8.  Describe the principles on which your Administration would conduct foreign affairs and diplomacy, relating specifically to your philosophy of the National Security Council, the State Department, as well as military affairs and the Pentagon.

 

Mike Huckabee:

My foreign policy would be based on my clear understanding that we cannot negotiate with the Islamofascists or appease them, we must eliminate them. Our biggest challenge in the Arab and Muslim worlds is the lack of a viable moderate alternative to existing repressive regimes and the extremists seeking to overthrow them.  We can’t “export” democracy as if it were Coca-Cola or KFC, but we can nurture moderate forces in all these countries where terrorists seek  to replace modern evil with medieval evil.  This moderation may not look like or function exactly like our system, it may be more of a benevolent oligarchy, it may be more tribal than individualist, but both for us and for the people of those countries, it will be better than either the dictatorships they have now or the theocracy they would have under the radical Islamists.  My goal is to correctly calibrate a course between maintaining stability and promoting democracy.  As for the existing terrorists, I will use the CIA and our special forces to track down and eliminate terror cells all over the world with swift, surgical air strikes and commando raids.  

             

I want a strong National Security Council, rather than one in the pocket of either State or Defense.  I don’t want an administration where the State Department dominates the Defense Department or vice-versa.  My generals will be independent advisers to me, always free to speak without fear of retribution or dismissal.  I will give great weight to those with mud and blood on their boots, rather than the civilians in silk suits and ties.  If I ever have to undertake a large invasion, I will follow the Powell Doctrine and use overwhelming force.  The notion of an “occupation with a light footprint” that was our model for Iraq always struck me as a contradiction in terms.  I will increase the size of our active armed forces and not rely so heavily on our National Guard and Reserves, whom we have worn out.  We have to stop using our active duty forces for nation building. The State Department should be in charge and coordinate with the relevant departments, like Energy, Housing, Education, Treasury, Justice, and Transportation.

I will put a renewed emphasis on consultation with our allies and diplomacy with friends and foes -- I believe in having conversations with our enemies.  The wisdom of Sun-tzu from almost 2,500 years ago is relevant today:  keep your friends close and your enemies closer.  All of us know that when we stop talking to a parent or a friend, it’s impossible to accomplish anything, impossible to resolve differences and move the relationship forward.  The same is true for countries.

John McCain:

I believe that America must be at the forefront of building a new global order of peace, where the dangers and threats we face diminish, and where human progress reaches new heights. 

The path to an enduring peace lies in a clear-eyed pursuit of our national interest that does not accede to autocratic trends. We must expand the power and reach of democratic institutions, freedom and human rights using our many strengths as a free people. But that means making some substantial changes in how we do business, and change must begin at home.

We must launch, as the Truman administration did in 1947, a massive overhaul of the nation's foreign policy, defense and intelligence agencies to meet new challenges. Our needs are clear in the organization, skills and capabilities needed to prevail in the conflict with violent extremists:  an intelligence community that is able to collect and analyze information on and conduct operations against our enemies; a public diplomacy effort that makes our case to the world effectively; a diplomatic corps that understands stability does not mean supporting dictatorships; foreign aid programs that foster good governance; generals that understand and learn from past wars and apply those lessons to the future; defense procurement that is transparent, accountable and effective; and civilian defense leadership that is held accountable for results and provides the resources necessary to achieve results. We must never again conduct a military operation with too few troops to complete the mission. When we fight a war, we must fight to win.

To build a new era of peace based on freedom, we have to work even harder through our economic and trade policies to encourage open societies and create a climate of opportunity and hope. Our economic strategies in the Middle East must complement our political strategies by supporting modernizers who want to improve the lives of their people against those radicals and autocrats who would impoverish them. In Latin America and Africa, we need to support those who favor open economies and democratic government against populist demagogues who are dragging their nations back to the failed socialist policies of the past. In Asia, we need to show that growing democratic economies can do more for the average man and woman and less for corrupt senior officials than growing economies in a one-party state.

