The one thing we know about the Romney-Ryan foreign policy is that it will be about furthering American hegemony whatever the cost, another war in the Middle East, abandonment of any honest broker role in the Middle East, a trade war with China, the return of torture, and a reversion to 1981 with Russia. In other words: Cheneyism without even Bush to moderate, and with no direct experience of anything related to diplomacy (if you don't count Romney's success in alienating every citizen in our closest ally). Flagging that Romney-Ryan is the first GOP ticket since 1940 to "lack any formal military of foreign policy experience," Kevin King worries:
[W]hile an electorate focused solely on economic issues may appear to be good news for Romney and Ryan, the minimal attention being paid to the pair’s lack of foreign policy experience and avoidance of the topic is a disservice to America and our allies.
Offering his two cents in a Foreign Policy article, John McCain endorses military meddling everywhere and anywhere:
In past struggles like Syria, when brave peoples fought for their liberation from enemies of the United States, we were fortunate to have presidents, both Republicans and Democrats, who recognized that it was in keeping with both our interests and our values to help the forces of freedom prevail. And they acted on that conviction. A Republican foreign policy would reclaim this proud tradition of U.S. leadership. It would, of course, accept that our interests require us to make tradeoffs at times, but wherever people struggle for human rights, no one should have any doubt whose side America is ultimately on.
Although foreign policy isn't dominating the mainstream RNC talking points, George Packer finds America's role in the world to be a Tea Party cause celebre:
[A]sk the Tea Party Patriots what they think of Obama’s foreign policy and you get a full-throated answer. They held a tribute to the military this afternoon under a sweaty tent on a piece of concrete in downtown Tampa outside the convention perimeter that the Tea Party has occupied and christened Liberty Plaza. Every speaker wanted more war, not less—bloodier, simpler war—a message not completely at odds with the views of Mitt Romney and his senior foreign-policy advisers. The theme of the event was dishonor and defeat, and by the end some speakers were openly accusing Obama of working for the enemy.
If it walks like a Dick, and talks like a Dick, it's a Dick. You want a decade of religious war? You know who to vote for.
(Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
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