The oppo research on Romney’s foreign policy

Posted By David Kenner Tuesday, January 17, 2012 - 10:58 PM Share

My, isn't this awkward. Buzzfeed's Andrew Kaczynski stumbled across a copy of John McCain's 200-page opposition research file on Mitt Romney from the 2008 presidential campaign, which will now undoubtedly be pored over by President Barack Obama's campaign staff for useful nuggets to trip up Romney in the 2012 campaign.

The 20-page section of the oppo file lays the foundation for attacking Romney as a John Kerry-esque flip-flopper -- and one with fewer foreign policy chops. It accuses Romney of choosing his stands either because they proved politically expedient, or because he was woefully uninformed on the issues and simply stumbled into new positions.

As befits a document written in 2008, much of the research focuses on Romney's positions toward the Iraq war -- material unlikely to be of much use to the Obama campaign, given the conclusion of the war. But there is some grist in there for those who would paint Romney as a world-class waffler: In June 2007, for example, he answered a question about whether the Iraq war was a mistake by attacking the question as "a non-sequitur...or a null set" and an "unreasonable hypothetical."

But while Iraq has faded from the U.S. political agenda, concerns about what to do about Iran have only increased. In 2007, Romney said that a U.S. military attack on Iran is "not going to happen" -- perhaps that's a line we'll soon be seeing in a Rick Perry or Newt Gingrich commercial. There's also the issue of Romney's supposed business entanglements in the Islamic Republic: In 2002, Bain Capital, the company he co-founded, purchased a chemicals business SigmaKalon, which had an office in Tehran. But that seems to be a thin reed, as Romney had long ago left Bain at the time of the purchase, and was on the verge of being elected governor of Massachusetts.

Romney's gaffes make for some of the document's most entertaining reading. He seems to have a particularly difficult time connecting with Cuban-Americans: During one event in Miami, he repeated a phrase, "Fatherland or death, we shall overcome," which was the traditional sign-off of Fidel Castro's speeches. He also referred to rising GOP star Marco Rubio as "Mario" and echoed a line from the movie Scarface in a speech to Cuban-Americans during the same trip.

That's embarrassing, but not likely to do serious damage to the Romney machine. If Obama or Romney's GOP rivals are looking for a silver bullet, it's not going to be in his foreign-policy pronouncements.

Joe Raedle/Getty Images

EXPLORE:ELECTION 2012, MITT ROMNEY
 

MARIABALOOCH

12:56 PM ET

February 10, 2012

Top news: Eurozone finance

Top news: Eurozone finance ministers dismissed a package of $4.3 billion in Greek budget cuts as incomplete, demanding an additional $400 million in cuts to this year's budget. The package was presented by the Greek government on Thursday after weeks of tense negotiations between Prime Minister Lucas Papademos and his coalition. Finance ministers say they will reconvene on Wednesday, if the Greek government can make the additional cuts, to potentially sign off on a $172.6 billion bailout.

"Despite the important progress achieved over the last days, we did not yet have all necessary elements on the table to take decisions today," said Jean-Claude Juncker, prime minister of Luxembourg and head of the eurogroup.

Greece is depending on the deal to avoid a default next month, and hopes to set in motion a private sector bond swap that will reduce its $460 billion debt load. The cuts already agreed to include cutting the minimum wage by 22 percent, shortening the terms of collective bargaining agreements, freezing private sector salary increases, and cutting 150,000 jobs from the government payrolls by 2015.

Violence has erupted yet again in Athens as youths began throwing paving stones and molotov cocktails outside the parliament on Friday. Police have responded with stun grenades and tear gas. Trade unions have called a two-day strike starting Friday.

Syria: Two explosions targeted security compounds in Aleppo as government ground forces began moving into Homs.
Top news: Eurozone finance ministers dismissed a package of $4.3 billion in Greek budget cuts as incomplete, demanding an additional $400 million in cuts to this year's budget. The package was presented by the Greek government on Thursday after weeks of tense negotiations between Prime Minister Lucas Papademos and his coalition. Finance ministers say they will reconvene on Wednesday, if the Greek government can make the additional cuts, to potentially sign off on a $172.6 billion bailout.

"Despite the important progress achieved over the last days, we did not yet have all necessary elements on the table to take decisions today," said Jean-Claude Juncker, prime minister of Luxembourg and head of the eurogroup.

Greece is depending on the deal to avoid a default next month, and hopes to set in motion a private sector bond swap that will reduce its $460 billion debt load. The cuts already agreed to include cutting the minimum wage by 22 percent, shortening the terms of collective bargaining agreements, freezing private sector salary increases, and cutting 150,000 jobs from the government payrolls by 2015.

Violence has erupted yet again in Athens as youths began throwing paving stones and molotov cocktails outside the parliament on Friday. Police have responded with stun grenades and tear gas. Trade unions have called a two-day strike starting Friday.

Syria: Two explosions targeted security compounds in Aleppo as government ground forces began moving into Homs.
Top news: Eurozone finance ministers dismissed a package of $4.3 billion in Greek budget cuts as incomplete, demanding an additional $400 million in cuts to this year's budget. The package was presented by the Greek government on Thursday after weeks of tense negotiations between Prime Minister Lucas Papademos and his coalition. Finance ministers say they will reconvene on Wednesday, if the Greek government can make the additional cuts, to potentially sign off on a $172.6 billion bailout.

"Despite the important progress achieved over the last days, we did not yet have all necessary elements on the table to take decisions today," said Jean-Claude Juncker, prime minister of Luxembourg and head of the eurogroup.

