Romney, Iran, and int'l credibility

Posted: Friday, October 12, 2007 10:23 AM by Domenico Montanaro

From NBC’s Domenico Montanaro
In his latest TV ad, Romney vows to stop Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, increase intelligence operations and increase the military “by at least 100,000.”

His ad, entitled, “Jihad,” which is running in Iowa, is likely an attempt to clean up Romney’s perceived “attorneys” gaffe at Tuesday’s CNBC/MSNBC debate. It is the first time he’s mentioned Iran or focused on foreign affairs in an ad. This is the first shot Romney and his campaign are making to shore up his foreign policy credentials -- something that has been seen as a weakness for the former Massachusetts governor. Other ads he has run have focused on border security, but those are really about immigration.

Has anyone else noticed that Iran has taken over Iraq as an issue in this campaign? But remember, Pakistan seemed to do the same a few weeks back.

Here’s the full transcript (30 seconds):

ROMNEY: "It's this century's nightmare, Jihadism - violent, radical Islamic fundamentalism.

"Their goal is to unite the world under a single Jihadist caliphate.

"To do that, they must collapse freedom-loving nations like us.

"As President, I'll strengthen our intelligence services.

"Increase our military by at least 100,000.

"And monitor the calls Al-Qaeda makes into America.

"And we can and will stop Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

"I'm Mitt Romney and I approved this message."

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Comments

GOP'ers will love the 'Jihad' thing. It shows he's willing to continue the scare movies that Dubya's famous for.

Steve Turner Cedar Falls Iowa (Sent Friday, October 12, 2007 10:39 AM)

We spend more on defense than the rest of the world combined, but still don't feel safe. On an inflation adjusted basis that's more than any time since the high point of the Korean Conflict. How will spending even more help? Doesn't seem out of line to suggest that military might isn't the answer to every question.

John B, Des Moines, IA (Sent Friday, October 12, 2007 10:40 AM)

I wonder if Romney even knows that Al Qaeda are Sunnis and Iranians are Shiites. Probably not - just another neocon Republican candidate ignorant on foreign policy and national security.

Shadow, Hamden, CT (Sent Friday, October 12, 2007 10:50 AM)

jihadiragiran not there said the wolf

osama bin laden (Sent Friday, October 12, 2007 10:53 AM)

Surely there are more countries we can threaten? After all Bush had his axis of evil which included 3 countries. Those Republican candidates are such slackers.

nuanced (Sent Friday, October 12, 2007 10:57 AM)

None of romneys 4 or 5 sons have served.
Neither has romney.
he believes that his sons serve his country as much by helping with romney's campaign (yes, Romney Said that).
makes you wonder what the heck Romney's country is...

Tuck, Realityville, Kansas (Sent Friday, October 12, 2007 11:03 AM)

If Mr. Romney is so concern about our country than send your 5 sons to serve our country! If you can talk the talk than walk the walk.

Margaret Lesner Waverly Ohio (Sent Friday, October 12, 2007 11:14 AM)

Increase the army by 100,000....Are we talking about a draft now, Rummy Dumby?

mad in Madtown (Sent Friday, October 12, 2007 11:20 AM)

Thank god someone is addressing the issue. If you have better ideas you should run for office and debate in a place where you can have an effect. If you don't than you’re nothing more than white noise and platitudes. Republicans are this, democrats are that, right?

joseph,seattle, washington (Sent Friday, October 12, 2007 11:29 AM)

scary scenarios seem to be the only thing this group can offer. We americans know the problems, what we want are solutions. The Rebums can't give us solutions because that would mean contradicting the GREAT BOY KING and his Prime Mnister of Hate. Must be hard to have your brain tied to the brainless.

John S. Alexander, Edinboro, PA (Sent Friday, October 12, 2007 11:30 AM)

Neocons - those lovable American-haters sure never get tired of that fear card.

Iran is years away from a nuclear weapon, and they're going to sell the same lies in exactly the same way, and millions of my fellow Repukagains will swallow whole another batch of Chicken Dicks Chicken Sticks. Kindalousy Rice announced that they are "lying." When Kindalousy says someone is lying, there's a liar around somewhere.

