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Texas Gov. Rick Perry offered the broad outlines of his foreign policy philosophy at an annual gathering of veterans Monday, telling attendees that he opposes "military adventurism" while also advocating for "taking the fight to the enemy" and decrying indecision by "multi-lateral debating societies" at times of international crisis.
"We must renew our commitment to taking the fight to the enemy wherever they are, before they strike at home. I do not believe that America should fall subject to a foreign policy of military adventurism," he said at the annual convention of Veterans of Foreign Wars in San Antonio. "We should only risk shedding American blood and spending American treasure when our vital interests are threatened."
But Perry -- who did not specifically critique American involvement in the ongoing conflicts in Afghanistan, Syria, or Libya -- added that while American military leaders should honor and coordinate with allies around the world, too much collaboration with other nations could put U.S. soldiers at risk.
"We must be willing to act when it is time to act," he said to a crescendo of applause during his remarks. "We cannot concede the moral authority of our nation to multi-lateral debating societies. And when our interests are threatened, American soldiers should be led by American commanders."
"I say this because we owe to them and to their loved ones the commitment that any war is led by the country with the most advanced technology and the best training," he added.
The Texas governor, who served in the Air Force and whose father is a World War II veteran, made a special point to laud veterans of the Vietnam War, saying that soliders at that time faced the uncertainty of "not knowing at times when the enemy lurked among them in the civilian population" as well as the dithering of leaders in Washington were "not prepared to win" the conflict.
Perry was invited to speak at the convention in his role as the governor of the state of its host city, San Antonio. He is scheduled to campaign in Oklahoma this afternoon.
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Obama does the same thing........put downs and exaggerations while allienating and dividing America. Listen to his speeches.
actually, bush jr was the most polarizing president to date, based on his approval ratings among the various groups.
Have you seen Obama's approval rating? Keep the Bush stuff up. It is 32 months into this administration. The next 16 months will not be any different. A poor economy, poor job growth and falling home prices. The blame Bush days are coming to a close.....
But the blame the republican house have just started!
Ah Tony, that's because we are a multilateral society. Obama didn't create the divisions, he just understands them. Something the rethuglican candidates don'e seem capable of doing.
Foreign Policy, as you can tell has been off the table in regards to the Repub Candidates. They know Obama has an B+ to an A- on Foreign policy matters. Osama, No 9/11 repeats,participated in a taking down Gadaffi even though he fought congress to maintain funding for it. And I don't see too many "Burn America" signs on international tv.
29% of a minority party.....you go sugar. This is getting funny.
Before all our vets jump on the Republican Band Wagon, please take a look at their individual voting records on bills related to helping those of us who gave our all in time of war. I believe if you look at Obama and the majority of Democratic records you may be very surprised that those who talk the tough line, don't want to deal with wars aftermath when it comes to Vets. Perhaps our Veteran Organizations should do a study on the voting records on bills to help all of our vets. Would be interesting I am sure.
Doc Clayton RVN 67,68
The interesting line is that "republicans believe in the sanctity of life from conception to birth, and then the dems take over".
Yup. The right apposed a veteran's health coverage bill that Obama put forth.
They don't mind you guys going to fight their wars for oil. But just don't ask for any "freebies" or "entitlements" when you come back injured and traumatized.
I can't see this anti American leading any troops flying old glory. Maybe the Stars and Bars of the CSA.
Rick Perry on military:
"I don't want to do military adventurism but we need to do it." This is basically what he just said.
Obama was invited to the VFW but declined, the meeting wasn't on a golf course
Eubank, a Marine Corps retiree and Vietnam combat veteran from Eugene, Ore., was also critical of Texas Governor, Rick Perry; “The VFW also has a tradition of inviting the governor of the host state where its annual convention is being held to come and welcome and greet our convention delegates. Although Governor Perry was similarly sent an invitation 3 months ago, apparently our invitation was deemed not important enough for the governor’s office to at least accept or decline the invitation. Governor Perry’s candidacy for president does not provide him an excuse for bad manners. The White House and Governor Perry can rest assured that the 2 million members of the VFW and its Auxiliaries will remember this discourteous treatment for a very long time to come.”
