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Subscribe to RSSRick Santorum answers a question about how he would handle the unrest in the Middle East.
From NBC's Jason Seher
Republican presidential hopeful Rick Santorum, sandwiched between trips to early presidential primary states New Hampshire and Iowa, delivered a foreign policy address that did little to distinguish his position from other declared GOP candidates.
The former Pennsylvania senator rehashed many conservative critiques of President Obama's handling of American foreign policy -- acting too slowly in Libya, allowing the Muslim brotherhood the opportunity to take hold in Egypt, cutting the defense budget -- and charged the president "does not understand the greatness of the American experiment and cannot confidently advance her interests." Santorum also outlined a 10-point foreign-policy plan that he contends would reverse course and reclaim America's "legacy of liberty" across the world.
“Sometimes the soft power example and charity is simply not enough -- not against hardened dictators who threaten to blow out all the moral lights around us,” Santorum said.
But demanding the United States “stand up” in solidarity with those fighting for peace, Santorum kept his policy address framed in purely ideological terms. Outside of enhancing the intelligence apparatus in the Middle East and continuing to provide anti-viral drugs to AIDS-plagued African nations, Santorum did not say how he would advance the goals of freedom on the international stage or even hint what that future would look like.
“We should be pushing for freedom,” he said, “but freedom does not mean right away. It may not mean democracy for a long, long time.”
Santorum argued the United States should not use military force unless there is a “clear path to victory” and it advances American national interests. Using this criteria, Santorum said President Obama erred by launching coordinated air strikes in Libya, even though he went on to argue the president has an obligation to stand up for principles of democracy “whether its Russia or China or Iran or Libya. When asked if he would have intervened in Libya, Santorum responded he “would have to have a lot more intel” before he answered that question.
On Syria, Santorum again deployed strong rhetoric but hesitated when asked if he would intervene there. While he said, “Syria does not deserve an ambassador; its protestors deserve support,” Santorum did not say what tact he would take in dealing with the nation -- although he did indicate removing that country’s leader, Bashar al-Assad, would be in the interest of national security.
Four years after he told Tim Russert Iran was at the center of an "Islamic Fascist" threat propelling the war in Iraq, Santorum reiterated many of his concerns about Iran. He painted the Ahmadinejad government as the chief advocate of an antithetical "worldview that opposes freedom of conscience" and fosters terrorism around the globe. Discussing the summer 2009 protests in Iran, Santorum accused the Obama administration of not being "ready when the spark struck." By not acting, according to Santorum, the president both missed an opportunity to end Ahmadinejad and Ayatollah Khomeini's rule and squandered the strong private support for the United States among Iran’s citizens.
Santorum's railing against Iran fed into his fundamental call for change in American rhetoric abroad. He argued the Obama administration's failure to identify Iran as "murderous thugs and theocrats" evidences its larger struggle to label nations that present problems for American foreign policy as enemies.
"We need to begin by seeing the world the way it truly is,” Santorum said. “We need to see evil for what it is and confront it; and we need to see decency for what it is and nurture it."
On proposed cuts to defense spending, Santorum said the president was sending the "wrong signal" at the "wrong time" to our troops spread across three fronts. Santorum argued cutting spending on defense programs was symptomatic of the Obama administration “leading from behind.”
“This is the one exclusive mission which no state, no group of individuals can do,” Santorum said. “This is the only area the president can do. [Cutting defense] shows that is a man who has his priorities upside down.”
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. Santorum argued cutting spending on defense programs was symptomatic of the Obama administration "leading from behind."
This from a Senator who had a fascination man-on-horse sex. I sure hope Santorum doesn't mean"leading from behind that way
Oh MY!
That's one I hadn't heard about!
Leave it to the creepy Christian Family Values Freaks! lol
So THIS is where No Joe got that phrase!! It is a STUPID phrase, so I can see why she gleaned onto it as much as she has...
You didn't think she thought that up all by herself, now did you, Pietro? lol
Oh that poor horse. Call the SPCA!