Lee in CA (Sent Friday, October 12, 2007 11:33 AM)

mitt, another beak flappin chicken hawk coward ready to send Americsa's sons and daughters to die for a religious oil war, but his kids won't go.

mikeeg,abdn,wa (Sent Friday, October 12, 2007 11:42 AM)

mitt, another beak flappin chicken hawk coward ready to send Americsa's sons and daughters to die for a religious oil war, but his kids won't go.

mikeeg,abdn,wa (Sent Friday, October 12, 2007 11:42 AM)

Joseph, Seattle; War opponents have been talking for several years about drawing down US troops in Iraq, letting the Iraqis deal with their own civil war, engaging other world powers in a coordinated effort aimed at diplomatic solutions for the problems in the region (some of which GWB has caused) and beefing up the sort of police operations that are the only means demonstrated to have actually disrupted terrorist plots. But of course neocons ignore all of this and pretend nobody else has any ideas.

John B, Des Moines, IA (Sent Friday, October 12, 2007 11:52 AM)

Shadow. There are a lot of people in this country who aren't sure if Mormons are Christians, despite what they say.

Steve Turner Cedar Falls Iowa (Sent Friday, October 12, 2007 12:07 PM)

oh yeah... we should "make" his kids go to war... ever heard of the freedom to choose? mitt has no say in what his kids HAVE to do

Jamie V, Coral Springs, Fl. (Sent Friday, October 12, 2007 12:12 PM)

Romney is another rich man trying to take over and run things as his father did here in Michigan. We lost a lot of jobs for minorities and streets in many areas became worn and unrepaired and it was the begininning of the fall of Detroit. What did grow were the white areas of Michigan.
Mitt Romney doesn't have a clue to what he is doing when it comes to Iran. It is all about the oil and power. I have lived through it with his dad and I don't want to see him do like Bush war with Iran. I'm telling you folks, watch out.

Ikalean Wilkerson, Kalamazoo, MI (Sent Friday, October 12, 2007 12:20 PM)

Mad in Madtown are we talking a draft now?

That's the same thing that has been worrying me ever since all the talk arose about bombing Iran. Where will the military find the men and women to fight in another war? They already are spread so thin that some soldiers make multiple tours of Iraq.

The other thing that disturbs me is that political officials can say "well this is just a premptive strike, or we will only go after limited targets, etc." but as history has shown us we always get drawn deeper and deeper into the war until our young men and women are performing combat and/or policing roles that should be left to the native soldiers and policemen. If voluntary enlistments are not sufficient and national guard troops are stretched too thin, what is left? I think we know, but no politician wants to be honest enough to use that "D" word.

Dot, Illinois (Sent Friday, October 12, 2007 12:33 PM)

So Willard promises to increase the military by 100,000. How will he do this? He doesn't say, does he? Today the military can't recruit enough soldiers to keep up with the present size; so how will they recruit enough soliders to add 100,000. Hint: DRAFT! That is the only way, other than recruit new soldiers from foreign third world nations in Africa, Asia and South America. Maybe he can recruit from Blackwater by offering more money (half million dollars per soldier?). Now that his five chickenhawk sons are too old for the draft this seems like the perfect solution.

J.D. in California (Sent Friday, October 12, 2007 12:51 PM)

Good for Mitt. As long as he talks to his lawyers first, I feel safe... Fortunately for us, I think his strategy will encompass more than just adding fuel to the fire. He is not nearly as ego driven as Bush, and is the smartest candidate running by far. If anyone oversees this initiative, I want it to be Mitt.

Jed Merrill (Sent Friday, October 12, 2007 12:52 PM)

The neo-cons/chickenhawks love the fear mongerring with the fight them over their so we do not fight here nonsense.....The Jihadis/Islamofascists are coming! While us Americans including teenagers are killing one another in record numbers on a daily basis with arsenals that Blackwater would be proud of. Our murder rate has skyrocketed under the shrub because of cutbacks due to billions flushed down the toilet in Iraq. Now the neo-cons are going after Iran let the rattle saberring games begin.

juan,ft lauderdale,fl (Sent Friday, October 12, 2007 12:58 PM)

Mormon or Moron?