Stupid
Perry's speech: An incoherent policy statement, at best. What does he actually stand for? Who does he blame for Vietnam, Kennedy, Johnson or Nixon?
he's going to avoid actual policy statements as much as possible because he's running on the "anyone but obama" platform now. Not a bad move, by the way, but just more proof that perry is "just another politician".
the sooner you libs realize the source of your anger and frustrations resides in the white house the sooner we as a nation can have a meaningful discourse about how best to move forward....the obama experiment is a dismal failure and he will NOT be re-elected...it's just that simple...his job performance is reflected in his approval ratings and it's pathetic... i am an independent and at this point i don't care how far right the republican candidate is percieved to be that is who will get my vote and most independents feel the same...the more you guys attack and whine about the opposition to the obama train wreck the more independents will flock away from him because it reinforces the fact that he can't run on his record or that would be what everyone's talking about...sorry libs...fool me once scenario insert here...you need to quit letting the mainstream media lead you around by your collective noses....the only candidate with the closest thing to a clue is ron paul but the powers that be are scared to death he will derail their long-standing gravy train and are doing everything they can to disrupt his candidacy...that should tell people all they need to know...shame, shame, shame .... if it ends up being perry then so be it...sorry, but this obama thing is over...
lol, pseudo psychobabble about "the source of your anger and frustrations".
m1ninja, if you right wing nuts don't want Obama re-elected, you better find a viable candidate. You have not, as of yet.
I'm getting tired of hearing about "independents" that only vote for fringe right wing candidates. Just like the Tea Party is "independent". Yeah right.
so i guess the bottom line is he has no policy and he is clueless about world events.....well at least he prayed that drought in taxes away......
if perry is the best the con party has, we are in for four more years of a leaderless country (ie obama). on the other hand, obama proves that maybe we don't need an executive branch
Mister Perry, try actually saying something about foreign policy, instead of catering to the War Hawks and armchair commanders, and trying to curry favors with veterans.
Fact is, you said a load of absolutely nothing, with comments and opinions so vague as to be inconsequential.
One more reason not to have this fool as a president.
Thanks Dave...No, we arent afraid of Rick Perry..every new entry into the "insane clown posse"-a.k.a. Every GOP hopeful...rises in the poles quickly then tanks.....everytime "Hairdo" opens his cowpoke mouth he puts his horses' foot into his mouth....I read his words very carefully and he's really not saying anything..Please, Hairdo, please tell me which war we got into that qualifies as an "adventure"..You KNOW NOTHING OF WHICH YOU SPEAK ABOUT..You know nothing about honor or glory-all youre saying(for votes) is ..Hey Ya'll I'll go to war.." ..the "VFW" aint stupid..........but you are.... youre dumber than the horse manure on your cattle ranch...
"taking the fight to our enemies"
Someone should tell him that this President has taken care of Bin Laden.
Military adventurism? He thinks this is a game and want to "take it to th enemy"?
Ah, visions of grandure dance in his head.
Anyone for "Perry the Conquerer"?
Here we go again - Texas "foreign policy"
1. Don't mess with Texas
2. I'll bring him back "dead or alive"
"Yee-haw! Bring 'em on!" Sheesh. Not again. NEVER again!
Rick Perry: Same hat, still no cattle...
Yes, let us send more young people to an endless war and continue to let our own country decline, our own citizens suffer, our children starving in the streets. Let us waste our money and resources on killing and death instead of life and education.
So what does he define military adventurism as? Taking it to the enemy? Whether it benefits him and any of his wealthy buddies? Shades of Halliburton!
On important issues, he's far from specific.
Another Republican war monger!! More dead bodies. More dead soldiers! Arent you voters TIRED of the madness!! I am!
Hmmm..he doesnt want to spend "American Treasure" overseas" and he doesnt want us to engage in "military adventurism"...LOL.. NOW I get it....!! Hes going out on the high seas with Johnny Depp and playing "Pirates of the Caribbean"....and wont share the treasure him and Johnny and the imaginary pirate ghosts find...Mr Perry, go back to Texas and grind your own state more into the ground...you will not be allowed to do it as President...A jackrabbit would make a better "Commander-in-chief" than you could only dream of
Shows you how little Perry actually knows about Vietnam.
Daniel Ellsberg showed through the release of the Pentagon Papers that the U.S. knew all along that Vietnam was an unwinnable conflict. And that at no time during Vietnam were we ever winning.
The people who were right about Vietnam were those protesting against the war in order to try and bring our troops home to save them from being killed in an action that was completely unwinnable.
.
Sounds like Reagan in his first term when he was going to show the Russians and then realized he had led us to the brink of a nuclear war, and had to make nice during his second term.
Wow, Perry doesn't recognize that he lives in a multilateral debating society? That's scary!
Sometimes I wonder if the Republicans really do want to defeat Obama in 2012. They seem to have a propensity to say stupid things.