Feisty, you are right (as usual). I guess 'Leading from Behind' is A lot better than 'Repeal and Replace'!!
NOT.
As far as the repugs and medicare reform are concerned-- on faux news this past Sunday 4-25-11--- rick Santorum stated that medicare reform should include "EVERYONE" NOT JUST THOSE UNDER 55!!!!!! But we still need to give tax breaks to the wealthy
But OF course! It's always the same with the IGMFU crowd!
Nothing else matters, as long as the rich get richer and the rest of us scrape by!
Hey Jason, next time tell Chucky Todd to stick it where the sun don't shine, when he asked You to put your name on another CrazyA$$ Republican's Speech!
Chucky T's the reason why all these Crazy stories get started in the 1st place around here!
He's better suited for FOX, where Nuttin is too CRAZY!
Rick Santorum on Foreign Policy, heck Pennsylvania did'nt want him No More on Domestic State Policy, what makes him think we need his Foreign Policy BS.
Thats like asking Spankster, why does he cruise's College Campuses & then Complaines about the price of gas it take's to Cruise College campuses? We don't wanna hear it!
I realize Santorum is in the urban dictionary but what of the horse sex thing? What is your source? Just curious. Not someone I would vote for. Another W. who lies, shoots, tortures and then sais "Oh well!" when the lie is discovered. Another hawk we do not need.
Rick,Ky
FOX, where Nuttin is too CRAZY!
That is an irrefutable fact.
Ah! Through the Looking Glass, another pawn takes the field. Before I listen to his foreign policy ideas, I personally think Santorum should concentrate on revealing the location of those weapons of mass destruction that he continued to claim were present in Iraq years after George W. Bush admitted they were not.
Wild horse ... I mean, goose ... chases are about his level, eh Beverly? ;-)
Anna Molly
Wild horse ... I mean, goose ... chases are about his level, eh Beverly? ;-)
Without a doubt now he is chasing the gooseie Barbour 1% .
What's good for the goose is good for the gander so Rick think.
BTW, for yall praising Lawrence O'Donnel last night of his handling of Orly Taitz, i say BS! He coulda saved himself & other's (myself) from the debacle she is, by NOT scheduling her. I said the same thing to my wife last week, when CNN did the same exact thing on the 7pm show.
They know what she's about before Ever bringing her in front of camera's, yet expect something different!
Pure Lunacy!
I got to disagree with you on this one Rick!
I SAY keep these baggers & birthers FRONT & CENTER 24/7 & let the Americans who haven't succumbed to bat sh!t crazy see what these lunatics are ALL about!
Did you see or listen to Lawrence take Tom Brokaw & Phil Griffin apart at the seams?
I agree with Feisty - I WANT these loonies to continue to be visible and we should make sure that we also shine the light on the people who support these loonies.
At some point in time the electorate is going to grow tired of the constant 'noise' and vote for some people who are sane!!
I agree about Griffin & Brokaw, but i'll hold my ground on scheduling Orly Taitz. Why put your veiwers thru That kinda ignorance of a shouting match?
Peitro, how does 1 move on, when the same Stupidity is put before You, Daily! I'll answer forya, You Don't!
As I said above, Feisty:
Pure Lunacy!
Rick, Pure lunacy promoted by MSNBC. Check out Ol' tingle legs tonight. Same as everyday this past month. He can't help himself promoting the birther issue and is desperate for ratings. To me it is backfiring since he has become impossible to watch.
Rocco, i'll agree on that withya about Chris Matthews, but that won't stop me from watching either, heck I even watch Shep @3pm.
President Barrack Hussein Obama answered the Doubters yesterday(Why is beyond me, but he did)!
I'm makeing the Point that CNN's John King & MSNBC's Lawrence O'Donnel both scheduled her as if They could convince her of something different than what the Ignorant Witch beleives to be true. In the End, they Both looked like Fools for thinking otherwise.
Pure & Simple!
