VP Candidates on Foreign Policy

October 11, 2012 was the Vice Presidential debate. Joe Biden said a mistake was made in Benghazi and it wouldn’t happen again – we learn from our mistakes but in Iraq and Afghanistan the right moves were made; he reminded us that Romney wouldn’t have gone after Bin Laden and said Romney’s comment before he knew the facts in Benghazi was out making a political statement heard around the world; the information received by the Administration and given to the people was what was first told by the intelligence community – it changed its position. Biden added that usually when there’s a crisis we come together instead Romney holds a press conference attacking - that’s not presidential leadership.

Paul Ryan said they agree with the Iraq and Afghanistan deadlines but we shouldn’t publicize it and wants the American people to believe that one mistake is an unraveling of Obama’s foreign policy. Ryan brought up the President going on The View instead of meeting with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu before the UN Assembly on September 25. Biden said the President was on the phone for over an hour with Bebe (the Prime Minister) before attending the Assembly. Ryan also said Romney’s immediate comment on Benghazi was appropriate – it’s never too soon to speak up – we should always stand up for peace, democracy and individual rights and should not be imposing defense cuts. Biden accurately stated that Congress cut the budget for embassy protection and that’s a cause in relaxed security. I want to point out that Ryan just recently voted not to increase appropriations for military personnel.

Martha Raddatz, the moderator, pointed out that Romney has a book ‘No Apologies’ and asked if we shouldn’t have given apologies for the burning of Korans and peeing on Taliban troops – Ryan said yes but we should not apologize for our values. This statement always gets to me – Republicans don’t uphold our values but they do stand by their ‘no apology’ policy in doing it. I am also concerned that someone who won’t apologize is always trying to make someone else do so. This is just another one of Romney’s flaws that along with his attack or shoot first idea has given him no points with any country other than Israel. It’s no wonder that Israel normally backs a Republican and Netanyahu is in a Romney ad showing support. A March 12, 2012 Congressional Research Service report says Israel is the largest recipient of US foreign assistance. Since WW II the US provided Israel $115 billion in bilateral assistance. Strong congressional support has resulted in Israel: receiving benefits not available to other countries, US assistance for Israel is delivered in the first 30 days of the fiscal year while most other recipients normally receive aid in installments and Israel also receiving funds from annual defense appropriations bills. In 2007 the Bush Administration agreed to a 10-year, $30 billion military aid package that gradually raised Israel’s annual Foreign Military Financing grant from nearly $2.55 billion in FY2009 to approximately $3.1 billion for FY2013 through FY2018. Republicans take from Americans to assure Israel get funds.