Bill Petty, Garden City, MI (Sent Friday, October 12, 2007 1:08 PM)

Why do all of these clowns insist on targeting only the so-called Islamofascists, are the Christofacists any less dangerous. Don't all of the proselytizing religions have the same goal in mind? C'mon people!

Terrorists and terrorism are entirely different matters.

George, Portland, OR (Sent Friday, October 12, 2007 1:35 PM)

Yep, more international diplomacy based on spreading fear. Even if Iran gets a nuclear weapon it will take them years to find a delivery system capable of reaching the United States. Besides, Israel would never allow that to happen for their own self-defense and most of the Arab world, while denouncing an Israeli attack, would secretly be happy with Israel's actions. Come on, folks, this war-mongering towards Iran is like a commercial telling you if you don't use clearasil your face will look like a pizza. You will buy the product out of fear without realizing there are less toxic ways of dealing with the problem.

Robert Catalano, Salem, OR (Sent Friday, October 12, 2007 1:40 PM)

Don't hold your breath waiting for any of the chickenhawk repukes filling the ranks of those 100K more troops for mitts jihad...they don't serve they just cheer and buy bumper stickers...

Rick, WS, NC (Sent Friday, October 12, 2007 2:12 PM)

Right on George, Robert and Rick my sentiments exactly. Robert definitly liked the clearasil analogy.

juan,ft lauderdale, fl (Sent Friday, October 12, 2007 2:20 PM)

Kalamazoo----you are oh so right about the romney family in Michigan-----white flight to the suburbs---starve Detroit---the same thing Gov Engler perpetrated while he was in office---but he went further than Romney---he emptied all the mental hospitals,sent the patients to the streets or to their families,who could not take care of them.Kept the money he confiscated for a so called rainy day fund.Course that fund vanished along with Engler ,our jobs etc.Alittle folklore--Engler buddies with Ted the shooter) madman----motorcoty bigmouth.

HMT-MI (Sent Friday, October 12, 2007 2:29 PM)

OK folks, I got it figured out! Mitt will offer all illegal aliens in the country a chance to citizenship if they enlist and fight the holy war! They would have to serve without pay - thus avoiding a "fine" once their enlistment is up. If they survive - presto! they become citizens! That way none of the chickenhawk repubs will ever have to do anything but chant "onward christian soldiers". Sounds like a great neocon strategy to me!

Steve A Jonesboro IN (Sent Friday, October 12, 2007 2:40 PM)

Jihad Romney -- nice ring to it, better than Mitt.

nuanced (Sent Friday, October 12, 2007 2:49 PM)

Mitt calls for 100,000 more troups. Yup, Mitt wants a draft. Get out your old tie dyed shirts, baby boomers. We're going to be taking to the streets. It's 1968 all over again!

mad in Madtown (Sent Friday, October 12, 2007 2:55 PM)

The saddest part of all is that many deeply spiritual people, Christian, Jew, Muslim, Mormon, and the rest, fail to understand that religion is a construct devised by man to make sense of things that reside in a spiritual realm. Interestingly enough devise and divide come from the same Latin root. It is religion that divides us.

If, as the Dalai Lama suggests, "All major religious traditions carry basically the same message, that is love, compassion and forgiveness...important things (that)...should be part of our daily lives," why all the hate?

George, Portand, OR (Sent Friday, October 12, 2007 2:58 PM)

To Robert in OR...I am fascinated at your non-concern over Iran aquiring nuclear weapons because "it will take them years to find a delivery system capable of reaching the United States."

I see several flaws with only being concerned about a missle being able to reach US soil:
1. Why would US soil be our only concern? We have people and interests all over the world.
2. Since when do terrorists rely solely on missle technology to deliver their package? Have you ever heard of suicide bombers? I think there are plenty of these walking delivery systems just waiting for their chance at glory.

Glenn, Seattle, WA (Sent Friday, October 12, 2007 3:16 PM)

This is the most ignorant candidate!
His standing is even the lowest among Republicans who are readily low in score. I believe he is trying to get the votes for certain groups and use their leverages for financial build up. Romeny is quite misguided.

