Mittens unveils his foreign policy vision today

[DontSayBanana]

At the risk of stating the obvious, one of these guys gets daily security briefings, and the other doesn't.  Makes one wonder what Romney knows that Obama doesn't, and how.

Conclusion: baseless pandering to the military ops-happy Republican base.

[CountDeMoney]

At the risk of stating the obvious, one of these guys gets daily security briefings, and the other doesn't.  Makes one wonder what Romney knows that Obama doesn't, and how.

Conclusion: baseless pandering to the military ops-happy Republican base.

Mittens and Ryan have been getting daily security briefings since the week before the convention;  maybe not to the level of the POTUS, but all candidates get them once they receive the nomination.

Still doesn't stop him from talking out of his ass, though.

[DGuller]

At the risk of stating the obvious, one of these guys gets daily security briefings, and the other doesn't.

I think you've done well to mitigate that risk.

[The Minsky Moment]

Am I missing it? How does he suggest that we show our strength? Is he talking about more troops in the Middle East? If so, how do we pay for that and balance the budget?

The only thing to do is to try to extract out the concretes from the speech, i.e. actual proposals as opposed to rhetoric.  Here's what I get:

+ "Restore the permanent presence of aircraft carrier task forces in both the Eastern Mediterranean and the Gulf region" - there are a couple of carrier strike groups in the Gulf region now.  Don't know what "permanent presence" means.  My understanding is that basing facilities in the region are limited. 

+"roll back" defense cuts - extent and method of payment not stated.

+ "Build 15 ships per year, including three submarines" - presumably included in above.  -  This proposal appears to come from John Lehman (now a Romney defense advisor).  For comparison the plan for 2013 is 2 subs and 8 surface ships of various types, for a total of 10.  The five year plan is rougly 2 subs per year and 7 other ships per year.  The merits are difficult to evaluate without some insight into the specific additional ships proposed.

+ "Organize all assistance efforts in the greater Middle East under one official with responsibility and accountability"  -- i.e. he will appoint a regional czar with a brief to coordinate aid programs.  Not a bad idea in theory although in practice may just add another layer of bureaucracy and provoke conflicts.

+ Egypt: aid to be conditioned  on the new government maintaining  its peace treaty with Israel.  -- this is already policy.

+ Syria: arm the Sunni opposition

+ Afganistan - same policy as current administration

What is interesting about these proposals is not their merits (which may be good although at this point mostly unclear), but their modesty in terms of originality and boldness compared to the rhetoric that accompanies them.

[derspiess]

What is interesting about these proposals is not their merits (which may be good although at this point mostly unclear), but their modesty in terms of originality and boldness compared to the rhetoric that accompanies them.

I think there's a campaign going on or something

[mongers]

Am I missing it? How does he suggest that we show our strength? Is he talking about more troops in the Middle East? If so, how do we pay for that and balance the budget?

.....

+ "Build 15 ships per year, including three submarines" - presumably included in above.  -  This proposal appears to come from John Lehman (now a Romney defense advisor).  For comparison the plan for 2013 is 2 subs and 8 surface ships of various types, for a total of 10.  The five year plan is rougly 2 subs per year and 7 other ships per year.  The merits are difficult to evaluate without some insight into the specific additional ships proposed.

......

Are even the rest of the world's navies combined building more than that number of ''quality' ships a year ? 

[CountDeMoney]

Are even the rest of the world's navies combined building more than that number of ''quality' ships a year ?

But you don't understand;  the size of our Navy is at levels not seen since 1916.  My God, and to make things worse, all the battle wagons are lined up at Pearl, just waiting for the Japanese.  So, it's like 1916 and 1941 all together.

And I will call on our NATO allies to keep the greatest military alliance in history strong by honoring their commitment to each devote 2 percent of their GDP to security spending. Today, only 3 of the 28 NATO nations meet this benchmark.

You do that, Mittens.  Call on them.  See what they say about that.

[Valmy]

You do that, Mittens.  Call on them.  See what they say about that.

What do you think he is building that huge battle fleet for?  Gunboat diplomacy to be used on Euros.

[derspiess]

Are even the rest of the world's navies combined building more than that number of ''quality' ships a year ?

But you don't understand;  the size of our Navy is at levels not seen since 1916.  My God, and to make things worse, all the battle wagons are lined up at Pearl, just waiting for the Japanese.  So, it's like 1916 and 1941 all together.

The number 15 must have done well in focus groups.  Like Obama's 100,000 math & science teachers (which btw I guess social studies teachers can bugger off ).

[Neil]

Numbers of ships aren't important.  What is important is that the Navy have a good idea of who they are supposed to be fighting and how they'll be fighting them.

[Viking]

Numbers of ships aren't important.  What is important is that the Navy have a good idea of who they are supposed to be fighting and how they'll be fighting them.

yeah, dreadnoughts are useless against hajis in the deserts and mountains.

[Neil]

Numbers of ships aren't important.  What is important is that the Navy have a good idea of who they are supposed to be fighting and how they'll be fighting them.

yeah, dreadnoughts are useless against hajis in the deserts and mountains.

That's not really the Navy's fight, except in the sense that they provide carrier support.  The Navy's job is to prepare to defeat China.

[The Minsky Moment]

What is interesting about these proposals is not their merits (which may be good although at this point mostly unclear), but their modesty in terms of originality and boldness compared to the rhetoric that accompanies them.

I think there's a campaign going on or something

IMO its a good thing.  Shows he isn't tempted into advocating something really stupid just to win the election.

[CountDeMoney]

The number 15 must have done well in focus groups.  Like Obama's 100,000 math & science teachers (which btw I guess social studies teachers can bugger off ).

Don't know why that would get a from you;  falls right in line with the GOP's desire in reducing civic participation. 

[The Minsky Moment]

Are even the rest of the world's navies combined building more than that number of ''quality' ships a year ?

China is building pretty fast, although that raises the question of how you define "quality ship"