Our support for democracy and expansion of free markets, combined with a clear-eyed pursuit of our national interests, does not represent idealism.  It is the truest kind of realism.  As Ronald Reagan proclaimed in his speech to the British Parliament in 1982, “Let us go to our strength. Let us offer hope. Let us tell the world that a new age is not only possible but probable.”  As president, I will do just that. 

Ron Paul:

I wish to follow the advice of Thomas Jefferson, which was to pursue “Peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations- entangling alliances with none.”  As mentioned above, I favor ending our policies of intervention and nation-building overseas, and returning to a constitutional foreign policy.  All wars must be declared by Congress.  We can have a strong national defense if we secure our borders and bring our troops home.  Currently, we have our military spread all over the world guarding other countries.

I would seek to talk to all nations, even those that disagree with our policies.  Diplomacy has been virtually forgotten.  I favor ending all foreign aid, which is not only unconstitutional, but too often furthers dictatorial regimes that oppress their people.  The American people have a history of generosity, and I favor allowing them to keep more of their money and send it to whatever nation they choose.  

 

Mitt Romney:

My principles rest on the foundation that a strong America is the best protector of liberty and greatest force for a safer world.  As Ronald Reagan once said, of the four wars in his lifetime, none of them came about because America was too strong.

In our foreign affairs and diplomacy, our tools of national power must serve the American people who are at the heart of our democracy rather than unaccountable bureaucracies.  My decades of executive experience in leading, managing and changing business, government and international efforts would ensure that appropriate officials are empowered, responsible and held accountable for leading these actions.  To unite our civilian efforts, I would create regional civilian leaders similar to our military’s regional combatant commanders.  They would be accountable to the President and responsible for all U.S. civilian efforts in different regions of the world, such as the Middle East, Latin America and Africa.   Throughout America’s efforts and operations in foreign affairs in diplomacy, there would be dramatic, fundamental reforms with clear lines of authority to ensure that all of those representing the United States are always defending the American peoples’ interests.

 

Fred Thompson:

Our nation’s foreign policy should be guided by a set of principles that reflect the rights and values established by the U.S. Constitution and the history of our great nation.  By doing so, we encourage the embrace of democratic ideals and safeguard our nation’s own interests.  The second ingredient critical to crafting good policy is good people.  The President must appoint people who understand and agree with these principles, which are listed below.

Promote Individual Liberty.   There are basic freedoms endowed to man by the Creator and these rights should be provided to all.  These basic freedoms include among others the right to free expression, the right to practice one’s religion freely and openly, the right to vote, and the right to assemble peacefully.  The United States should encourage, but not seek to impose, the development of civil society and democratic institutions to uphold the rule of law and protect free society from tyranny.

Encourage Commitments to Freedom.  Legitimate governments are those that are committed to freedom, democracy and its institutions.  Membership in international institutions that espouse freedom does not equate to freedom in practice.   The United States should build its bilateral and multilateral relationships with those nations that practice freedom or are seeking to develop the institutions to support freedom and withhold its support from those who do not.

 

Develop Free Markets.  Competition is the engine for change within a free society and creates opportunity for all.  America’s economic security and long-term prosperity cannot be separated from our leadership in the global economy.   The United States should work to open markets around the world and expand opportunities for American workers.  International frameworks should be vehicles for promoting free trade and economic opportunity, not for redistributing wealth or entrenching domestic subsidy programs.  The United States should assist countries develop the institutions and commitment to the rule of law that will permit the development of market economies and promote stable economic growth and development.  We must also continue to combat corruption that distorts markets.

Ensure America’s Military Strength.   Terrorists, proliferators, and dictators are looking to take advantage of any weakness in America military’s strength.  To preserve peace, sustain our credibility with our allies, and protect the innocent from war and tyranny, the United must revitalize its military strength.   Military strength also gives legitimacy and value to all other forms of our national power, including economic and diplomatic levers of power.

 

Rudy Giuliani

As a matter of policy, Rudy Giuliani does not respond to questionnaires, but his campaign provided a letter summarizing his positions. Click the above link to read the letter.

 

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All responses are listed in alphabetical order. The American Conservative Union provides these responses for public information only. ACU neither endorses these candidates nor their responses.