Matty B, San Jose, CA (Sent Friday, October 12, 2007 3:34 PM)

George. The Dalai Lama practices Vajrayana, the Art of Knowing the Mind. Not so much a religion, but rather a perfecting of self. There is no outside source of forgiveness that can be called upon, conveniently, to erase wrongdoing, enabling the wrongdoer to say all is better even though it isn't. There is an old Buddhist joke. A guy orders a hot dog from a vender, saying, "I'm a Buddhist, make me one with everything.". The vendor does and gives it to him saying, "That will be three dollars." The guy gives him a five which the vendor pockets, turning to the next customer. The guy says, "What about my change?". The vendor says, "Change comes from within.".

Steve Turner Cedar Falls Iowa (Sent Friday, October 12, 2007 3:39 PM)

Mitt, we've got enough problems in that region without your irresponsible and inciting comments. Wrong rapture, wrong desert. Israel will never allow Iran to possess nuclear weapons, and I believe they would be justified in blowing their nuclear program to kingdom come when and if that day arrives. They, not we, have the legitimate reason to do so.

Pete Caloger Bushkill, PA 18324 (Sent Friday, October 12, 2007 3:53 PM)

Glenn, let me pose a question, when did diplomacy go out of style, why is there a constant need for saber-rattling and threats?

As you say, and quite correctly, there are suicide bombers, the "walking delivery systems just waiting for their chance at glory," but how different is that really from the US with a much more sophisticated delivery system, and an administration whose glory rests in "winning" at all costs.

I'm curious to know, how many lives would be spared and how much money would be saved IF we began talking with Iran, absent the threats?

If we were at all concerned with the costs, then why aren't we working with other countries to negotiate getting inpectors into Iran as we did in Iraq and in N. Korea? ANSWER: because that's not part of the game plan. This administration's end game is not about Iraq or Iran, it's about gaining a strategic foothold in a very important region of the world.

George, Portland, OR (Sent Friday, October 12, 2007 3:55 PM)

Thanks Steve!

George, Portland, OR (Sent Friday, October 12, 2007 3:57 PM)

Iran is easy to deal with. Ahmadina-miniBush-ijad wants to be a hero to his people, like Bush does. He *claims* that all he wants is a nuclear reactor for power. Fine. If that's what he wants, we'll help him build it--in exchange for the right to keep tabs on it and make sure that he's not using the material for anything else, and he denounces jihadists and gives aid to our fight against al-Qaeda. Everyone wins. We get to ease tensions and get a few more guns to shoot bin Laden with; he gets to go down in history as the man who managed to get the Great Infidel to see reason. Besides, Iran wants nothing to do with al-Qaeda; they're sunni, and Iran is mostly shi'a. That's why they offered help when we hit Afghanistan--they hated al-Qaeda and their Taliban lapdogs as much as we do.

Liam SoCal (Sent Friday, October 12, 2007 4:05 PM)

The Iranian regime is the god father to terrorism. We should be naive to believe that difference in Islamic belief makes a slightest change in their strategic plan to establish the Islamic caliphate they have intended to build since the time of the Ayatollah Khomeini. Iran has so far helped the Taliban in their fight against the Imperialist US. It has been safe haven to AL-Quida number 2 man for long time....This is of course secondary. The first importance is that THE REASON FOR THE RELIGIOUS DICTATORSHIP BEING SO EMBOLDENED IN THE REGION,AND IN ITS VIOLENT RECORD OF HUMAN RIGHTS, IS EXACTLY BECAUSE THE US AND THE EU HAS SO FAR BOWED TO THIS REGIME. Of course the reason is very much clear for all of Iranians in Iran. ECONOMIC interests. But the time has come to be realistic about the demagogy and deception for the mullahs. YOU have to admit that you dont understand the deceptive nature of these "things" we call in Iran as "mullahs". We have had at least 100 years of experience and yet we cant figure out when they are really telling the truth and when not. SO please for once take a look at the Iranian people's wish. WE DONT Want this regime as much as you do" . We want to topple this regime. Of course the price for us is very high. But let us face it, we pay the price and the entire world will get a radical change, Only 2 days ago students marched against Ahmadinejad the appointed so called President. They chanted death to dictator Does this sound reformist to you ??? Look at the link::
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNs5knpAokQ
So WORLD >>>WAKE UP!! You are still hesitant about the realities ..till it would be too late..
And excuse me for my Engilsh. Its the best I could do!