Greece is depending on the deal to avoid a default next month, and hopes to set in motion a private sector bond swap that will reduce its $460 billion debt load. The cuts already agreed to include cutting the minimum wage by 22 percent, shortening the terms of collective bargaining agreements, freezing private sector salary increases, and cutting 150,000 jobs from the government payrolls by 2015.

Violence has erupted yet again in Athens as youths began throwing paving stones and molotov cocktails outside the parliament on Friday. Police have responded with stun grenades and tear gas. Trade unions have called a two-day strike starting Friday.

Syria: Two explosions targeted security compounds in Aleppo as government ground forces began moving into Homs.
Top news: Eurozone finance ministers dismissed a package of $4.3 billion in Greek budget cuts as incomplete, demanding an additional $400 million in cuts to this year's budget. The package was presented by the Greek government on Thursday after weeks of tense negotiations between Prime Minister Lucas Papademos and his coalition. Finance ministers say they will reconvene on Wednesday, if the Greek government can make the additional cuts, to potentially sign off on a $172.6 billion bailout.

"Despite the important progress achieved over the last days, we did not yet have all necessary elements on the table to take decisions today," said Jean-Claude Juncker, prime minister of Luxembourg and head of the eurogroup.

Greece is depending on the deal to avoid a default next month, and hopes to set in motion a private sector bond swap that will reduce its $460 billion debt load. The cuts already agreed to include cutting the minimum wage by 22 percent, shortening the terms of collective bargaining agreements, freezing private sector salary increases, and cutting 150,000 jobs from the government payrolls by 2015.

Violence has erupted yet again in Athens as youths began throwing paving stones and molotov cocktails outside the parliament on Friday. Police have responded with stun grenades and tear gas. Trade unions have called a two-day strike starting Friday.

Syria: Two explosions targeted security compounds in Aleppo as government ground forces began moving into Homs.
Top news: Eurozone finance ministers dismissed a package of $4.3 billion in Greek budget cuts as incomplete, demanding an additional $400 million in cuts to this year's budget. The package was presented by the Greek government on Thursday after weeks of tense negotiations between Prime Minister Lucas Papademos and his coalition. Finance ministers say they will reconvene on Wednesday, if the Greek government can make the additional cuts, to potentially sign off on a $172.6 billion bailout.

"Despite the important progress achieved over the last days, we did not yet have all necessary elements on the table to take decisions today," said Jean-Claude Juncker, prime minister of Luxembourg and head of the eurogroup.

Greece is depending on the deal to avoid a default next month, and hopes to set in motion a private sector bond swap that will reduce its $460 billion debt load. The cuts already agreed to include cutting the minimum wage by 22 percent, shortening the terms of collective bargaining agreements, freezing private sector salary increases, and cutting 150,000 jobs from the government payrolls by 2015.

Violence has erupted yet again in Athens as youths began throwing paving stones and molotov cocktails outside the parliament on Friday. Police have responded with stun grenades and tear gas. Trade unions have called a two-day strike starting Friday.

Syria: Two explosions targeted security compounds in Aleppo as government ground forces began moving into Homs.
Top news: Eurozone finance ministers dismissed a package of $4.3 billion in Greek budget cuts as incomplete, demanding an additional $400 million in cuts to this year's budget. The package was presented by the Greek government on Thursday after weeks of tense negotiations between Prime Minister Lucas Papademos and his coalition. Finance ministers say they will reconvene on Wednesday, if the Greek government can make the additional cuts, to potentially sign off on a $172.6 billion bailout.

"Despite the important progress achieved over the last days, we did not yet have all necessary elements on the table to take decisions today," said Jean-Claude Juncker, prime minister of Luxembourg and head of the eurogroup.

Greece is depending on the deal to avoid a default next month, and hopes to set in motion a private sector bond swap that will reduce its $460 billion debt load. The cuts already agreed to include cutting the minimum wage by 22 percent, shortening the terms of collective bargaining agreements, freezing private sector salary increases, and cutting 150,000 jobs from the government payrolls by 2015.

Violence has erupted yet again in Athens as youths began throwing paving stones and molotov cocktails outside the parliament on Friday. Police have responded with stun grenades and tear gas. Trade unions have called a two-day strike starting Friday.

Syria: Two explosions targeted security compounds in Aleppo as government ground forces began moving into Homs.
Top news: Eurozone finance ministers dismissed a package of $4.3 billion in Greek budget cuts as incomplete, demanding an additional $400 million in cuts to this year's budget. The package was presented by the Greek government on Thursday after weeks of tense negotiations between Prime Minister Lucas Papademos and his coalition. Finance ministers say they will reconvene on Wednesday, if the Greek government can make the additional cuts, to potentially sign off on a $172.6 billion bailout.

"Despite the important progress achieved over the last days, we did not yet have all necessary elements on the table to take decisions today," said Jean-Claude Juncker, prime minister of Luxembourg and head of the eurogroup.

Greece is depending on the deal to avoid a default next month, and hopes to set in motion a private sector bond swap that will reduce its $460 billion debt load. The cuts already agreed to include cutting the minimum wage by 22 percent, shortening the terms of collective bargaining agreements, freezing private sector salary increases, and cutting 150,000 jobs from the government payrolls by 2015.

Violence has erupted yet again in Athens as youths began throwing paving stones and molotov cocktails outside the parliament on Friday. Police have responded with stun grenades and tear gas. Trade unions have called a two-day strike starting Friday.

Syria: Two explosions targeted security compounds in Aleppo as government ground forces began moving into Homs.
Driving Lessons

 

Passport, FP’s flagship blog, brings you news and hidden angles on the biggest stories of the day, as well as insights and under-the-radar gems from around the world.

Read More