwarted Putin's aggression with sharp negotiating on arms deals. Oh, that's right, he gave away the store while not requiring any concessions from the Russian government. Well, at least there's the Dalai Lama. Oops, that was awkward too because his handlers snuck the Dalai Lama in through the service entrance so as not to offend China. No matter, because he offended China anyway. And the Tibetans. And Buddhists.

And let's not even mention Israel.

You're right, perhaps Obama SHOULD aggressively tout his foreign policy accolades in the debates. Of course, he did kill Osama. Well, "he" didn't, but he gave the order after sleeping on it. So, in Obama's lingo: mad props on that one!

 

JULIEMEME

2:53 AM ET

January 11, 2012

still same side

Why do people always blame it to another person. They don't know that the mistake happened, is anyone's mistake....

 

JULIEMEME

2:55 AM ET

January 11, 2012

http://alifetoremember.info/

http://alifetoremember.info/

 

HECTORGREG11

8:02 PM ET

February 8, 2012

Romney, though not brilliant,

Romney, though not brilliant, is still sharper than Obama.auto repair austin And he would make a better president. Not to mention that he at least brings a little business knowledge with him. I'd happily trade a fan of Saul Alinsky for one of Barrons. Any day. austin used cars

 

JULIEMEME

2:58 AM ET

January 11, 2012

Why do people always blame it

Why do people always blame it to another person. They don't know that the mistake happened, is anyone's mistake.... poems for funerals

 

LABIBLIOTECA

8:18 AM ET

January 11, 2012

Huntsman 2012!

It's not too late to support Jon Huntsman instead.

 

HECTORGREG11

12:22 AM ET

February 9, 2012

I wish

I wish Huntsman had a chance...maybe next election autos usados

 

PAUL ZLOTTY

10:44 AM ET

January 11, 2012

Mitt Romney's score card is at best mediocre

There is nothing that Mitt Romney will be able to do better than the present Administration has done. Scoring a few points with a supposedly more aggressive foreign policy may bring him a few votes with the common folk . The US must and should seek allies in the free world.The times of singlehandedly making changes has long gone by.

His statements about Russia smack of an extremely limited perception let alone knowledge. Is it not the USA that gives China MFN status, but refuses to do so with Russia? Russia is certainly some way from being a free democracy, but can stack up to what communist China has on offer.

Perhaps the businessman Mitt Romney has not been able to make as much money out of the Russian oligarchs as he may have from the Chinese Peoples Party functionaries. John Huntsman can give him a few tips on munching Dim Sum and speaking Mandarin.

 

STOGIEGUY7

3:06 PM ET

January 12, 2012

mediocrity trumps failure

As if Obama was such a brilliant foreign policy tactician. His lack of foreign policy knowledge and experience is breathtaking. The man is an inner-city community organizer; his sharpest skill set is as a campaigner. That conventional wisdom portrays him as 'intelligent' simply illustrates the level of success that the left has had in spreading this non-truth through a compliant American media. The sharpest propaganda campaign this side of Pyongyang.

Romney, through not brilliant, is still sharper than Obama. And he would make a better president. Not to mention that he at least brings a little business knowledge with him. I'd happily trade a fan of Saul Alinsky for one of Barrons. Any day.

 

KXB

12:12 PM ET

January 11, 2012

Obama - poker player

Does anyone really think that Obama is worried about Romney's campaign skills? Obama knows it is the economy, and not anything that Romney says or does, that will affect his re-election chances. Indeed, Romney has shown no particular talent for campaigning. He keeps that frozen grin in place regardless of the subject matter. Obama killed bin Laden, while Romney killed jobs - the 30 second spot writes itself.

 

PETTIFOGGER

2:48 PM ET

January 11, 2012

Doubtful

If the President is the politician you claim, then he is most certainly concerned about reelection. Anyone saying otherwise is either pompous or unrealistic.

The President is a weak incumbent surrounded by a lot of variables he doesn't fully control. He will be matched against a competent opponent with relatively broad appeal. The President's base will be less enthused than in 2008, and Romney's base will be somewhat more energized.

I think a lot of policy wonks tend to be politically inept. If you're expecting the President to waltz into a debate with Romney and clean up simply because you think the President's ideology is more compelling, you're in for a shocking election season. Not only is Romney a more formidable opponent than Sen. McCain, the inherent advantages for the President (youth energy, minority energy, media support, Bush hangover) will either be reduced or not present during this election cycle. I suspect that unlike of GOP detractors on this website, the President's advisors are well aware of the steep challenge they face.