khosro Jahed (Sent Friday, October 12, 2007 4:29 PM)

Glenn Seattle: In this you are correct. To Robert,I suggest JANES WEAPONS,the worlds premier research guide on international weapons systems and their ranges. However,missle guidence systems acquired from the AQ Khan network,through the NKs,then Chinese,and finally,to the United States, have enhanced Pak and Iranian capabilities. [advanced missle guidence systems were presented to the Chinese Red Army during the Clinton administration. It effects are now seen on several Asian missle platforms that not only allow present-day systems to strike European targets,but quite easily the vital Persian Gulf,Arabian Sea and Suez Canal regions,any one of which will create catastrophe in the West]. Moreover,as the Pentagon and the IAEA independantly revealed in Jan. 2007 and July 2006 respectively,the NKs have been working with the Iranians to develop a longrange missle based on the TAEPEDONG-II platform,which could strike the United States eastern seaboard by its attachment of a third stage to its existing SHAHAB -III missle,turning it into an ICBM.[Vintage papers from this period including the Washington Post [Jan 30,2007] show Hillary sqwawking that ''not enough was being done by the administration''to stop these new missle developments]. Now she deals with ''flip-flopping''over this selfsame issue only nine months later.
There should be no doubts whatever. Not if but when Iran gains its weapons-use enriched uranium in the next two to three years,it will move to attach the third stage to SHAHAB and plunge the globe into nuclear blackmail. The Democrats are producing a confused,illogical front on this dire issue because of the base desire to hang onto their partys leftwing for the nomination. Of course,this will avail America,and Europe,and the Middle East,nothing.

PS. Sy Hersh. Shaddup already with the ''imminent attack on Iran'' Based On ''Former'' And ''Anonymous'' Sources BS. You already tried that one and it didnt fly.

Lee Holmes (Sent Friday, October 12, 2007 5:48 PM)

I really feel better after reading these posts. I thought that there were really Islamists out there wanting to do us harm. Now I find out it was all a lie from GWB.The fact that he was behind 9/11 makes it all make sence! There is nothing to fear, all is good. Lets bring all of the troops home discontinue all intel, (its all lies anyway) and elect some one like Madonna or George S. (we can make an exception) to be President. They should be able to handle the redistribution of wealth as well as anybody else. If there is nothing to fear why do we need a military anyway. We could take all of that money and buy every one an electric car. Oh yea no one deserves to make over $100,000.00 a year (why would you need that much) lets take that now we have taken care of the health care problem. The fact that there will be no financial reward for Drs. will not effect the quality of care. The fact that we have no enemies free up so much. Only a fear or war monger would say there is danger out there why would we even give them a place to say it. Thats the answer anyone that warns of danger from any country should be shot on the spot!! If we dont hear it, it does not exist!!!

finaly safe okc (Sent Saturday, October 13, 2007 11:52 AM)

The "must be a draft" assumptions flying around here are rediculous. If any of you bothered to check into Romney's statements on the issue of how he would get those numbers up, it is quite specific and in line with what the Pentagon has been saying for years: more money/better benefits for our troops. He also has specific items (better body armor, vehicle armor, etc.) that will do a better job protecting our men and women in uniform. He has repeatedly said that the war in Iraq was ill planned and poorly executed specifically on these issues and others.

And Romney is not the only candidate to take a hardline stance regarding Iran. McCain, Guliani and Thompson (i.e. all 4 repub frontrunners) have essentially the same message. And while the Dems take a "softer" approach on how to deal with Iran, none of them disagree that Iran is a major threat to stability in the middle-east and our interests overseas in general.

Your ingnorant blathering and straw-man attacks on Romney, Bush, and Repubs in general, without any serious study of the issues and all of the candidates' articulated positions on this issue, give you zero credibility.

Please stop wasting everyone's time if you don't have anything meaningful to contribute.

Todd, Los Angeles (Sent Saturday, October 13, 2007 12:33 PM)

Mittmoud Romneydinejad is a jihadist himself. I'm in favor of giving him a rifle and dropping him into Baghdad where he can can wage war in a solo capacity. What an empty suit.

Freaky Dick's Chimp, Nashville, TN (Sent Saturday, October 13, 2007 12:55 PM)

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