Despite his reputation as being strong on national security and foreign policy, Rudy Giuliani is a man who simply had foreign policy happen to him because of failures in national security. Though his consulting firm has done a good deal of security consulting since his term as mayor expired, Giuliani has never held an office higher than mayor. As mayor he has no foreign policy apparatus and the only security management experience he has is through law enforcement; he has zero experience managing military and intelligence operations. As such, it’s critically important that he bone up on foreign policy and, as George W. Bush did in 1999, surround himself with allegedly smart elders who can advise him.
Giuliani is attempting to do that, though his choice of advisers is clearly suspect.Via Gregory Djerejian, Jason Horowitz reports:
Mr. Giuliani has criticized some aspects of the American performance in Iraq, but has basically supported the President’s plan without addressing its specific shortcomings. Asked about his day-to-day Iraq advisor, his campaign would only say that he speaks with many individuals, including retired Gen. Jack Keane and former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton.
John Bolton. Jack Keane, designer of the surge. Two men whose performance during their tenure running the Bush administration’s foreign policy should preclude them from advising any presidential candidates.
More than anything, Giuliani’s decision to turn to Bush administration war hawks for national security and foreign policy advise should tell America what sort of administration Giuliani wants to run. He wants to continue the foreign policy that brought us a quagmire without allied support and continue a war that is failing regardless of how many more troops we send into Iraq. However moderate Rudy may be on social issues, he is not a moderate when it comes to American foreign policy and the pursuit of peace. His choice of advisers makes that crystal clear.
3 Responses to “Giuliani Turns To Bolton On Iraq”
and as far as managing military and intelligence, he has as much experience as any of the “big 3″ democrats in the race, and actually more when it comes to wiring tapping and intel collecting during his days busting the mob in the justice dept.
that being said, he did command one of america’s largest police forces, and turned its most dangerous city into its safest. its not bahgdad by any means, but it is sure more impressive then anything a community organizer, a trial lawyer, or a first lady accomplished.
MBH — I love your first sentence, but I have a recommendation:
Rudy Giuliani is a man who simply had foreign policy happen to him because of REPUBLICAN failures in national security.
Something to say?
he says he has many advisors, and naming only two who you disagree with doesnt give any true impression on what his foreign policy will be. let the man tell us what his policy is before you tell us for him. its ridiculous assumptions like this that show your views to be more crystal clear, not the mayor’s.
john bolton served exceptionally as ambassador to the u.n., and simply because he puts that body in its place and proper context, liberals have a problem with him. he is a proponent of much need u.n. reform, which annoys other countries, turning bolton off to the left, but not diminishing the fact that the u.n. needs major change. if not, wouldn’t the body’s resolutons actaully mean something?
UN “iran you must stop enriching uranium!”
Iran “no”
UN “uhhh ok…”
UN ” hezzbollah you must release the israelis soldiers”
Hezz “no”
UN ” uhhh ok…”
if the reforms bolton has longed for had been implented years ago, there might not be a war right now, and perhaps half the security council wouldnt have been so easily bribed by hussein’s promise of oil fields.
and whos advising barrack hussein these days, i know with such extensive experience the junior senator needs little advice, but be that as it may….who does mr hussein obama turn to? ah..no one…just withdraw…problem solved…yayyyy
Left by matt
April 13, 2007 at 11:18pm