Matthews is a self proclaimed Reagan democrat, who spent more then eight years demonizing the Clintons. In other words he is a conservative democrat.
Just a coincidence that Lawrence O'Donnell is NOT on MSNBC tonight?
Hmmmm I wonder....
Give them HELL Larry!
I thought the same thing Feisty!
The TRUTH HURTS - doesn't it Rick?
Not too freakin obvious...
Want some *popcorn*?
Rick. Gotta disagree on this. Lawrence took a chance that old Orly would do what she promised and discuss the birth certificate; I doubt he believed her but I thought it was a smart move to put her on and prove once again just how out of touch and racist she is. Maybe the media would be wise to start digging into whether or not she really is a naturalized citizen; and if not, we can ship her back.
Yes, I agree, let's keep these birthers front and center.
All I know about this guy, and all I care to know about him is he said abortion was repsonsible for the Social Security problem We were killing potential new workers. Lost me forever.
Sounds to me like he talked a lot but said absolutely nothing.
Yes Indy, Obama taught him well.
The GOP has big problems...problems that have HAIR on them...if this is what they trot out as a presidential candidate.
Santorum is fruitcake who brought his dead baby home to "introduce" to his family, and pose for pictures with the dead infant...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A61804-2005Apr17.html
Now c'mon...you gotta admit that this is creepy, even by Teabagger standards.
Now that just redefines creepy.
"Blow out all the moral lights around us" indeed.
"Legacy of liberty across the world" sounds an awful lot like the neoconservative approach to just bomb any country and take over for the sake of democracy. Santorum, another republican regurgitating the same hawkish approach as every other republican without ever realizing that not every country wants to be like us.
Pennsylvainia voters ran him out of the state because he's such an @!$%#
Santorum - is like all the other GOP/TP so called leaders -back seat drivers! Nothing and I say Nothing President Obama do- will satisfy them.
He is their enemy and they can't see him as a fellow American - we can assume why, but all i can say is - it's sad that the GOP/TP (former or otherwise) disgrades a setting President's foreign policies- openly.
This type of debate should be behind close doors - and President Obama's policies are certainly much better than the cowboy - kill all attitude that our previous President had.
What happened to America's Pride!! When did our elected officals believe that it's ok to second quess a setting President in an interview and my GOD how does that help our men and women in uniform.
No matter the GOP/TP motives - they are traitors...and it's a SAD day for AMERICA.
In addition - having a monopoly on a product (oil,gas) that one can't live without and then boosting about profit margins after forcing people to pay unforgiven ridiculously high prices - doesn't make a smart or great CEO...
It makes a greedy careless bastard...and guess what - it don't take a degree from Harvard to be that!!!
Get a heart and realize people are your best money makers - not greed.
Because people will get tired of being taken advantage of and WE will find away to stop greedy bastards!!!
TRUTH - not CRAP
Thank you and GOD BLESS AMERICA
Standing up for American Foreign Policy (and thus for our men and women on the battle field) when at war has become a victim of the UNTRUTHINESS that pervades our current national dialog. All permissions are given by the GOP/TP when it comes to denigrating our President, our working poor who don't have bootstraps to pull themselves up by, the diminishing Middle Class and Unions.
BUT there is a new day dawning (credit NDD here) when the blindness that infects the listeners of BECK and his ilk will lift and the TRUTH will out. Advantage then will go to the entirety of the PEOPLE of this great nation not just the RICH upper crust who fancy themselves near ROYALTY, untouchable because of their masses of money...they think.
THE PEOPLE OF AMERICA WILL WIN OUT OVER THIS SHAMEFUL LINE OF ATTACK FROM THE GREEDY FRINGE TO YOUR RIGHT!
On subject again...Rick 'the PUNK" Santorum...a schoolyard bully bent on having it his way without remorse or fear of retribution.
Very Godly of him don't you think. Doesn't the Bible say God is LOVE. Where is Rick's love. That's the question to ask after that horse thing commented on earlier.