 

SCREWED AND TATTOOED

2:55 PM ET

January 12, 2012

no he didn't

All he did was let the SEALS do their job. The apparatus was in place due to W's programs and the intel that tracked him down had been working on this for years. He simply said yes. Credit for giving the ok, especially knowing it would cause issue with Pakistan, is due. However, he did not kill UBL any more than W. In fact, if he'd done what he said he would do in the campaign, and stopped most of W's programs/policies, UBL would be alive today. Credit where it is due, but don't give him credit for killing the slimeball. He just happened to be in the seat when it happened.

 

SWEINBERG

1:50 PM ET

January 11, 2012

5 Points... maybe the spread...

Clearly the electorate in the United States is starkly divided in their support, Democrats feeling as though Obama has not done quite enough, and Republicans quite clearly fearing Obama has done too much - this reflected in the shift of both foreign and domestic policy to the left of GHWB. But the deeper underlying dissatisfaction of the population with their elected officials lies with a broadening of the gap between the working class people and the very elected officials who they put in office. Whether measured in income, net worth, favoritism, nepotism, the politicians continue to focus more on refining and improving their golf games rather than improving foreign relations, social and religious tolerance and the general well being of their own people. Whose best interest do they truly have at heart? Hard to gauge by reviewing their specific records...

 

ADAMCAS

3:19 PM ET

January 11, 2012

Go to Orlando Mit

All the candidates should go to Florida, Ohio and other cities and states where the job market has taken a huge toll. All the major manufacturing has gone belly up in the US. Bunch of people with no work nor jobs to provide for their families, only impounding interest on mortgage and unpaid taxes. Detroit being the worse with Ohio cities like Cincinnati and Cleveland not far behind along with Orlando, FL that has been hit hard with job layoffs and big business shutdowns... Mr Romney what will you do about this? I don't want to hear about the trouble in the middle east, how about the impending doom of the breakdown of society here in the United States of America?

 

DANIEL.W

3:53 PM ET

January 11, 2012

everybody is entitled to their opinion i guess

@ROSIE.DWAYNE, absolutely agree with your point of view, as for others ....well, everybody is entitled to their opinion i guess

 

IDLABOHA

4:11 PM ET

January 11, 2012

Romney+US+Russia

Washington has no reason to rethink its policy regarding Russia. Even though communism is gone on the surface, traditional Russian imperialism persists and it not only threatens the former captive nations like Ukraine, but the United States and our allies. Russia's feet should be kept to the fire so it does not revert to its past crimes.

 

MONICAJOHANSEN

6:26 PM ET

January 11, 2012

Obama will hold on!

@ KXB you right.... Obama will hold on and keep in mind that the helped us trough Vibrator times in USA. So i dont think its going to be a long fight......

 

SUPAH

3:07 AM ET

January 12, 2012

Obama will stand tall

I firmly believe Obama will stay in power, simply for the fact of his self confidence. Think about it, Bush was in Office for 2 terms, and look how much good he did...

 

TOMMYER

8:34 AM ET

January 12, 2012

Obama? Romney?

International have brought out and highlighted the facts and figures of Indian military attrocities in the Occupied Kashmir many a times. 3 quart saucepan

 

TONYSILVA

3:42 AM ET

January 14, 2012

Obama vs Romney

Mitt Romney will just preserve the status quo like Obama and Bush. All three work for the same employers,which are the lobbyists? of big corporations. Its like watching a silly wrestling match Democrat (Obama) vs. Republican(Romney) they fight on camera, but in the end they get their paycheck from the same people, its all an act.
Im voting for the politician that promotes civil liberties, a free market, and the constitution, hopefully the majority of America will do so as well.
CharbroilQuantumUrban

 

KIRBANG

8:49 AM ET

February 10, 2012

OBL / S&T

Same old canard, President Obama wasn't on the helo and didn't pull the trigger. fair enough. But W did say OBL was no longer the target and Obama said we were going to get him, and he did. Obama did target Al Quida and virtually removed them from Af/Pak. The reason we were there in the fist place.

And I find these statements dishonest as if he were to have failed he would have borne the blame entirely. No one would then criticize the US Forces.