The Republican presidential candidates didn’t exactly cover themselves with glory last night, which is perhaps not surprising, given that President Obama’s handling of foreign policy seems generally unassailable (even if he has not always explained and promoted his policies as well as he might, as some critics have complained).
Gingrich and Romney expressed a position on Iran that is indistinguishable from the White House’s, namely that military action might ultimately be necessary. (Government spokespeople have said repeatedly that no option has been taken off the table.) That didn’t stop Romney, however, from the kind of cheap opportunistic shot he often seems unable to resist.
One thing we can be pretty sure of, he said, is that a second Obama term will mean a nuclear-armed Iran. He might have added that a Romney presidency also will likely mean a nuclear-armed Iran.
Cain once again surprised with a position that was a little smarter and a little more direct than one might have expected. Only economic sanctions have a chance to stop Iran from taking the ultimate nuclear step, he said. Unfortunately he also took the position, as did Bachmann, that waterboarding of terrorist suspects should be re-introduced.
Bachmann, true to form, said the stage was being set for a worldwide nuclear war against Israel and condemned Obama’s handling of Israeli relations. Neo-isolationist Ron Paul, equally true to form, compared the current furor around Iran to the propaganda that led to the second Gulf War.
