The Cable

The Cable goes inside the foreign policy machine, from Foggy Bottom to Turtle Bay, the White House to Embassy Row.

David Brooks slams Mitt Romney’s foreign policy

New York Times columnist David Brooks had some harsh words for Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney on Tuesday. "Mitt Romney has been wandering around the country trying to find a place to disagree with Barack Obama," he said during a panel discussion at the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition’s annual conference. "He’s desperately trying, and every ...

New York Times columnist David Brooks had some harsh words for Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney on Tuesday.

New York Times columnist David Brooks had some harsh words for Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney on Tuesday.

"Mitt Romney has been wandering around the country trying to find a place to disagree with Barack Obama," he said during a panel discussion at the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition’s annual conference. "He’s desperately trying, and every time he does, he looks like an idiot, because he has to say something so far out there on Russia or whatever it is."

The former governor has certainly taken a tough and colorful approach to U.S.-Russia foreign policy issues. In March, Romney called Russia the United States’ "No. 1 geopolitical foe" — a questionable assertion — and described President Obama’s reset policy as an "abject failure" in June — a far more defensible critique.

Former senator Norm Coleman (R-MN), the Romney campaign’s foreign-policy surrogate at the conference, countered Brooks’ rebuke with an outline of the Republican candidate’s foreign-policy qualifications and goals.

"As president, Governor Romney will apply the full spectrum of hard and soft power to influence events before they erupt into conflict," he stated.

Coleman also emphasized Romney’s commitment to international economic cooperation.

"A Romney administration would put expanded free trade back at the center of our foreign and economic policy," he said. "In his first hundred days he’ll launch a campaign to promote economic opportunity in Latin America and…. create the Reagan economic zone, a partnership among countries committed to free enterprise and free trade."

<p> Allison Good is an editorial researcher at Foreign Policy. </p>

More from Foreign Policy

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping give a toast during a reception following their talks at the Kremlin in Moscow on March 21.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping give a toast during a reception following their talks at the Kremlin in Moscow on March 21.

Can Russia Get Used to Being China’s Little Brother?

The power dynamic between Beijing and Moscow has switched dramatically.

Xi and Putin shake hands while carrying red folders.
Xi and Putin shake hands while carrying red folders.

Xi and Putin Have the Most Consequential Undeclared Alliance in the World

It’s become more important than Washington’s official alliances today.

Russian President Vladimir Putin greets Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
Russian President Vladimir Putin greets Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

It’s a New Great Game. Again.

Across Central Asia, Russia’s brand is tainted by Ukraine, China’s got challenges, and Washington senses another opening.

Kurdish military officers take part in a graduation ceremony in Erbil, the capital of Iraq’s Kurdistan Region, on Jan. 15.
Kurdish military officers take part in a graduation ceremony in Erbil, the capital of Iraq’s Kurdistan Region, on Jan. 15.

Iraqi Kurdistan’s House of Cards Is Collapsing

The region once seemed a bright spot in the disorder unleashed by U.S. regime change. Today, things look bleak.